Taking a glance back at 2011 in hindsight blows my mind. I am overwhelmed with joy to see all that I experienced in the last 12 months! As you time-travel with me, reflecting my journey, please note that there are a few archived posts linked in the text, just in case you felt inclined to check them out 🙂
In January, my husband and I found a cute little apartment that feels bigger than it really is. And we celebrated our 4 year anniversary!
In February we reached a goal that was driving us for nearly two years and we made a video to share the good news with our family and friends!
That’s right! We are officially debt free and it feels so good! This video sort of went viral in our local community and we even heard from Dave Ramsey’s team at Financial Peace University where they interviewed us in regards to being debt free. In February we also stood in front of the cameras to do a “trash the dress” photoshoot in our wedding attire, photographed by Amanda Rachelle Photography!
In March, Aaron’s grandmother passed away, the same weekend the Tsunami destroyed Japan. It was a very emotional weekend. Also in March, with the help of my husband, we launched Unveiled Wife! This has been one of the biggest blessings in our life! I love to write and I have a passion to encourage other married couples! God was so gracious to give us the idea for Unveiled Wife, as well as the growth in the Unveiled Wife community.
In April we had the opportunity to travel to Nicaragua with a missionary team from our church. It was extremely hot and humid, but the joy we experienced was amazing. I love serving God alongside my husband! That was also our first time looking down into an active volcano! Scary! While there we celebrated Aaron’s 28th birthday! YAY!
In May I resigned my position at the preschool to focus on Unveiled Wife, as well as pursue my goal of writing a book.
In June, Aaron and I were gifted “A Weekend To Remember” through Family Life. It was an awesome marriage seminar that provided us tools to grow in our marriage. There was quite a bit of emotional bonding with us during those few days! We both loved it and highly recommend it for EVERY married couple! Here is a snapshot of Aaron and I after we committed vows to passionately pursue each other at the end of the retreat!
My grandpa passed away in the beginning of July and my nephew was born at the end of July. During that month I published two post that really touched my heart. One was in reflection of losing my grandpa and the other was a devotional challenging wives to be committed to their husbands.
In August I had the opportunity to travel to Oregon to see my brother, his wife, and their newborn baby. I fell in love with Oregon (but more so I fell in Love with Baby Lennon!) and I could not wait to come back and visit with Aaron.
During that same trip I also decided to commit to growing my hair color out naturally, and I spontaneously chopped it short 🙂 The Intimacy Crisis also came out in August, which many wives related to.
In September Unveiled Wife’s community on Facebook hit 10,000! I was so excited to see Unveiled Wife growing and the positive encouragements I received for creating such a purpose driven page! I also had a unique opportunity to model for an organization called Anza Tena, which give women in Africa a chance to produce jewelry for profit. Photographed by Logan Cole, Make-up by Amy Clarke
October was crazy. I continued to write my book, along with a few other articles for the blog. One such post included How to find Encouraging Words For Your Husband. My husband and I were staying busy leading a table at FUSE, the marriage ministry at church, and I wrapped up a women’s bible study with some friends of mine, one of which just gave birth to a beautiful baby girl!
November started off with a bang when Aaron and I traveled North to Oregon to see my growing-up-too-fast nephew. It was a short trip, but thrilling none the less. We were also really excited to see Unveiled Wife’s community exceed 30,000! Let’s keep it growing 🙂
And good ole December! This month always passes quickly if I dare to blink. Just before celebrating Christmas I finished my book!!! AHHH… I feel so blessed to have had the time and energy to pour into this book and I cannot wait to share it with the Unveiled Wife community. All in due time 🙂 I will be turning 26 soon, and as I ring in the New Year I have made a few commitments to better my character in my Marriage Resolution 2012!
Whew! What a year!
I want to thank every one of you who have supported Unveiled Wife, following me on this marital journey, and thank you for being an integral part of the community by encouraging and praying for one another! Wives coming together to bless other wives has been a beautiful thing to see. I am praying that 2012 is a life-changing year for all of us! I pray that Unveiled Wife will reach a million wives! I pray that marriages that are broken or are being oppressed in any way would receive healing and freedom! I pray that husbands and wives would find a passionate love for each other and that they center their relationship around God! And I pray for JOY in Jesus Name Amen!
Thank you God! Thank you Aaron! And Thank you Unveiled Wives! I was truly blessed this last year!
I forgot to mention, somewhere in there I enjoyed hanging out with my nieces and nephew playing with iPhone apps! Other victims that appear below are my 80 year old grandmother, a cute little puppy, and Brad, my brother-in-law!
