I did this last year and I haven’t blogged in a while, so why not do it again! As I look back on 2013, I can honestly say it was probably one of the best years of my life. Sure, there were definitely some tough moments, but with all the great things that happened those have been overlooked.
JANUARY-Dave (my now fiancé…which still feels weird to say) and I went on our first date mid-December 2012 and then he proceeded to go back home to Connecticut for 3 weeks, so January was really the start of us getting to know each other as more than just friends. I spent the first week of January in Santa Barbara visiting my old stomping grounds before heading back to Azusa for the start of the new semester.
Dave and I in San Diego
FEBRUARY-By February, track season was in full swing and we were traveling all over the country to indoor races. Our (Azusa Pacific University) men’s track & field team won the National Christian College Indoor Championships.
Coldest run of my life in Michigan.
MARCH-Besides coaching, part of my job at Azusa Pacific is Assistant Director for an event called the Night of Champions. It’s a 1-day outreach event for about 3,000-4,000 youth in the community. It’s put on by Azusa Pacific and Fellowship of Christian Athletes and it is a great opportunity for us to share the gospel with those kids and provide them with a really fun day. Dave and I went to see Imagine Dragons in concert, which to this day, was probably the best concert I have ever been to!
1st half of the Night of Champions event.
APRIL-It was a busy month of track & field with the outdoor season winding up for APU. Dave and I did manage to sneak in a weekend down in San Diego where we got to spend some time with his best friend and his family and go to a Padres game.
APU Track & Field Coaching Staff at the end of the Bryan Clay Invitational.
MAY-With the end of the school brought the start of summer vacation. I continued racing on my own at some big races but the big highlight of the month was traveling to Connecticut with Dave to meet his family and also having the chance to see some of my family that lives out east as well.
Red Sox game at Fenway Park.
JUNE-My brother got married in June. It was such a great day celebrating a great couple! Dave and I also got to spend a weekend camping/hiking in Yosemite with our good friends.
Preston, Victoria, Donny, Bethany, Dave, and I on our way to Yosemite!
JULY- July was a month with not much time spent in Azusa. My best friend, Victoria, got engaged! I went to Chicago for a week for a coaches education program and then went to Mammoth for a couple weeks for the Altitude Project.
Altitude Project girls on top of Devils Postpile in Mammoth.
AUGUST- Dave celebrated a milestone birthday, and I loved getting to throw him a surprise party. August also brought the end of summer and the start to cross country season. I spent some more time in Mammoth with the APU XC team.
Happy Birthday, Babe!!
SEPTEMBER- I went to a lot of APU soccer games in September. The track team went to Big Bear for a weekend for the annual retreat and the cross country team traveled to Minnesota for one of my favorite races from college, the Roy Griak Invitational.
APU Track & Field team in Big Bear.
OCTOBER- I turned 28 this October. That seems old. I got to celebrate my birthday with the whole family, which is a rare occurrence these days with all of our busy lives. Dave got us annual passes to Disneyland which have been put to very good use so far.
Happy Birthday to me!
NOVEMBER- November was a successful month for APU Cross Country. The women’s team won the Pac West Conference Championship for the 2nd year in a row and the men won the National Christian College Championship. I convinced Dave to run his first (and 2nd) 5k ever. We celebrated Thanksgiving down in Orange County with my family and began preparations for the Christmas season.
APU XC in Cedarville, OH for the NCCAA Championships.
DECEMBER- So much to say about December. It’s probably my favorite month of the entire year every year. I love Christmas and everything that comes with it…the movies, the lights, the parties, the celebration of the birth of Christ. Dave and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary by re-creating our first date with our good friends Preston and Victoria…and to top it all off, we got ENGAGED!! The story and pictures from our engagement will be another post on another day, but December 20, 2013 will go down in history as one of the best days of my entire life!
We’re Engaged!!
I am very thankful for the many opportunities I had this year and the many blessings the Lord provided me with. With 14 being my lucky number and wedding planning in the works, I have no doubt that 2014 will be a great year! I wish you all nothing but happiness and blessings as we start this new year. HAPPY NEW YEAR!