2013 Year End Review

This year we had a quiet New Year's Eve at home thanks to our infant's sleep problems. Even though it was just the three of us and we intended to go to bed as soon as Kaden would allow, I wanted to find some way to celebrate. We made a nice dinner and watched a movie. Then James and I took some time to reflect on the year and pick out some of our favorite memories.

It's been such an eventful year, spread out across three different countries and multiple phases of life. So instead of naming one or two favorites, I focused on picking a favorite memory or two from each month. Below is a chronological list of some of my favorite moments from 2013!

JANUARY

We got to see Kaden move in an ultrasound for the first time and announced the pregnancy to friends!

 FEBRUARY

Final vacation in Japan, exploring the frozen wonders of the Sapporo Ice Festival

 MARCH

 This was a huge month of transition, so there was no way to narrow it down to just 1...

Wrapped up my ministry with the youth at Misawa AB Chapel

Said farewell to the Samurai and left Japan

 Drove cross country and spent time with family and friends.

 APRIL

Enjoyed a reunion with close friends while James was at SOS in Montgomery, AL

Rockin' out with Nate's band at the Belmont Best of the Best Showcase

 MAY

 This was another mega month as we took one more big cross country roadtrip to say farewell to Stateside family and friends, then made the big move to South Korea!

JUNE

I started making friends with the ladies in the squadron and enjoyed several fun social events

Jon and Claire hosted a combined baby shower for us and the Cienski's

 JULY

July involved much waiting, eating and touring around Seoul as we waited for Kaden's arrival

We particularly enjoyed celebrating the 4th of July with a progressive dinner in Seoul with the Wentzels and Cienskis

 AUGUST

Of course - best memory of the year was the long awaited arrival of our little man

We'll always remember how he was one of three baby Fiends born within 36 hours!

 SEPTEMBER

 The end of August and September brought some doting grandparents to the ROK!

OCTOBER

I became a named Fiendette at our Duck Dynasty themed Show of Colors

We celebrated Kaden's first Halloween at a 1920's themed murder mystery party

 NOVEMBER

Kaden's first trip back to America to spend time with our family!

 DECEMBER

Celebrating Kaden's first Christmas!

Over all, it was a great year! A lot of it revolved around my pregnancy and our transition into parenthood. We look forward to branching out a bit and living a life that's not so baby-centric. James is starting a new job as the head of training with the Operations Support Squadron here on base, and hopes to start his Instructor Pilot upgrade soon. I am facilitating a Bible study on Acts for the Protestant Women of the Chapel and am praying about whether or not to take on a leadership position with them this coming year. We hope to continue traveling, too. Who knows where we'll end up next, so we want to take advantage of overseas tourism opportunities while we're here. Possible destinations include Denali National Park in Alaska (while James is at Red Flag), Maui, Australia or Thailand!

We are so incredibly blessed and look forward to all the ways the Lord continues to guide and challenge us in the future!