Okay, one last post on 2014...I promise! I just couldn't leave 2014 without looking back on the BIG moments. 2014 was a wild year. Here are my personal highlights...

I RAN MY FIRST HALF MARATHON

It has been a long time goal for me to run a Half Marathon and last May, I DID IT!!!! I was hoping to run the Good Life one in October but things didn't pan out. I'm hoping to run the Goddess one in June though! I talked a lot about running last year, and I plan on running just as much. Now that we're all moved in, I have NO EXCUSES.

CLICK TO READ MY HALF MARATHON RECAP

I WAS A BAND GROUPIE IN REDDING

Last Summer I travelled down to Redding California with James and some others on our worship team. The team all did Bethel's School of Worship. I went to a few sessions but mainly sweated my face off, ran, swam at the local ymca pool, did summit homework and hung out alone at the house we rented. To be honest, it was a lonely time for me. But it was a REAL GOOD time for me. I looked back on posts and realized I never did actually candidly shared about my time.

I absolutely loved the first Sunday we were at Bethel. The worship was incredible (obvs) and then Kris Vallotton spoke on empowering woman to be leaders and preachers...come on!!!! I was over the moon. During the week I spent a lot of time by myself. Now we need to get one thing straight..I am an extrovert. I am a people person. I can spend time alone but I don't love it. I love being with people. I love talking with people. I LOVE PEOPLE. Extended alone time makes me go crazy. Thank goodness I listened non-stop to the Divergent audiobook to make me think I was with people. The crew was at school almost all day and night that first week. That was hard. They were experiencing so much and I barely had time to debrief with James.

And the conversations I did partake in (with James and others), I didn't really find myself agreeing 100% with. I was frustrated!! I wanted to relate, but I couldn't. And then the next Sunday came. Martin Smith led (amazing OBVS!) and this Ray guy preached. I totally did not relate to his message AT ALL. And at the call (which I can't remember) I found myself as one of the few who did not stand up to respond. But then he makes a statement where I had my "Thank You Jesus, I'm not crazy" moment.

He shared an analogy that some people are like boats and some people are like buildings. He didn't say being one was bad and the other was good. He said how the church needs both buildings and boats. I would go on to quote him more but I would totally get it wrong....but let's just say artsy/creative/musician types tend to be the boats and non-artsy/more analytical/I guess a bit more consistent? (ahhh, I'm really not trying to offend anyone!!! Sorry if it sounds offending!) types tend to be the buildings. I had a revelation right there. I WAS A BUILDING IN A ROOM FULL OF BOATS!!! No wonder I wasn't relating to anything.

It made me realize two things: 1. I missed my building people. 2. Our churches need a lot more of them boat people in leadership because often it is the building types who are in leadership.

Once I realized how differently I was programmed than everyone I was surrounded by, I enjoyed myself a lot more. We are all unique and that is a good thing.

We had a ton of fun on that trip and God showed up in massive ways. I'll never forget it.

I LEARNED ABOUT BLOGGING AT ALT SUMMIT

My assistant/encourager/bestie aka Courtney and I travelled to Salt Lake City to attend ALT (I attended and she explored). Never have I ever had a desire to go to Salt Lake City. The city was kinda blaaah in my books but ALT was amazing!!! I learned SO MUCH, heard from Oh Joy! and MARTHA FREAKING STEWART! Ate amazing food. Met amazing other bloggers (like miss Annie Reeves!!) and just had a really fun time.