13 favorite posts of 2015

For some people, the ending of another year marks aging, missed dreams, and unfinished goals. I don’t get that at the end of a year. I think positive things like yes, I made it another year without killing anyone! or one year older and sexier! Okay, that last one was just ridiculous. But I do think most of us get better with age so I’m not fighting the age battle. I have lots of other battles to fight and the pointless ones just don’t concern me.

So as 2015 comes to a close, I’m looking back on what I loved about 2015 and sharing some of those favorites with you. Yesterday was my favorite things party which is the highlight of my Christmas season. Today I’m taking a look back at some of my most-loved posts from 2015. I wrote some things I really loved this year, some things I’m really proud of. I also wrote some things I’m not super-impressed with, but I think as any writer grows and learns, that’s part of the deal.

For a million different reasons, here’s what I loved the most in 2015:

Why Trusty Chucks // About where this weird blog name came from and how it still fits well almost seven years later.

I’ll pray for you, just not out loud // It’s crazy to see the transformation from this post in January to now, almost a year later. I’m still not the first in line to pray out loud for someone, but it’s becoming less scary and big now. That God-given change in me gives me chills.

The hardest part about teaching // Still, without a doubt the most difficult part of my job.

How I spend time in the Bible // I started this year off with the commitment to read my Bible–really read my Bible–all year long. And I did it! I’m 34 and that’s the first time I’ve ever done that! I’m amazing! And humble! I’m going to be writing more about this next month, but this post still sums up well how I got started and what my routine is.

We all just want to be king // This post is ironic because I talk about my want to be king of all things PTO but that I don’t have the time, and I just need to be willing to serve while others lead. The day I gave my notice at my old job (and I was still questioning whether I had made the right decision), I received an email from my daughter’s principal asking me to come to the PTO committee meeting to decide how the rest of the year would look. It was like God’s little reminder that there were a million little reasons I was quitting my traditional teaching job and that if I just trusted him, he would give me my heart’s desire in so many ways. It actually made me do this weird cry-laugh thing as I read the email. I was just overwhelmed with God’s goodness and faithfulness in all my little wants, no matter how trivial they seem.

When the friendship isn’t healthy // I love that at 34, I can finally start to understand what’s good and healthy about my life and let the rest go. Getting older and wiser is awesome, guys.

The joy of the Lord is my strength *&^% // Running. Still a love/hate relationship with that beast.

How a TV-free summer is changing our family // This idea wasn’t completely planned but it has turned into a game-changer for our family. After our TV-free summer, we transitioned into a TV-free school week where the girls only watch TV on Saturday morning (cartoons! America!) and then we continue with our Sunday night family movie. Some days it’s still tempting to turn the TV on to entertain the girls but the improvement in our lives, their attitudes, and their attention span during other activities has made this something I don’t regret one single bit.

Actually, He will give you more than you can handle. That’s the point. // Still sassy. Still true.

Continuously lost and found // In a year spent in the Bible, I still find myself drifting away from what I know is truth. Just because I like to keep things interesting.

To give an idiot a really nice coat // Mostly I like this post for immature reasons. I got to tell this idiot I quit a few months ago and it was the greatest feeling in the world. I’m not saying it topped the birth of my daughters, but I’m not saying it didn’t either.

How I lost my shit on Saturday // I lost it all and gained so much more. I know some of you are curious as to how the new job is going and it’s going so well! I’ll share more in the new year, I promise.

A roundabout way to tell you I’m thankful // I just like this one because Chris Graham is my favorite. Even when he’s super annoying and he needs a haircut so incredibly bad, I still like him the most. Plus, everything I am in this place and anywhere else I’ve had success is because of his support.

When I started this post, I secretly hoped I would be able to find something I still enjoyed. I’m very critical of my own writing and mostly just notice the things I would like to change as opposed to feel proud about them. Being an over-thinker is my specialty. But I did! I found some things I still liked. Look at me go.

What about you? Did I miss something that you thought should be listed? Do you even remember what I wrote this year? I don’t remember a lot of it, so no pressure.