Dear 2012

Dear 2012, 

You were a good year.  As I have scrolled through the posts from this year, I'm reminded of how full this year was.  2012, you held some hard moments, but you also held some of the greatest moments of my life.  Don't tell all the other years, but I think that you've been my favorite so far.  Let's take a look back at what all has happened during the last 365 days.

January

The new year was kicked off at Passion 2012.  I can't imagine my life without those four days.  Our time in Atlanta at the biggest Christian conference for young people completely rocked my world.  And Tyler's too.  I'm so thankful for how our lives changed.  Grab on is one of my favorite Passion recap posts.

Favorite posts from the month:

I am a good girl 

We're Gunna have a Wedding

February

February was full of fun and love.  At the beginning of the month our best friends got engaged!  We were able to share in their first few moments as an engaged couple and I'll never forget it.

Tyler came to Oxford to spend Valentine's Day with me since we were spending the semester in different cities.  He gave me one of the sweetest gifts I've ever received and we had such a fun night being together.

Favorite posts of the month:

the monster

the journey

March

March was kind of a quiet month.  Tyler's search for a job began to take a toll on the both of us and that is when we really began to seek and trust the Lord.  As hard as that time was, I am so thankful for the refinement that came.

Favorite posts of the month:

The One about the Hard Life Stuff

A prayer for my boyfriend

April

Spring was in full force and April was one of the best months.  Tyler and I only saw each other on the weekends, so it made weekends a million times more special.  We spent many Sunday afternoons laying around in the living room with my Dad watching golf and we even snuck in a few crawfish boils.  

We celebrated three years together and went on a date to the Melting Pot to celebrate.

Later on in the month we went on a really fun day date to a local strawberry patch and winery.  It was quite a chilly day for late April and I'm already looking forward to having a warmer date in 2013!

Favorite posts on the month:

It is finished

Why I quit Facebook

May

May was a quiet month.  I spent some time at home before heading back to Oxford to teach my pre-school babies for the Summer.  May was unusually comfortable here in North Mississippi so I spent so many afternoons on our back porch reading.  

I spent a fun afternoon at the Memphis Botanic Gardens with my aunt and cousins before I kicked off a Summer of working and Summer school.  It was a great way to end my few weeks of relaxation!

Favorite posts of the month:

Submission

be vulnerable

For all the Mama's

Beginning of the End

June

Oh 2012, you got it right in June.  June started with a girls cruise to Mexico (I talked about it here and here) and I loved every single second of it.  It was a last minute trip with my Mom, Aunt, and Nana and I'm so glad I got to spend some time "unplugged" with them.  

While on the cruise I got an email from Ty that he had gotten a job!  I can't explain to you how happy and thankful I was that the Lord had not only provided a job, but one that Tyler was thrilled about.  Talk about a happy heart.

Once Tyler officially had a "real" job, I knew the engagement would be coming in the next month or two... luckily he didn't make me wait long. ;)  On Friday June 29, 2012 my boyfriend because my fiancé.  Tyler asked me to marry him!  

July 

July was a month of engaged bliss!  I shared my engagement story and my ring story on the blog, I asked my girls to be my bridesmaids, and I found my wedding dress!  July was definitely the month of the wedding, that's for sure.  We got a lot of the preliminary planning done in that month and everything was smooth sailing from there!  July was also my last month in Oxford so there were some hard moments there.  I moved out of my college apartment and officially ended one season of my life.  As I look back, I am more thankful for that time of my life than ever before.

Favorite posts from the month:

what your engaged friends don't tell you

how to pray for your boyfriend

August

My emotions were all over the place during the month of August.  I was excited to be home with my family and Tyler, but I was also heartbroken to leave my job, my friends, and my campus in Oxford.  Regardless of my crazy emotions, August was sweet.  My sweet Ty was baptized at our new church and both of our families came to support him.  

Jamie came to visit me on a whim and we had the best weekend together!  I can't believe it was only our fourth time to see each other in person.  I feel like I've known this gal my whole life!  Best friends forever right here!

Favorite posts of the month:

We are the branches part 1
We are the branches part 2

September

September was a big month for us.  We bought a house!  It was thrilling and scary all in one and now that Tyler has moved in and we're starting to get things "settled" I'm convinced that this house is perfect for us.  Maybe not forever and ever, but I think we will be here for quite a while.

Favorite posts of the month:

Wedding Wednesday:  After you say I do with Mackey Madness

October

October was probably our busiest month of the year.  So many fun and exciting things happened and I'll always remember the memories made during this month of 2012.  At the beginning of the month we ran the color run which was one of the most fun days of 2012!  

Next up was Kayla and Chad's wedding day which was, hands down, the second best day of 2012 (only second to our engagement day, of course ;)

The day after the Tow's were married, Tyler turned 24! And the weekend after that we began the moving process.  Whew.  2012, you sure did throw a lot into one month!

Favorite posts of the month:

On friendship
Finally... Our Engagement Pictures!

November

November was a quiet month.  After such a busy October, I happily welcomed a slower month.  We did a little more moving and really started to get settled into the new house.  Tyler started to live there and I started to do a few more projects to make our house truly "ours".  We had a low key thanksgiving.  So very thankful for that.

Favorite posts from the month:

Lessons from an english bulldog
Love Big, Give Big

December

December seemed to fly by faster than most months.  We began the holiday season by visiting our newly married friends in their new home in Arkansas.  It was so fun to spend some time with the Tow's and see where they are currently enjoying their first few months as newlyweds.

Jamie and her fiance Adam came to visit and I also had my first wedding shower that same weekend!  

Finally, I celebrated my last single girl Christmas with my family.  While Tyler and I still had our time together, it was sweet to get to spend Christmas morning with just my parents and my siblings.  

  

Favorite posts from the month:

Welcome to our home, y'all!

VLOG time!

2012, you were full.  I'm so thankful for all that you held.  The good and the bad.  I've grown so much and I know that the Lord had a special plan for this year in my life.  You were so sweet to me, 2012, but I can't say I'm too terribly sad to see you go.  You see, something pretty great is happening in 2013.  I'm... you know... getting married.  

Thanks, 2012.  I've felt the love.  But, I'm so ready for your friend 2013 to get here.  It's going to be a good, good year!

Tonight we are ringing in the new year at our wedding venue!  Heartwood Hall is throwing a big bash for all their couples and the night will be filled with dinner, drinks, and dancing!  I can't wait to experience the excellent service that Heartwood Hall offers and get a little taste of what our reception will be like!  Follow me on Instagram to get a look into our New Year's Eve!

Did you write a 2012 re-cap post?  Post the link in the comments below so I can see what YOUR 2012 was like!