2006 Retrospective

HAPPY NEW YEAR, PEOPLE! As I look ahead to 2007, I am reflective about 2006 and what I experienced. Many firsts, many hard times, but mostly many people and things to be thankful for.

Holly had this idea, and I love it -- 2006, a year in review. Here are some of the highlights:

• I got an ipod and downloaded my entire music collection into it - it took a few minutes
• My mom went through & survived chemo, PTL
• Debra became pregnant with a second child who was born in December -- Caleb the Cute
• Shey & Jackson started putting words and sentences together -- Jackson's favorite word? "NO!"
• Our roommie Sarah Jane moved out and got married...and got pregnant
• My dad moved in for a 'short stay'
• Holly moved in (and we'll never let her leave...ha ha)
• I completed my first year of teaching honors Brit lit. and AVID
• I started this blog & put my pictures online -- everyone else was doing it!
• I went with the worship team to India for 2 weeks -- Paul and Annie are cool, It was great to see Kamal and Eric, It was a blast dressing like a native, and I LOVED Thailand. 1-2-3-BAM!
• First time to "host" a rehearsal dinner & sang & helped at Sarah Jane and Mark's wedding
• Enjoyed Mother's Day Tea with an emotional Mary Chestnut
• Global Night Commute - ICU and some 'chaperones' walked several miles to the Santa Monica City Hall and slept overnight to raise awareness abou the night commuters in Uganda
• We had a screening of Invisible Children at church (COC)
• Eric went with Adam and Jeff to Uganda & ate Matoki
• I completed my first year of co-advising the ICU club with Sam
• I helped lead music and hand motions for VBS (He was, He is, and always will be... our Messiah)
• Eric and I explored LA on our anniversary "trip" and enjoyed a chef's 6 course meal (our first meal prepared by a chef!)
• I organized my cards and memorabilia from 1970 on
• We met with the ICU club over the summer to hang out and plan -- we came up with our new logo! check it out at our blog
• Eric's mom, Mary, and Larry Chestnut moved from Woodland Hills (nice & close) to Georgia (far far away)
• Entertained Eric's cousin Joe for a few days, taking him around LA now that we're experts at the sights
• Eric started teaching science and geography at Santa Clarita Christian School -- he finally found a job he loves (although the 7th grade boys are a thorn in the flesh)
• I did my first GuluWalk -- An organized walk to raise awareness for war-torn Northern Uganda -- We were an orange mass on Topanga Canyon Road and attracted much attention!
• Went on my first COC women's retreat to Hume - we had a great speaker and a great time getting to know ladies
• Went camping in Kernville for the first time "diner style"
• One of my students, Michael, got saved
• I was blessed with a student teacher, Ms. Starkey, who now has a job teaching at a Christian school with her husband. :)
• Enjoyed "Early Thanksgiving" at mom's with friends & family
• Eric and I had an awesome time together at the ACSI convention -- Association of Christian Schools International (we went to great teaching seminars!)
• Enjoyed Thanksgiving at Dave & Marybeth's -- especially hearing what Joce and Sheylah were thankful for! "My dinner"
• Finished off the year with finals week, Christmas musical programs at church, and Christmas lunches/dinners with Eric's dad's family, his brother's family, my Uncle Frank's family, the Brock's, and finally with my brother Steve's family.
• I have eaten some fabulous holiday fare, received many restaurant gift cards, and gained some poundage... Time for New Year's Resolutions.

Thank you for taking a stroll down the memory lane of 2006 in the life of myself, Jennene. I pray that this year we redeem the time and put first things first, setting our hearts and minds on things above.