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life{in}grace

live with more presence, passion, & purpose

Best of 2012, the people and the places

by 196 Comments

I am so blessed and I know it.

I have the most amazing friends and family.

This post makes me happy because it’s full of people I love!

In February, I went to Blissdom and had so much fun with Ruth and Patty and Emily.  I learned a lot.  And I’m seriously contemplating going this year.  Blissdom.  In Texas.  It’s like it was meant for me.

In March, I spoke at the Pearl Event and finally met PAIGE!!!!!   I was so honored that Sibi asked me to join this amazing group of women and I’m totally smitten with Sarah.

 We also went to San Diego for our niece’s wedding and finally took our girls to Disneyland.

In July, we hosted our whole family for a week for a housewarming party.  It was awesome.

In July, I went to the Circe Conference.  It was life-changing!  I’m going again this year.

In September, I went to Texas with my Lutheran girlfriends.  I LOVE these girls and am so glad I got to spend a weekend with them. It was a serious boot and theology extravaganza.

In September, Better Homes and Gardens came and shot our house for this month’s issue.  It was truly a dream come true, for both Darlene and me.  I’m still pinching myself!  I met the greatest people that week.  I feel so blessed by the opportunity.

I also was lucky enough to host a open house with some girlfriends and to have Ruth and her girls come visit!

 

In October, I helped my sister with a square dance party for her daughter’s 16th birthday.   Square dances rule the world.

In November, I hosted Thanksgiving for my big, crazy family AND JamieKnoxville and my niece Jordan were here for a week.  So. much. fun.

And that brings us to December.  I need a whole post on our Christmas festivities!  Maybe I’ll get that in before the end of the year.

Does my site seem to be working better for you all?

Hope so.

And now it’s your turn.

Tomorrow, I’m going to link to some of my favorite posts from around the interwebs.

Do you have a favorite post from this year, either yours or anyone else’s?

Link to it in the comments and maybe I’ll add it to my ‘great posts of 2012’ round up.

Okay?  K.

Let me close with two of my favorite people from 2012.

The Civil Wars.  I’m praying they will make more music in 2013.

 

 

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Amy Avery says

    Hey there friend! I want to first tell you that knowing you and reading your blog has been a great blessing to me over the last sevral years. This past year for me has been an especially difficult one, but I continued to inch along and you are one of the reasons I decided to write this post http://averytnfamily.blogspot.com/2012/11/finding-sweet-spot-in-vulnerability.html. I had all but given up on the joy I have found in the blog world but you (although you may not have known it) always inspired me. And so I decided to reinvest ino myself and allow myself to be out there again. Life as you know is not always easy breezy. But even in the darkest of times we can find God’s light shining through in the faces of others we come to know along the way. You have always been a very bright and inspirational light to me and so many others. I appreciate you for your willingness to allow God’s light ot shine through and bring healing and inspiration to others like me. I hope to see you in the New Year 2013. May God continue to bless you and your amily in the year to come!

    Reply

  2. Julie Ann Blevins says

    Hi Edie. What a great, blessed year you had! I love how KNOW you are blessed……kind of like that little song…. “If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands…stomp your feet….etc.”! So enthusiastic!!! I feel so blessed to have made an acquaintance of you and the other ladies at the Pearl Event! They are wonderful, sweet women. Like you, true warriors of God!!! I loved your BH&G article and I hope they do another one! Thanks for enriching my life through your blogs. I hope your leg is mending and I will be praying for you and your family. xxoo

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  3. Candace says

    The blog is working great on my phone now! 🙂 I put up a Best Of 2012 post today too! 🙂 not really my best posts, but more of the goodness God did in our lives in 2012. It truly is amazing to look back and see Him at work!!

    Reply

  5. Melinda Hartzog says

    My mother brought me the January issue of Better Homes and Gardens today and said, “I thought you would like to see this….They’ve been through a house fire as well”. Ours was four years ago and I found the piece in BHG so inspiring. I especially love your philosophy about following decorating rules. Couldn’t agree more with you and find it refreshing that you had the gumption to say it! You know what you love and that’s what counts! So glad to have found your blog. I will visit often. All the best in the new year! Melinda

    Reply

  7. melissa stover says

    i really want to go to blissdom this year. i hope i win a ticket. i’ve missed seeing you and so many other friends. i don’t travel enough. i need more travel in my life this year.

    Reply

  8. paige says

    oh my gosh. i’m in all caps. i declare “this” post as my fave 😉
    smooch!!!!
    i’m loving your best of series. i’ll be doing good to get one up!
    oh & high five. i didn’t get that script thingie when i opened your blog up tonight!
    oxoxo

    Reply

  9. Catherine says

    Hi Edie,

    Two days in a row: so nice to have your blog working again! I kept thinking I should send you a message, but I couldn’t even get the blog to work for me to do so. 🙂

    Interesting you ask about a favorite post. My favorite blog this year was one of yours: My Poverty (and yours). I liked it so much, I read it to about 120 women at my church Advent brunch. I hope that was okay…I remember telling the women that although the words weren’t mine, I certainly felt like they could be. I kept asking the Lord, really? This is what I’m supposed to read on this nice, tidy, happy occasion? Because that post was real. It was authentic.
    It hit me between the eyes. It was a challenge from the Holy Spirit to stop and be still, to know that He is God.

    Reading it made me feel like you were in my head, wrestling with the same things that challenge me: to live as Christ, not as Catherine. And while it may seem an unusual Advent message, I felt like as we entered the holy season of Christ’s birth, we needed to be reminded why He came, why we need Him so very desperately. To be reminded that apart from Him, we have nothing, and that our need of Him is so great. That in the season of Christmas, we must be reminded it is we who receive the only gift that really matters. Emmanuel, God with us! What love.

    Thanks Edie for putting yourself out there, for answering the call. For walking in obedience, and putting into words what I often think {just read your “why I won’t read 50 shades of gray” and all I can say is AMEN sister!}. And your fabulous decorating is like a little cherry on top.

    Reply

  10. Kellee says

    Edie this is so lovely! I had the best time in Texas too and am so glad to have met you in person. Here’s to more discussions of boots and theology in the new year.

    Reply

  11. Patty Palmer says

    Thank you so much for sharing your life through your blog. I love popping in every now and again for some doses of color and style inspiration. I can’t wait to see the BH & G’s issue. Congratulations! Wishing you a colorful 2013.

    Reply

  12. Heather says

    It was so wonderful to meet all you ladies in Texas! It looks like you’ve had quite the year though 🙂

    Only recently have I learned that fellowship is such a rich blessing. Hugs to you for the new year!

    Reply

  13. Ruth says

    Your blog is loading beautifully now. No more troubles. I love every post you write. Your blog is a place I come to be inspired, encouraged, and challenged. It’s a place of truth and honesty. A peek into your life and days and tips on improving our owns, even in the smallest ways sometimes. My favorites this year were My Poverty and Yours, Why I Almost Gave Up Homeschooling, and your31 Days to a Heart of Hospitality. I blogged about some changes I made to improve our home after reading your series-http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/2012/11/hospitality-begins-at-home.html?m=1
    Another of my favorite posts is this one-http://farmgirlinmyheart.blogspot.com/2012/10/baby-on-way.html?m=1-filled with all the baby goodies for my sister’s bundle of joy.
    There truly are so many amazing posts out there in blog land and I wish I had links to all of them. Jamie at Craftyscrappyhappy.net recently remodeled an outdated lake house and I think you would adore it. Also Craftberrybush always has gorgeous posts. These are a few of my favorites.
    One of these days I would love to meet you. Wouldn’t you just love a trip to New England??!!

    Reply

  14. Lori says

    Hi Edie. I enjoy your wonderful blog. I got my better homes and garden magazine in the mail this week and was looking through it and found this living room I loved and promptly turned the page corner down…little did I know that when I turned the page I’d see your picture! I commented out loud, “oh Edie, I’m so excited you’re in bhg!” My husband asked who I was talking to and I replied, “my blog friend, Edie!” He just smiled. Keep up the great work and happy new year.

    Reply

  16. 17 Perth says

    What a wonderful year!!! And BHG? That is awesome! Not to mention that ranch you stayed at with your friends–um– I think I must plan a trip with my girls too! Blessings for 2013!!

    Reply

  17. Sibi says

    Happy New Year to you beautiful friend!!

    You have had one incredible and very blessed year!! Congratulations again on your incredible article and layout in BH& G!!!! So proud of you and for you!!

    I was so overjoyed and honored to have you share your heart words and testimony at The Pearl Event this year! You were such a blessing!!!!

    I miss you something awful and believe we need to have a meet up soon. Love you to pieces.

    Thank you for the many ways you are an example to so many of us. Mother, wife, friend, Christian and beautiful blogger and so much more!! Love you so….xoxo Sibi

    Reply

  18. tara lowry says

    your article in BHG was UH mazing. seriously.
    mother of reinvention…um yes! you sure are.

    love your home….love your heart…..loving these series you are doing.

    Reply

  19. Chrissy collins says

    Your site is working great!! I’m glad…,.thanks for your posts I opened my home to neighbors and friends thanks to your series!!!! It is always so comforting to me knowing that you can connect with women all around the world. Happy new year!

    Reply

  20. patty says

    just able to access your blog for the first time in weeks, edie! :))
    thanks for the link (makes me crave tx more!)… your ski trip looked like great fun… wishing you the best on those glittered wings of 2013.

    Reply

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