2016 || Year in Review

It's hard to believe 2016 has come to a close. We are thankful for another year full of life and grace. It wasn't always perfect this year, but there are still a lot of reasons to count our blessings. After all, there is always, always, always something to be thankful for :). 

Out of the 2,648 pictures showing up in Mom's media vault (doesn't count pictures from her phone!), I've picked 21 that I feel like sum up our year pretty well...

In celebration of the winter birthdays, we enjoyed a fun family getaway to Chicago in January!

Mom and Dad's trip to Cancun in February was something they will always treasure...

the three of us kids enjoyed spending a week in Georgia while Mom and Dad were gone.

Toastmaster Speech class was a big accomplishment in the spring! 

Also in the spring, we tackled another remodeling project turning one room into two!

Our Easter Traveling Supper was a lot of work but a huge highlight. 

We celebrated Malachi's 8th birthday in May...

... and Mom's 40th!! 

Marcus graduated from eighth grade this year...

With June came my 16th birthday, drivers license, and my own car! 

we enjoyed a couple trips to Kansas over the summer and many weekends with cousins! 

We are thankful for another successful and rewarding gardening season! 

Our 10 day trip to Washington DC and Philadelphia was a highlight for all of us!! It was such an awesome week and blessed in so many ways ... such a treasure! 

Art and Consumer Economics classes in November...

Only some of us would consider snow a highlight :) 

Lastly, an exciting accomplishment from 2016 that I don't think has been mentioned on the blog before is our family Bible reading challenge! Last January 1st, Dad gave us all reading plans and challenged us to read through the Bible in the year of 2016 (Jared and Lily only read through the New Testament and Kenan did not participate). It was a good thing to do together as a family and it's a satisfying feeling to have read through the whole Bible (for those of us who are done, that is... ahem). There were definitely some days where it was hard to fit it in or maybe hard to understand, but looking back, it was a good challenge... so thanks, Dad :). 

In closing, bring on 2017 :). While we don't know what is ahead in the new year, we are secure in the hope we find in Christ! May we all learn to trust Him more throughout the coming year and praise Him with renewed passion. Happy New Year!