In the past year, the Lord has done a lot. I have seen His goodness in joys and sorrows.
January: I began again meeting with Cary KH at Starbucks on Monday nights. We went through Barbara Hughes' "Disciplines of a Godly Woman" and A.W. Tozer's "The Pursuit of God. My time with Cary really helped me hunger for God's word. It's amazing how God uses a 16 year old to grow my faith! I also continuing leading a Bible study with 5 Calvary Christian School seniors. We studied T.U.L.I.P. Great conversation about the sovereignty of God and such sweet time over coffee with those girls. Dear to my heart.
February: My mom came to visit and went to our women's retreat with me. She also supported me(as did D.R) as I ran my first half marathon in Kennesaw, GA. It was a great experience. I'm thankful the Lord allowed me to train injury-free and run with joy. Even if it was 55 degrees and misty raining the whole time! Don't know how I didn't get sick!
March: D.R. completed Airborne school! So proud of him! Not much else happened in March.
April: D.R. & I vacationed in Amelia Island. It was a quaint, romantic time. D.R.'s 27th birthday was celebrated with lots of sweet friends at our apartment. Grilled meat, football, chocolate cake = happy husband.
May: D.R. and I decided that he would deploy in the winter. In the same week, I lost my job at Calvary Christian school. It was a heavy-hearted month filled with many tears and time on my knees with Jesus. At the end of the month, we went to Ringgold for Memorial weekend. It was a fun time with DR's family.
June: June was an unemployed month for me. I spent my time organized our e-meals menus, cleaning out closets, drinking coffee with friends, and experimenting in the kitchen (since I had the time). I got on quite a health kick and cut out red meat, milk, and sugary cereal. D.R. was not a fan of some of the meals I started making which included words he says he can't pronounce (quinoa, lentils, tabouli, kamut)haha! I really enjoyed my new way of eating and felt so much lighter on my feet...but I did miss my iron-filled steak eventually. I haven't jumped back on drinking milk b/c I'm addicted to almond milk. It's so much tastier and 1/3 the calories of ff milk. score. At the end of this month, we took a week vacation to Key West/West Palm Beach for my friend Tia's wedding. It was a blast! The "clean eating" got put on hold cuz I had to get my Key Lime pie and Miami Vices! DR & I stayed at a resort on the beach in Key West. It was bliss. My favorite part was going on a 3 hour jet ski cruise around Key West. So much fun! Plus lots of prime time tanning. We finished the week back in Palm Beach with my family celebrating the 4th of July and my birthday (July 5) The traditional cook out in the back yard by the pool with sweet church families and then fireworks over the intracoastal in WPB. Finished off the night with fro yo from a shabby chic place on the waterway. Yes, I am blessed to be from south FL. It's too much fun going home. At the end of this month, I started running with Kaci Lesley and Madison Montgomery. 6:30 runs 3 times a week, in the summer humidity. I felt super dedicated... but this did not last long. I loved my time with Kaci/Mad- learning more about their lives and sharing mine with them. Running and Jesus really bonded us!
July: In the middle of this month, we had our youth summer "missions trip" right here in our city, Columbus. We traveled 10 minutes to the other side of town and worked alongside a church in an urban part of town. It was an incredible week of laboring alongside brothers and sisters with dark skin! It was awesome to do service work here at home. Watching our teens and volunteers love on the people of "Bibb City" was so heart-warming. As our leader Zach stated, "we are not fixed people coming to minister to broken people. We are broken people coming to love on other broken people." It was a hot (90s) week and most of our time was spent outside doing lawn care and kids club (a vbs type schedule each night). I was challenged a lot that week as God revealed to me how much my time and choices are idols. I want to be in control of when I get up, what and when I eat, what temperature I hang out in, who I sleep next to. I got to choose none of that... and it was so good for my selfish self. Ain't nothin' more humbling that sleeping 8 deep in a tent with teen girls who haven't showered in 3 days. Bonding at it's finest. :) At the very end of this month, I went to a fitness conference in Atlanta. There I got certified to teach Zumba. I also took over 20 classes within the weekend and learned a lot of great work-outs to use once I start personal training. While there, I got to meet up with a sweet friend, Nobie Ennis for dinner at Chipotle. It was great to catch up with her! The next night, my inlaws and husband drove to Atl to eat dinner at P.F. Changs with me. Good eats, good workouts. Happy girl.
August:At the beginning of this month I got a memorable call from my little sister informing me that she is pregnant! I couldn't be more excited to meet Jaxson in mid-April! I know Kirstie will be a great mom and God will teach her so much. (my time will come someday...Lord willing) Until then... Aunt Danelle & Uncle D.R. will love that little guy!
This month we celebrated 5 years of marriage! D.R. took me to dinner at a local steakhouse and then we brought a bottle of wine back to the apartment and watched a movie. I can't believe it's already been 5 years. So thankful for my God-fearing, handsome husband. The day after our anniversary, we left for a week long trip to Myrtle Beach, SC for DR to attend a continuing education conference. I attended the school of sand and shells for the week. No, I studied up for my upcoming Personal Training school...but I did sleep in, eat a delightful breakfast, take runs in pretty nearby beach communities, and get prettied up for a dinner date with my man every night. It was rough. We were blessed to get to celebrate our 5 years all on the Army's dime since DR was required to go. Lots of twisting of the arm.
This month, we also said goodbye to two of our dear friends, Zach & Chelsey Smith. Zach got accepted to medical school in Atlanta. We are so proud of him but bummed that they had to move. They are definitely heart friends. You know....the kind that you tell your crap to cause you know they love you. The kind that you wanna vacation with. I miss them but they will always be near and dear to us.
Oh, and I went back to being a brunette. Crucial piece of information.
September: This month we went on a marriage retreat put on by the Chaplain at D.R.'s job. It was a refreshing weekend with D.R. We talked a lot- about us, about what we want God to do in our hearts, how we can better serve and love each other. It was a great couple days in Panama City Beach.
D.R. traveled to San Antonio, TX for his OBLC (Ofc. Basic Leadership Course) for trauma and deployment readiness. He did some crazy stuff which I am unauthorized to share. Let's just say, he got a very real taste of what it would be like overseas in a war zone. At the end of his training week, I flew out and joined him for a long weekend. San Antonio is a neat city. Lots of fun tex-mex restaurants, the river running throughout the downtown, the strung white lights and Latin music everywhere you go. Plus they had one of the hugest (is that a word?) Forever XXI I've ever seen! It took over a department store in the local mall. I was in shock. D.R. graciously dropped me off there for a couple hours while he went to Best Buy, local boot stores and did other man-activities. We got to meet up with our friends, Nate & Delaney Trimble for a day of sight-seeing and shopping.
October: I know it seems like we went on a lot of trips....because we did. This month we went on a mountain getaway in Blue Ridge, GA. It's become a McNew tradition to go to this spot. We love it. Beautiful trails to hike, quaint shops and restaurants, and breath-taking views from the cabin porch. It's a weekend of relaxation. My mother in law and I went on a 3 hour hike while the boys watched the GA game. I love me some dawgs but they missed out! We found a beautiful waterfall. It was a sweet time with her. I have a great relationship with my m.i.l. She gets me. I am blessed.
I also started my Personal Training Certification at Columbus State University and finished up in mid-November. I am currently working towards my practical internship hours. I am loving it!
November: Not much before Thanksgiving so I'll jump to that. We went to Ringgold and had a great time with D.R.'s family. Family, football, pumpkin pie, 8k turkey trot, black Friday shopping, family Rave Movie night (to see Skyfall:007- great!) The last night of our trip, we had a farewell party for D.R. Many of his childhood friends came. It meant so much to D.R. to reconnect with these friends and family and to be sent off knowing he's loved and prayed for.
December: D.R. & I took a long bike ride. I've been wanting to do that for a while now and the weather was perfect. 55- a little cold for D.R.'s liking but I thought it was great! We were wiped after! Got a pizza and enjoyed the rest of the night. That was a special date. On the 7th, I dropped D.R. off at Ft. Benning and kissed him goodbye for 5-6 months. My heart was in my chest the rest of the day but I knew that God was on our side. We are going to make it through this time. He made it safely within 4 days of travel and settled into his new routine over there. We were able to talk on FaceTime every couple days which was incredible! On the 15th, the dog & I packed up and drove down to Boynton Beach for almost 3 weeks. It was a great trip. So relaxing and comforting to be with mom, dad, Kirstie, Aaron, Buddy & Granny. Christmas was not as sad as I thought it might be. I think because I was surrounded by loving family, I didn't dwell on my husband being a world away in a war zone. New Years Eve was hard. We went to Carrabba's (mom, dad & I) and then went to Atlantic Ave to meet up with the Shoe family and walk around. Couple kissing everywhere. No one seemed to be able to wait until midnight. I was super sad. I was super mad at the Army for a few moments. We left after about an hour and went to the Shoe's house to watch the ball drop and make smores. D.R. called me on FaceTime at 11:58 and we watched the fireworks outside together- We rang in the New Years "together". It was special. And sad.
It's already been more than a month. 4-5 more ahead of us. I am tired of being husbandless. I'm tired of cooking dinner for one person every night. I miss him. Sometimes champ sits down and stares at the recliner for a while. I think he wonders where that man went.
The first half of 2013 will be spend apart from my husband. The Lord will sustain us. He will keep us faithful. He is the lifter of my head. He is my provider, my shepherd, my shield. I know He has good in store for us. I trust Him and I'm so thankful that I have butterflies in my stomach when I see D.R. calling....
speaking of!! Happy MLK Jr. Day friends. Hope you all get a day of rest tomorrow.
