2011 Wrap Up

2011 was definitely a year of adventure.  From the multiple trips I was blessed to take to the release of my first published book, Sparkle, adventure has met me at every turn.  With far too many to stops to document, I’ve picked 3 of my favorite moments:

The Grandgirls

The Grandgirls – by far, Miley and Kam have to be some of my favorite experiences from 2011.  I have really enjoyed spending time with them though-out the year enjoying the world from their perspectives…seeing life through their eyes.  Their wide-eyed curiosity and desire to discover everything around them is inspiring to me…not to mention entertaining.  Miley comes out with these hysterical one-liners unlike anything I’ve heard before.  Well…actually, now that I think about it, she reminds me of our youngest daughter when she was little.  And Kam looks like she could easily belong to Micki instead of Renee.

Fall in Atlanta

More fall in Atlanta

Washington DC

The Washington Monument

Somewhere on the RTJ Golf Trail

Road Trips – It’s no secret I love traveling, adventure and people watching.  Escaping to another scenery is one of my favorite things to do.  Especially things that involve nature.  It’s the little things, you know.  This year I had the pleasure of taking in Atlanta, Washington DC, Prattville, and South Carolina.  What a combo.  Atlanta with Micki in the fall was beautiful and break-taking.  Wow! I didn’t know the leaves could hold so many incredible colors.  It was my first trip out of Louisiana to see leaves during the fall.  I’ve been missing out.  Washington DC was quite an experience…Osama Bin Laden was found while we were there and the city erupted into celebration until the wee hours of the morning when the authorities shut things down.  DC holds so much history, and our hotel was in the perfect location.  So much to do and see.  Prattville…well, the golf course was nice.  We were able to team up with an accomplished violinist for one of the days on the course.  Forgot his name … Kim something maybe?, but Doug & I enjoyed the company.  Beautiful golf course!  South Carolina…I think I’d love to live there.  I never want to leave.  I love the hills and spending time with family there.  One of these days, we are not going to return from vacation and just stay.

Sparkle Christmas Project Books wrapped & ready to go!

Sparkle – 2011 has been one mile-marker year for Sparkle.  I became a published author and Sparkle was officially released in August.  Wow! What a privilege to have a front row seat at what God is doing in the lives of young people all over.  When I released the book, I though it was specifically for teen girls.  Boy, was I wrong.  I’ve received feedback from young adult women, moms of all ages, and many single moms all saying how much God used Sparkle to speak into their lives.  The most common response I hear is “I wish I’d had this when I was growing up.”  I have to say, I feel the same way.  It would have saved me lots of heart-ache.  From Book Signings to the Chat.Live to our Sparkle Tribe, it’s been an eventful and amazing year.  The Sparkle Pledge with the tribe in July was outstanding! In the month of December, we held the “Sparkle Christmas Project”.  My objective was to collect as many books a possible to donate to teens and young adult women unable to purchase their own copy.  What a success!  129 books were given away.  We wrapped them up and sent them off to locations around the US.  I wish I could have seen each girl receive their copy.  So exciting!  God knows the story of each and every one, and I cannot wait to hear all of them one day.  What a journey this has been, and it’s only the beginning!

This is only a blip of 2011.  No possible way to share all that has occurred.  In 2012, we have great things planned.  We’ll have guest-blog posts, more Sparkle Tribes kicking off, and much more.  Thanks for an amazing 2011.  2012, I’m watching wide-eyed and with great anticipation of what you will bring.

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