Some Bests of 2010

I know it’s a bit cliche or commonplace to do an end-of-the-year blogpost…but what can I say, things tend to catch on for a reason. I like the practice of looking back, reflecting and appreciating. So if it takes Dec. 31 to get me doing that…so be it.

So here are some of “the bests” of 2010. This is not at all a comprehensive list, but just some things that came to mind. 

best technology acquired - well… it’s a tie between the iphone 4 and my livescribe pen. You don’t need me to tell you about the iphone, but let me tell you about this pen!
 image this thing somehow magically duplicates everything I write in my special journals and makes a copy on my computer, I can sync them to my evernote on my phone. I will never lose my notes again. Also, it can record audio for hours. Maybe you have to be a bit of a nerd like me to appreciate this, but it’s AWESOME. (if this was nick’s blog, he would for sure say his ipad.)

best date: This is a hard one because we’ve had so many great ones, but the one that comes to mind is - we took an all-day-beach-day. It was after summer was over so the beaches were quiet, but still  very warm. We walked on the strand in the morning, watching the surfers wipe out in the big breaks, then we went to have pizza at BJ’s - our favorite (don’t forget the pazookie) and then we rented this electric lounger pontoon boat thing. It was awesome. It’s like a giant floating lawn chair with a little motor, and we cruised through Newport harbor. The weather was perfect, and everything inside me felt content, to be with Nick, to be in the beautiful sunshine, to be floating atop the beautiful pacific, and simply to be. 

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best book read: Well, apart from the Bible…I would have to say this year’s top choice would be The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer. Each page left me inspired, convicted, and most of all longing for more of Jesus. It doesn’t get much better than that. 

best hike: Ok. This one is a tie too. One was stunningly beautiful, new, and extremely intense. One was calm, peaceful, beautiful, and just-plain-happy. Mt. Timpanogos, Utah, was by far the most difficult hike I’ve ever taken, but the views were breathtaking. Nick, his Dad Kim, and I scaled nearly 13,000 feet and still didn’t reach it’s highest point. It was incredible, and I don’t know if I’ve ever been so tired after anything in my life.
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The other hike was one Nick and I took on a beautiful Sunday afternoon through Crystal Cove, in Laguna. The weather was perfect, the conversation was wonderful, and the ocean was so deep blue and calming. At one point we stopped to sit on a big chunk of driftwood, and I said, “Nick, wouldn’t it be so cool if we could see some dolphins today.” Before he could even reply, he started laughing and pointing. I looked up to see a pod of dolphins leaping through the waves probably 25 yards from us. That doesn’t happen every day.
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best night at church: About a month ago in Fullerton we had a remarkable night together. Something happened during worship, where God seemed to make himself known, and change up our plans for the night. We ended up pausing the normal schedule of the service to wait on him, pray for each other and respond in worship - even before the sermon was preached, and it was an incredible encounter with God. It’s hard to put into words, but I left that night so thankful for a God who is real, living, active, and involved in our lives and our church. 

best thing I did for myself: I got another shoulder surgery. That sounds funny as the best thing I did for myself, but seriously it was. My health insurance allowed me to see a great doctor who did an operation that has finally taken away my chronic shoulder pain. I am pain-free and sleeping through the night for the first time in 6 years. What a gift. I’m very thankful to Nick who had to play nurse for days on end, and even slept on the floor beside me since I had to be on the couch…what a guy. 

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best purchase: In July, 2010, we bought Jade:

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(notice the guy sleeping on the bench - best part of this picture)

Jade is our 2009 Toyota Corolla. We LOVE her. The brakes work. The radio works. The gas works (and gets miles and miles more on a single tank than our previous cars), and we got her for an amazing price. We’re thankful to God for a reliable car. We’re hoping to still be driving her in 2025. 

Well…these are just some of the best parts of 2010. It has been the best year of my life so far. Here’s to a great 2011.

what are some of your bests?