2012 in review (better late than never!)
Email inbox cleaned out. Check.
Penny found that her frenzy of curls can become a supple bed of straight brown hair through the magic of salon experts. So, when we have a spare 4 hours in our day, we attempt to straighten her God-given frizz. (Never am I asked my opinion, so Im going to give it freely here: i LOVE her curls!)
And then the saddest moment of the year, Penny's grandmother dying suddenly. In fear, I drove at 5 a.m. to inform Penny of the news, and thus began a really long, hard time of life here. This is the scattering of Grandma Carol's ashes at Kalk Bay Harbour.
On the upswing, my Moldovan sister Galina got ENGAGED to an incredible guy! In May of 2013, I get to stand beside her and publicly thank God for this union, and CELEBRATE this incredible story of love, not just between Galina and Cooper Brown, but between Galina and Jesus Christ who has radically chased her down and finally caught her. Chills....
Um, this is awesome! My parents broke the mold and bought a REAL christmas tree! I wasn't there, but it was a well-documented day thanks to Christy Ridings. Look at the joy in this picture. It is one of the happiest moments I can remember :) My dad's so caught up in the moment, he's flashing the camera a "peace" sign. Hilarious!
Penelope Marco turned 16! Kinda unreal.
I spent 3 days on a lavender farm in Franschoek, alone with Jesus :)
HaHa, I sang in public! Look how awkward that was. Peter Lovick, my boss-man at Living Grace, called me out in front of everyone at our Spring Tea event because of how awkward I was. White girls can't dance, especially when on the fringes of a group of soul-rockin' brown people.
Brian (known as Brianie in years past, but that's apparently a kids name...sorry Mr Brian) turned 21. I mean, really? I met him at 14 when he was sleeping under the awning of a nightclub. This is so amazing to me, not just that he made it to 21, but that he's not in prison or on drugs or impregnating women. He's in school and living in safety. Jesus (and Beth Uriel), we salute you!
Penny made a cake with a chicken on it, and real kernels of corn for added effect. Not sure why, but that deserves to make the blog!
Enrico got dunked by his dad! Fun morning celebrating new birth in Christ. (this may have been in 2011, now that I think about it, but whatever!)
I launched an art component to our program at Living Grace. Just call me pioneer woman. It's a fun part of our week, sitting in a pile of glue sticks and plastic scissors and colors of paper and glitter, and seeing what these guys come up with. All the while listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Yum!
Beth Rapha bought a house! And nailed a mezuzah to the doorpost in honor of our respect for our Jewish roots. Awesome night of fantastic food and lots of thanksgiving. God saved Beth Rapha!
I found a butternut bigger than my head. What in the world!??!?
My brothers Brandon and Enrico completed a year at Beth Rapha and are now out saving the planet. These two are the greatest! Brandon's now a programme director at the YMCA, and Enrico's back doing what he loves: taking pictures!
We graduated close to 5 groups of clients this past year at Living Grace. Here's one of those groups.
Lucy Denne was born! Woop Woop. This child makes me so happy. I love having her in my life :)
You didn't believe me did you? Im still on a high from this night. And Penny committed her first petty crime: she took a pair of scissors and cut this off a street lamp for me. Is it wrong that I told her she was the coolest child ever?!?
Finally made my way to the West Coast National Park to see all the pretty flowers! Look at them!!!
We graduated a group of certified First Aid guys from Beth Rapha. Now, when I accidentally burn myself drinking too much coffee, I am safe!
Went camping. That's no minor victory, guys.
Penny finished her first book! Well done, Kiddo!
Then she emptied the pantry and hid in it. I think she saw how excited i was that she was reading and not listening to annoying teenage music that she feared for her life.
Friends from home came to say hi! Youth group reunited...
Beth Rapha got sponsored by a ridiculously awesome grocery store in Cape Town. Now we eat like kings! this is ONE WEEK's donations. Thank you Jesus!
I found out that artichoke look like this when you let them blossom!!!! Purple heaven :)
Raymond at Living Grace turned into a white dude. I was a bit disappointed by that one.
More graduations!!!
Penny passed Grade 9, and we burned her Accounting book in celebration!
Then she decided to straighten her hair herself. Um...
I turned 33. I always think of Jesus when I think of 33. Imagine life being over now. SO weird. Thanks to Him, I can have a full life for as many more years as he gives me. Awesome friends helping me celebrate!
And then my bro turned 50! Talk about an old man. I love him so much. Wish I could have joined in the party. Mike, you are one of my heroes.
And best of the best, my sweet love Simon came to good ole' Nashville with me. He met the folks, charmed the masses, made his bed every morning like he was in the army, ate Chipotle til he turned into a Mexican, and loved every single thing about the South. I know how to pick me a good one! This man is maybe the greatest thing of 2012...he has displayed the love of Jesus to me. I know Im beautiful now, I know Im special, I know Im safe, I know Im loved. Massive breakthrough in my heart, thanks to God's love pouring through my sweet Simon.
2012 Journal overview. Check.
Mandatory New Years FB post. Check.
Blog update. Eeek. When did I go from be super-blogger to hardly ever thinking to come on here and update this once-loved world of blogging? I could put it on my new years resolutions list, to blog more...alongside my "keep in better contact with friends and family over the world, exercise, start eating better, simplify, etc"
But instead, Im just going to start with this blog, today, and see where it takes us! I hope you enjoy 2012 in review...
I mean, let's start with what is really most important in life: coffee. You think I'm kidding? Well, maybe I am supposed to have lots of pious and missionary-ish things to say, but coffee really is a pretty significant part of my life. It feels familiar in my hands, which helps me in life. It's warm when Cape Town winter invades my rickety, old apartment building, my Toms as Im walking to the train station, or my heart when Im pining for mushy, wet Tennessee summers. A salute to my friend Nic Hudson who started a coffee business AT Beth Rapha! This is like the most winning combo ever: love my work and love my coffee in its steady flow from our kitchen to my office! Oh yes :)
I mean, let's start with what is really most important in life: coffee. You think I'm kidding? Well, maybe I am supposed to have lots of pious and missionary-ish things to say, but coffee really is a pretty significant part of my life. It feels familiar in my hands, which helps me in life. It's warm when Cape Town winter invades my rickety, old apartment building, my Toms as Im walking to the train station, or my heart when Im pining for mushy, wet Tennessee summers. A salute to my friend Nic Hudson who started a coffee business AT Beth Rapha! This is like the most winning combo ever: love my work and love my coffee in its steady flow from our kitchen to my office! Oh yes :)
Penny found that her frenzy of curls can become a supple bed of straight brown hair through the magic of salon experts. So, when we have a spare 4 hours in our day, we attempt to straighten her God-given frizz. (Never am I asked my opinion, so Im going to give it freely here: i LOVE her curls!)
Jon Foreman came to the Motherland!!!!! August 11, 2012 will go down in history as BY FAR one of my most favorite days on the planet. It may sound extreme, but this man's lyrics, vision, and crazy creativeness have gotten me through D-A-R-K days of life. He's pretty much the greatest!
And...I got THIS close to him at the concert. During my favorite-est of songs ("Restless"), he decided to make a run for me. He stood a few rows back, looking for me I'm sure. I hurled over men, women, and small children, crushing all in my path in an attempt to catch his gaze. All I got was this AWESOME shot of his back. Oh my gosh, he's cool!
The best concert I've ever seen! What entertainers :)
And then the saddest moment of the year, Penny's grandmother dying suddenly. In fear, I drove at 5 a.m. to inform Penny of the news, and thus began a really long, hard time of life here. This is the scattering of Grandma Carol's ashes at Kalk Bay Harbour.
On the upswing, my Moldovan sister Galina got ENGAGED to an incredible guy! In May of 2013, I get to stand beside her and publicly thank God for this union, and CELEBRATE this incredible story of love, not just between Galina and Cooper Brown, but between Galina and Jesus Christ who has radically chased her down and finally caught her. Chills....
Um, this is awesome! My parents broke the mold and bought a REAL christmas tree! I wasn't there, but it was a well-documented day thanks to Christy Ridings. Look at the joy in this picture. It is one of the happiest moments I can remember :) My dad's so caught up in the moment, he's flashing the camera a "peace" sign. Hilarious!
I spent 3 days on a lavender farm in Franschoek, alone with Jesus :)
Brian (known as Brianie in years past, but that's apparently a kids name...sorry Mr Brian) turned 21. I mean, really? I met him at 14 when he was sleeping under the awning of a nightclub. This is so amazing to me, not just that he made it to 21, but that he's not in prison or on drugs or impregnating women. He's in school and living in safety. Jesus (and Beth Uriel), we salute you!
Went and rocked it at Jesus Culture with Simon and some friends. Funnnn night of worship and jumping around like a crazy person, one of my other specialties :)
Penny made a cake with a chicken on it, and real kernels of corn for added effect. Not sure why, but that deserves to make the blog!
I launched an art component to our program at Living Grace. Just call me pioneer woman. It's a fun part of our week, sitting in a pile of glue sticks and plastic scissors and colors of paper and glitter, and seeing what these guys come up with. All the while listening to the Vince Guaraldi Trio. Yum!
Oh the places our feet have taken us. Part of an art project of one of our clients.
Beth Rapha bought a house! And nailed a mezuzah to the doorpost in honor of our respect for our Jewish roots. Awesome night of fantastic food and lots of thanksgiving. God saved Beth Rapha!
My brothers Brandon and Enrico completed a year at Beth Rapha and are now out saving the planet. These two are the greatest! Brandon's now a programme director at the YMCA, and Enrico's back doing what he loves: taking pictures!
You didn't believe me did you? Im still on a high from this night. And Penny committed her first petty crime: she took a pair of scissors and cut this off a street lamp for me. Is it wrong that I told her she was the coolest child ever?!?
Finally made my way to the West Coast National Park to see all the pretty flowers! Look at them!!!
We graduated a group of certified First Aid guys from Beth Rapha. Now, when I accidentally burn myself drinking too much coffee, I am safe!
Went camping. That's no minor victory, guys.
Penny finished her first book! Well done, Kiddo!
Then she emptied the pantry and hid in it. I think she saw how excited i was that she was reading and not listening to annoying teenage music that she feared for her life.
Friends from home came to say hi! Youth group reunited...
Beth Rapha got sponsored by a ridiculously awesome grocery store in Cape Town. Now we eat like kings! this is ONE WEEK's donations. Thank you Jesus!
I found out that artichoke look like this when you let them blossom!!!! Purple heaven :)
Raymond at Living Grace turned into a white dude. I was a bit disappointed by that one.
More graduations!!!
Penny passed Grade 9, and we burned her Accounting book in celebration!
Then she decided to straighten her hair herself. Um...
I turned 33. I always think of Jesus when I think of 33. Imagine life being over now. SO weird. Thanks to Him, I can have a full life for as many more years as he gives me. Awesome friends helping me celebrate!
And then my bro turned 50! Talk about an old man. I love him so much. Wish I could have joined in the party. Mike, you are one of my heroes.
And best of the best, my sweet love Simon came to good ole' Nashville with me. He met the folks, charmed the masses, made his bed every morning like he was in the army, ate Chipotle til he turned into a Mexican, and loved every single thing about the South. I know how to pick me a good one! This man is maybe the greatest thing of 2012...he has displayed the love of Jesus to me. I know Im beautiful now, I know Im special, I know Im safe, I know Im loved. Massive breakthrough in my heart, thanks to God's love pouring through my sweet Simon.
So, that's it! What a year it's been. And 2013, deemed the year of NO-STRESS, is sure to be a doozy. Im loving it :)
xoxo
Ahhhh...beautiful.
ReplyDeletegood stuff Ash. Really enjoyed. can't wait until January 2014 to learn how this year went ;o)Love you. dad
ReplyDeleteAshley,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your sharing with your beautiful heart!
Rebecca/TN