Top 11 of 2011

It's the last day of 2011, and it's 64 degrees outside here in Arkansas. We spent the day at a local park and driving around enjoying the beautiful weather. But before the clock strikes midnight, I want to try to narrow down the best moments of the year. (I started with about 16 favorite moments, so this list should be easier as the years go on.)

Here are 11 of my favorite moments of 2011. 

1. Reese's baptism at Trinity Grace Church in January. It was a wonderful celebration and service. Rachel Billingsley sang (the most incredible voice), lots of family in the congregation, and a fabulous lunch at our house after church.

2. SNOW. We had SO much snow this past winter that I couldn't leave it off the list. I think we had enough last year to last us a few years. Maybe that's why it's 64 degrees on December 31st.

3. Beach trip in the spring with the Gaines' hosted by Wes' Aunt Margie's condo in Destin. It was quite the trip with these two little ones, but it was relatively peaceful, very enjoyable, and full of laughs and funny stories.

(she wasn't the best sitter at that point.) 

4. Frost family trip to San Francisco and Napa Valley. We spent a week visiting my brother in California. Reese touched her 2nd ocean. She adored the cable car. She almost drank some wine. It was a lovely week with my family.

5. Cell group memories. these two are from fall retreat at the old K-Klassic. These girls are simply amazing and bring me so much joy. They are the greatest babysitters to Reese, and their hearts are very sweet.

6. Reese turned ONE on September 18th. I'm not sure if I ever wrote the REAL story behind her birthday party, but none of us felt so great that day. Here is the big ONE year old before her party. It was the cutest party I must say, and our home was filled with people who love our little girl very well. It was one of my favorite days even though I didn't eat one bite of food that day.

7. Trip to Dallas to visit college girlfriends. It was a mini-reunion, and we lived it up all weekend. Fun at the zoo, visiting Auntie LC at work, and lots of great conversation.

8. Mercy NICU Reunion Carnival. I was looking forward to this celebration for so long, and we got the chance to thank so many of the nurses who took such great care of Reese during her first 12 days of life.

10. Opening Day at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. 11.11.11

I'm realizing more and more that this day will go down as a big one in Bentonville, and I'm very thankful that I got to be a part of it.

11. NYC, baby! Three of my wonderful friends and I spent three full days in the Big Apple early in December, and it will be remembered forever as such a nice trip full of long, uninterrupted conversations over dinner and so many genuinely fun and memorable moments all over the city.

My hope and prayer is that 2012 brings us as much joy and love as 2011. We fell more in love with Reese every day, and we learned more about the overwhelming love that Christ has for us. Wes and I had dinner last night to talk about our goals and desires for 2012, and tomorrow we are going to write down our action steps. I think 2012 will be a good one, and I hope and pray it will be for all of you as well.