A LOOK BACK AT 2016

Every year I do one of these posts where I look back at our highlights.  2016 had highs and lows, pretty much like all years and like life in general.  I think in the big picture of our nation, 2016 was rough and divisive, and I've been heartbroken watching people tear one another apart and only see their own perspective.  Thankfully, that does not dictate all factions of our life.  Here are a few of our highlights!


(fam pictures by Main Street Studios)

Lily turned seven years old and had a super fun Lego party.

I began and *mostly* completed a Magical Tidying journey in our home.  (I need to round out this in 2017, mainly in my craft room, as Lily keeps reminding me.)

Bella trusted Jesus to be her Savior!



John and I enjoyed our trip to CFA Next and Harry Potter World - though it was not without a ton of drama on the home front.



We traveled with friends for Spring Break to Memphis - so much fun!



William and Violet turned three years old and celebrated with a Very Hungry Caterpillar party.

John and I managed a super quick trip to NYC and got to see Jimmy Fallon's monologue rehearsal among other fun things!



We spent a lot of time on the lake this summer, first going to Hot Springs with some of our college BFFs, then going with some of our Little Rock friends and then again with our Hot Springs friends.  Thanks, friends!





We also saw Falling Waters in AR for the first time, again with friends.  I'm sensing a theme here - we love hanging out with our friends. 😂



John and William had their first big Father/Son Getaway to St. Louis to see the Dodgers play.

We hung out with my family in Kansas and spent even more time on the lake.  It truly was a lake summer for us.



All of our children went to school in August, which I was highly dramatic about for many months in a row.

We have survived the advent of school, and I might even go as far as to say that we are thriving.  Turns out, God really does know best for our family.

September was a wild and crazy month with a lot of travel - first we headed to the Dominican Republic with good friends which was such a FUN trip and actually relaxing!



Then, I joined a group of like-minded women to visit Africa New Life based in Kigali, Rwanda - it truly was an amazing trip.



Bella turned six years old and had a 101 Dalmatians Jumping Party.

We saved the world for Halloween this year!



The last couple of months have been a whirlwind of holidays and cookies.  It's been truly great, but also rather exhausting.  And when I look back at the rest of the year, I can see that it's had a lot of fun moments for us, but this post misses out on a lot of the hardness.  The sum total of both leaves us tired at the end of 2016.



We are looking forward to seeing what 2017 holds for our family and trusting God with what he has for our family.  He is so faithful and good in all things, and I'm thankful to know him.

Happy New Year from the Spenst family!