Ooh, 2013 was quite a year, wasn’t it?!

As I was looking back over the year to put together this post of my bests and favorites for the year, it seemed like a LONG year. We packed a lot into these twelve months and I’m sure I’ve forgotten half the wonderful things that happened! So I’m just going to apologize now for leaving some stuff out because it’s bound to happen with this mom-brain…

Top Blog Posts of 2013

{according to Google Analytics}

1. 10 Favorite Christian Running Songs {May 2013}
2. Why a Mom’s Body Image Matters to Her Sons
3. Less Yelling, More Praying: Bible Verses to Pray
4. My Half Marathon Playlist
5. Insanity Mom
6. High Five Morning Routine for Kids
7. The Love Dare for Parents
8. My Experience with Stitch Fix {you can read about my follow-up experience here}
9. 13.1 Books for 2013 {I read at least 13 books this year, but didn’t get to all of these!}
10. Easter Week with the Jesus Storybook Bible

Favorite Books of 2013

• Sparkly Green Earrings by Melanie Shankle
• Upside Down Prayers for Parents by Lisa T. Bergren
• Connecting Church and Home by Tim Keller
• The Memory Jar and The Promise Box by Tricia Goyer
• 24/6 by Matthew Sleeth
• The Grand Tour Series by Lisa T. Bergren
• Love Does by Bob Goff
• Start by Jon Acuff
• Desperate by Sarah Mae and Sally Clarkson

Favorite Songs of 2013

• Middle of Your Heart by For King and Country
• Lord, I Need You by Matt Maher
• Awake My Soul by Chris Tomlin
• The League of Incredible Vegetables by Newsboys

Favorite Moments of 2013

• Celebrating our tenth wedding anniversary in Vegas
• Watching The Hubby cross the finish line of his first full marathon
• Family road trip to Mississippi
• Running a half marathon in under two hours with the help of one of my best friends
• Watching Double J take his first step and grow into a daring, hilarious boy
• Being asked on a date by Little J
• Taking Big J to LifeLight Music Festival
• A day-long relay with great girlfriends
• Ice-skating, sledding, and building a snowman with our extended families
• Retreating and ziplining with amazing, dreaming, brave women + men

Really, it was an amazing year. A year to celebrate.

And God stretched me a lot this year, as well. Most of the time I was kicking and screaming as He tried to help me grow, which left me tired and frustrated, but my eyes are much wider open to His plans for me going into 2014. He gave me a word a few months ago that I will share with you tomorrow as my word of the year and I’m holding tightly to it changing the way He works in EVERY part of my life!

I want to leave you with one thought as this year ends and a new begins…

I don’t have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way that He loves us… ~David Crowder

This is not a time to dwell on the regrets of 2013, but to bask in His great love and move forward into 2014! Oh, how He loves you, friend, and has big plans for each of us this new year!

Thank you to all who have joined us along the way and those who have been here for years – I treasure each one of you and pray for you often!

Happy New Year!