I've been doing this for the past several
years. It's that time again!

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before? Registered two kids for middle school. Choice sheets and electives were things I was unfamiliar with up to this point. Looking forward to whats ahead on this new adventure for Margaret and Samuel.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year? I can't recall whether I made any, or if I did, whether I kept them. I think that means I need to write them down as well as make goals and resolutions that are measurable. This year I aim to read through the Bible using R.M. Mc'Cheyne's reading plan, which will have me reading the NT, Psalms, and Proverbs twice and the rest of the Bible once. I have other thoughts, ideas on goals, but have nailed them down yet. Like I'd like to make more time to be artsy, and I'd like to run the Marathon for Adoption, and I'd like to read plenty of books, and maybe get back to trying toward some Spanish.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth? My sister in law, Jana.

4. Did anyone close to you die? yes, my grandfather's wife, Karen, in April. Also, a couple of people in our church.

5. What countries did you visit? none. I only left Texas once this year when we went to Oklahoma for a summer vacation with Brian's family.

6. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012? A larger house. Good schools for my children. Better control over my passions.

7. What date from 2012 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? Um, maybe October 11th, because that was Brian and my 15th anniversary.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? Finishing out a year of homeschooling in which I birthed and cared for a baby and juggled four grades and did it pretty well. Sadly things went down hill about two months into this school year, which incidentally, was around the time hazel started walking.

9. What was your biggest failure? Not being able to finish out the year homeschooling all the kids. That makes
me sad since we started with so much promise.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Just a couple of colitis flare ups.

11. What was the best thing you bought? iPhone and iPad? A new car? Food?

12. Whose behavior merited celebration? Hmmm. Not sure.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? Not gonna lie, my sister-in-law's.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, mortgage, church, kids' sports, gas, Margaret's teeth.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? My in laws moving to New Braunfels!

16. What song will always remind you of 2012? Willie Nelson's "Breathe."

17. Compared to this time last year, are you: happier or sadder? I'd say sadder, but not without hope. Last year (2011) was the best year of my life. It was hard to top it. Being pregnant and all those good hormones. Then 2012 came around and the hormone shift and a mobile baby, difficulties with homeschooling, stress....it was a more trying year than the one before.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Create, read, pray, talk with friends.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Exercise (yes, less!) , dilly dally on the Internet, argue with Brian about stupid stuff, speak impatiently, unkindly to my children.

20. How did you spend Christmas?
We stretched it out over several weekends. We were at home Christmas morning, then went to Daddy's house where he hosted the Evans family Christmas dinner. We came home and watched White Christmas that night.

21. How did you spend New Years?
We were at Brian's parent's house in New Braunfels with Brian's sister and her husband and baby. We watched football and talked. On New Year's Day we went to lunch in Gruene, then hugged the family bye, and came home to unpack all our Christmas treasures.

22. What was your favorite tv program? I think the only one I watched was American Idol.

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? no.

24. What was the best book you read? I can't remember.

25. What was your greatest musical discovery? not real sure. Avett Bros., maybe.

26. What did you want and got? a new grill! a new car.

27. What was your favorite film of this year? I didn't see any. We're just not much into movies, tv.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? 37. Went shopping with my mom, then out to dinner with my extended family.

29. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? If I had walked by the spirit more and less by the flesh.

30. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2012? I don't know. Casual for sure. I don't know if there's a name for it, but I spent most my time in jeans ( or cut off jeans) and t shirts or feminine blouses, and boots or Van's. Earthy chic, maybe? Sadly I had no occasions for dressing up this year.

31. What kept you sane? The Word!

32. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? none

33. What political issue stirred you the most? none

34. Who did you miss? My friend, Andrea.

35. Who was the best new person you met? I met several new people at church, and I grew close to some old acquaintances whom I'd known for a long time.

36. Tell us some valuable life lessons you learned in 2012:

Pray about everything! Had so many prayers (big and little) answered this year.
I will not die if I go to bed when the house is still a mess.
I don't have to do it all. I don't have to be it all.
Rest is a good thing.
God is creating a beautiful tapestry of my life. The yellows, and reds, blues, greens, grays, and black all woven together make a work of art of His design. I can rest in the knowledge that He knows what He's doing.