Year in Review

Happy New Year! It's hard to believe that 2012 is here.
I always try to do a year in review post to share with you, and I really enjoy looking back over the events of the past year. I'm always surprised by what I've forgotten and always enjoy seeing how God has taken care of us for another year!
Below you will see my favorite pictures for each month, and also the first sentence from each blog post for that month.

January

"It's time for another recipe."

February

"The good people at CSN stores are offering a giveaway!"

March

"I've been so blessed by the family I was born into."

April


"Isn't this a beautiful barn?"

May

"Have you ever made a photo book online?"

June

"During Andy's time home, I got to be part of something pretty special".

July

"Happy Birthday to the USA!"

August


"I've shared before a few stories about the cute little lady at the nursing home who calls me Coco."






September

"The other day Heather was looking out the dining room window into our backyard, and she said there was something in the tree out there."

October


"We have had such a beautiful Fall here"

November

"Wordless Wednesday"

December

"Last week was a tough week for our family"

The year in review

With the new year right around the corner, I'm doing something that I've done on my blog the last few years. I would love to have you join me!
Post the first sentence of your first blog post of every month, and then add your favorite picture from each month. It's fun to look back!

JANUARY
"We have a New Years Eve tradition"We received record amounts of snow here in January. Andy was in South Korea and got very little, but he sent us this picture to show that he was having fun in the snow too.
~~~

FEBRUARY
"February is the month that we seem to hear a lot about love."
The trees always look beautiful with snow covering their branches.
~~~

MARCH
"I have a count meter on this blog"Andy came home for a short visit after spending a year in South Korea. Here he is visiting a first grade class that had sent him cards while he was gone.
~~~

APRIL
"The recipe I have for you today is..."
I was out for a walk in the evening and the setting sun made this old fence almost glow.
~~~

MAY
"I was in our local sub shop"My sister Cheri and I went to Tulip Time in Holland Michigan and stopped to see this authentic, working Windmill.
~~~

JUNE
"Thanks to everyone who entered my anniversary giveaway."In June we got a new kitten named Oliver. Isn't he cute?
~~~

JULY
"Today is supposed to be Slow Cooking Thursday"

I spent the day with my sister, Terri, who was camping on Lake Michigan. What a beautiful spot!

~~~

AUGUST
"You may remember that we got a kitten a few months ago"
This has to be my picture for August - Andy and Bob greeting each other in a parking lot in Colorado.
~~~

SEPTEMBER "Saturday we had another great day." This was taken when we were in Colorado visiting Andy. What a wonderful trip!
~~~

OCTOBER
"I recently saw this cute video"
This is a picture of our street, with the beautiful colors!
~~~

NOVEMBER "We are pretty happy at our house"
Falling leaves was the story of November. These all fell in a 24 hour period!
~~~

DECEMBER
"Every year my sisters-in-law have a wreath making party"

This picture was taken around the corner from my house, after our first big snowfall of the year.
~~~
That's it for this year. It was fun looking back and I'll see you next year!

Year in Review

This is something I did last year and thought it was a good thing to do again.

"With the New Year right around the corner, this is the perfect time for a peek through the past year of blogging. I would love for you to join in with me! Post the first sentence of your first blog post of each month. Then add a favorite picture from each month. "

January:
"For quite a few years we have gotten together with Bob's brother Tom and family to bring in the new year."

This is a picture I took one morning in January while I was at work.

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February:
"It's been a crazy day for me."
We had record setting snow fall last winter. This is just another snowy picture of our road!
.

March:
"I love music."
This is a picture from my Dad's 77th birthday. From left to right are: Dad, Terri, Duane, Cheri, Mari
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April:
"Look what I found in my mailbox!"
We flew to Virginia to see Andy graduate from his advanced training. After graduation he was allowed to take us into the hanger and show us his beloved Apaches. This is Bob and Andy checking them out.
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May:
"We flew home on Saturday."
We had a surprise 50th birthday party for Bob. We really did surprise him too!
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June:
"I have always loved lilacs."
This is a picture of my front yard in the middle of a rainstorm. We got a lot of rain in June.
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July:
"Today is a special Works for me Wednesday."This is from a post I did about our cat Cleo and how upset she was about being forced to wear this ridiculous outfit!
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August:
"We are back and a good time was had!" We went camping with Terri and Cheri. This is a picture of Heather, Bob, Laura and Aaron looking out over Lake Michigan.
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September: "Last week Heather and I made a visit to WJQ, the radio station we listen to."Finally I was able to post a picture of our completed kitchen!

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October:
"It's time to visit Sandra and see what great slow cooker recipes she has for us today."
This is a picture I took at Sleeping Bear Dunes when Bob and I went for a little getaway.
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November:
"The big election is Tuesday."

This is a picture out of my living room window. Many trees were empty of leaves, but others were still hanging on.

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December

"It's time for Tips on Tuesday"

This is a picture from Christmas of my kids at home in front of Andy on the webcam.

When a year comes to an end we often think about what we need to work on in the year ahead. Here is a verse I think is appropriate for the last day of the year:

"No, dear brothers and sisters, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven. " Philippians 3:13-14