Year in Review: 2013

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This year has been one of exploring, and facing down fears, and claiming my truths.

As I was looking back over the year, I was going to mention the couple of months that were really hard, and then realized those months were Febuary-October. Sooo…… most of the year was really hard and stressful. These last couple of months have been such a relief, I’ve almost forgotten how hard it all was.

Job hard. Moving hard. Church hard. Friends hard.

I would not have imagined choosing a word could be so painful and so freeing. Wanting to be authentic – being bold in claiming who I am – was a driving force in picking the word Bold. And it led to a lot of the stress of the year, but it also was an incredible instigator for personal growth.

Apparently some people aren’t very receptive when you begin to be honest about what you feel and believe. And apparently, some friends aren’t shy about telling you how you aren’t a real Christian.   So that’s always fun.

I’ve had to learn (again) boundaries and what safe relationships are like. That not everyone gets to know what’s going on with me. That there are levels of friendship and layers of knowing.

I’ve come out of the mess of this year with a lot more confidence, a lot less apologetic for being who I am. You have to know who you are to take a risk in standing up for it.

Being bold ultimately made me less passive with my life.

I became more proactive in wanting to see and do things:

 

Year started with a free anniversary trip to Penn State. I love university campuses.

 

We took a quick trip out west, and I walked around L.A. alone and flew alone.  Which probably sounds lame, but I’m from small towns. I don’t do stuff like that. (I’ve also found it harder with things like that because I look like I’m 16. If I looked 32 it might not be as big of a deal.) 

 

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Took a quick trip to Los Angeles

 

Jamie
I met Jamie

 

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Saw the Pacific for the first time.

 

Alyssa
Met Alyssa

 

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Had sushi for the first time (and octopus for the first time.)

 

Kelley
I had dinner with Kelley.

 

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I flew all by myself.

I explored a lot more of Chicago (Little India, Chinatown, Andersonville, Boystown) and even learned to drive in and out of the city without GPS.

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Back to Chicago for STORY

 

I fully embraced our move to Virginia and leaving Michigan.

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I single parented 5 kids for a month.

 

lake
Said goodbye to Michigan.

 

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Packed everything we owned into a truck.

 

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Said hello to the Atlantic.

 

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Enjoying our proximity to D.C.

 

I was bold in trying out a new way of faith and fell in love.

I even made 2 things for the first time. I created a class on Midrash for the Made art and faith e-course, and an advent e-book.

I’ve learned to keep looking for those like-minded people, because they’re out there. We really weren’t made to go it alone. Between traveling and conferences, I met and reconnected with so many people and it was a source of life in all of the stress.

 

retreat
Retreating with friends.

 

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Chicago with friends over the summer.

 

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Hung out with Anne, Alison, and Leanne on the beach.

 

Even with all the pain and agony and hurts, I would much rather live honestly than giving into the fear. Being bold didn’t mean the fear I had went away. I just got used to it and did everything anyway.

I’ve learned how important encouragement is. When you’re discouraged and feeling abandoned, having people come alongside you is so important. Even a quick FB message or Vox can be a ring of hope when you’re drowning.

Sometimes life is just really hard, no matter what we do. And sometimes it all really goes to hell when we decide to start telling the truth.

But sometimes, sometimes, he really does restore what the locust has eaten.

I can’t believe how content, how happy, how at peace I am.   I’m in a church that fits, in a neighborhood I love, in a state I adore. Sometimes he restores.

 

On the blog this year – by far the most popular posts were the series on the True Womanhood 101 study.

Books I read this year that have stuck with me:
Wisdom of Stability
The Prophetic Imagination
Community
Prototype
Inspiration and Incarnation
Jesus Feminist
East of Eden
An Altar in the World
When We Were On Fire
Daring Greatly
Soil and Sacrament

Music I’ve found and loved:
Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors
David Ramirez
Matt Moberg
Imagine Dragons
Of Monsters and Men
Chris Pureka
Glen Hansard
Patty Griffin

7 Comments

  1. MorganGuyton December 31, 2013 at 8:15 pm

    I’ve enjoyed the boldness. Keep doing your thing!

  2. Carol Vinson January 1, 2014 at 2:46 pm

    Here’s to hard years and the promises they lead to! So good to know we are not alone…

  3. Alyssa Bacon-Liu January 1, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    Glad I made it into the 2013 roundup 🙂

    Your 2013 sounds like a whirlwind! But you made it through & here’s to a great 2014!

  4. Briana Meade January 2, 2014 at 9:49 am

    Wow. Caris, what a year! I love how you said this: “And sometimes it all really goes to hell when we decide to start telling the truth. But sometimes, sometimes, he really does restore what the locust has eaten.” So, so, true. But also hard to live out without His help. Oh, and I am so glad I found your “like-minded” blog. Really enjoying your reflections. (Also makes me sort-of miss Chi-town) 🙂

  5. Caris Adel January 2, 2014 at 1:38 pm

    I just read your post for Danielle and then was like ‘I think I saw this name earlier’, lol Glad to meet you 🙂 I think we had very similar years – just read your looking for a job post!

  6. Benjamin Moberg January 5, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    My brother is on your music list!!! I KNOW HIM, I KNOW HIMMM!!

  7. Cara Strickland January 5, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    Oh Caris, so much wonderfulness here. I’m echoing a lot of it, lovely. So glad that we met in 2013.
    Looking forward to walking 2014 with you.

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