Well, after wishing, hoping, thinking we’d send out a
Christmas card this year . . . it just didn’t happen. I’m sorry. You are now
allowed to fill that little space on your refrigerator where I’m sure you where
saving space for the card that never came. ;) Last year, we felt like such
“real adults” sending out a card. Does that mean we’re regressing this year? (We
are no longer adults?!) Or maybe just too busy . . . which is sadly very
adult-ish. So anyways, this is it – our Christmas card. Enjoy!
Year in Review: 2013
for the Cooks
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe it’s 2014. This has
been a very busy but good year for us. It brought with it a little more consistency
than previous years - more things have stayed the same than changed - at least
since we got married.
Josh is still is
seminary (2.5 years down, 1.5 years to go), still serving coffee at Village
Coffee, and still feeling called to church plant after he graduates. (We are
still not sure where, so please be praying for us in that area.) I am still
teaching 4th grade at the same school, still staying up late grading
papers (haha!), and still enjoying time with all of friends here.
Here is a brief overview of last year for us:
January: We came back from Christmas in GA and quickly restarted our
normal routines. Carnival Season started. I ate a lot of King Cake – yum! You
know, the usual. :)
February: We
enjoyed our 2nd Mardi Gras. After some friends (the wonderful Josh and Christy Link) visited towards the end of the
month, we packed up our seminary campus apartment.
March: We moved
off seminary campus and into the big city! The Cooks, Josh’s family, came to help
us. We are now living in one side of a typical New Orleans style shotgun double
in Midcity. It is a lot of fun! We love our little neighborhood and live two
blocks from the streetcar line. Our goal was to get to know our neighbors and
truly be a part of the wonderful city we live in. Read more about it here.
April: My mom came
to visit over my Spring Break and helped us finish getting settled in our
new place.
May: Josh
finished his second year of seminary – halfway through, woohoo! I finished my
third year of teaching (first year teaching 4th grade).
- Josh and I bought bikes. Yes, we became THOSE urban hipster people. I don't really deserve the title. Josh, however, bikes to work now, so that’s good.
- Also, after much blood, sweat, and tears (figuratively and seemingly literally), I finally learned how to drive stick. Josh bought a manual a year ago, so I guess it was finally time. We drove his car to Georgia.
June: We spent two weeks in GA celebrating my brother Matt’s graduation from Auburn University (War Eagle!) and Josh’s brother, Jeremiah, and my brother, Philip’s graduation from high school. It is always great to spend time with family and friends.
July: I nannied
for two families over the summer. Josh worked additional hours at the coffee
shop. Additionally, Josh joined the staff at our church (Vintage Church)
working with the children’s ministry. Ingleside friends, I guess he just missed
Xtreme Kids too much. :) He is now over vKids - organizing volunteers, getting curriculum ready, etc.
August: Josh
started his third year of seminary. I started my second year teaching 4th
grade. This is the first time I’m teaching the same grade, at the same school,
in the same classroom! So that’s made it a little easier, despite all of the
changes from Common Core. (But we won’t get into that. Haha!)
 |
| My co-teachers, carpool buddies, and wonderful friends, Katie and Christi! |
September: We
made it through hurricane season without any major storms. For that, we were
very grateful! We continue to lead a Community Group that meets weekly to share a meal and discussion about the Bible.
October: We went
to south Georgia for some college friends’ wedding. It was great to see so many
college friends in one place! We even got to spend a day in Macon and see all
of the changes that have been made to Mercer, including the new football field!
Congrats to the Mercer Bears for the winningest first football season in NCAA Division I history! We may be little, but we are fierce. :)
November: We spent
Thanksgiving in GA with family. We snuck into town early for a surprise 50th birthday party for Josh's mom, Deenie!
December: I got
to fly back to GA for a quick weekend visit to surprise my brother Michael and
be there for his graduation from Kennesaw State University. (There have been
many gradations in our families this year!) We have also spent two weeks in GA
for Christmas and New Years and are about to head back to NOLA.
For those of you we
did not get to see this year, we miss you and hope to catch up soon! We hope
that all of you had a wonderful 2013, and we wish you a safe and happy 2014!
“For the Lord is
good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.”
Psalm 100:5
With love,
Sarah & Josh
