Living Simply

This blog has developed into a blog about living a more simple life, as well as minimalism. Hopefully it will give you ideas how to simplify your life and get the most out of it.

Thursday, January 1, 2015

Happy New Year!

2015...finally!  I'm glad 2014 is over, I had some serious challenges to deal with this spring, and health issues this fall, but it did have some really good moments:

  • Trip to Vegas and the Hoover Dam with Tim, Adam, and Jordan.
  • Jordan went to a mini comicon event for the first time in downtown Mesa (Adam too).
  • I went to a Disciple concert and got to stand AT the front of the stage.
  • Logan graduated high school.
  • Tim and I got to go on our first real vacation alone: Long Beach, a cruise to Catalina Island and Ensenada, Mexico, and the San Diego Zoo.
  • We went to a few Arizona D'backs games at Chase Field.
  • Jordan went to her first real ComiCon with her friend, Ari.
  • Jordan and I went to the D'backs v Miami game where she got to see Saltalamacchia 
  • catch (former Red Sox).
  • Although we had to say goodbye to Furlough, we got to enjoy her for the first half of the year.
  • Jordan and I discovered Arizona Fall League baseball and our team, the Salt River Rafters won the championship.
  • We met a lot of new friends this year, like Christine, Lee, Faye, and Adrienne.
  • We went to the D'backs Nation Annual Christmas Party and got to meet other great fans.
  • We got to enjoy listening to Ian Eric play live a few times, and got to make friends with Aaron Howard just as he released his new album. 
  • Logan started seeing Maria.
  • Logan had the opportunity to work at 2 jobs this year - though he'll cut back to 1 in Feb.
  • Tim got raise after raise and is at the top end of his pay scale and consistently comes in at the top % of his company's drivers. 
  • Our church had the opportunity to merge with Scottsdale Bible Church to create a small venue with the resources of a mega church...and our campus pastor is a Scot! 
  • Adam made Thanksgiving Dinner for everyone, including planning the menu, listing the ingredients needed, paying for it all, and cooking it by himself. It was a quiet, candlelight dinner.
  • Jordan took over Christmas for me this year. She decorated, cleaned, planned, cooked, did days of baking, washed loads and loads of dishes, shopped with me, wrapped gifts, and handled putting it all away for me.
  • My new niece, Ariella Eve, was born 5 weeks early but she's healthy, beautiful, and doing great! 
  • Tim got to take a week's vacation at the end of the year so he was here all through Christmas week.


I wonder what 2015 will hold? I'm ready to see all that will happen in this new year, but before I step into it with both feet, I plan on taking today - New Year's Day - to be thankful for all the blessings we already received in 2015.

What happened in your 2014 to be thankful for?