a pictorial year in the life of amanda

Continuing a blogging tradition that I started three years ago when I first started blogging . . . a month by month look at my 2008 using only one photo per month.

(BTW, each month name below is a link to a calendar view of pictures taken that month and uploaded to flickr. Just in case you wanna see more than 12.)

January: We Went on Our First Date

February: And Dated Some More

March: We Shared the Gospel Together

April: I Turned 30, but I had Someone to Celebrate With Me

May: We got Engaged

June: I Got to Meet My Nephew for the First Time

July: Smith Girl's Threw Me a Bridal Shower

August: Lawrance Came to Texas and On the VERY Last Day of the Month . . . We Got Married!!

September: We Honeymooned in San Antonio

October: We Enjoy Married Life (ie. I learn to cook Chinese food and Lawrance builds some shelves)

November: The In-Law's Come over for Dinner

December: We Celebrate Our First Christmas as Husband and Wife

So, this was one LIFE CHANGING year . . . awesome in every way imaginable!!  We look forward to seeing what 2009 brings! 

Blessings!

A Little History:

The first year I did this, 2005, I had just started blogging which started because I had discovered 43things, flickr, and library thing.  Flickr and the blog are the only two things that stuck.  And, just like my non-virtual life, my flickr account is in need of a little organization.  Maybe one day . . .

Anywho, back to 2005, it was the year I discovered the freedom a digital camera offers.  I have carried a camera in my purse since 1999.  That's nearly ten years now.  I wanted to be able to record moments of life as an exchange student.  It became a haibt to always carry my camera with me.  In fact, the non-expense of picture taking with a digital camera hit me so strong I took so many pictures that year, I was so overwhelmed I quit printing them out.  Too hard to choose which ones to print. 

In 2006, my brother came to Taiwan and my sister and good friend (as well as three others) got married. And, I took over 9000 photos to record these awesome events.

In 2007, even though my cousins came to Taiwan (which was awesome), I didn't even take half as many photos as I did in 2006--a measly 4,000 something. 

So, in 2008, life changing year, . . . wanna guess how many photos I took?

Comments

[Jimmie]

Love this post -- a visual history of one year. And what a year it's been. Whew! What will 09 hold???

I guess you took 10,000 pics. You've not seen anything yet, Amanda. Wait till you have a child. You won't remember what you used a camera for before then. Seriously.

[Leslie]

Wow! You are a blessed woman!

[Rose]

You're sooo funny. I bet you took over 25,000 photos. . . I can imagine it because when we went to Sea World this fall I took 1,300 pictures in one day. LOL

Love following your life.

[donna]

That is such cool idea. I'm (and I say this everytime I read about your union LOL) so blessed by your story AND looking at the timeline of when you dated to when you married. Doesn't mean God will do something identical for me however it shows how limitless He is. And even when encouraging friends concerning the topic I'm 35 and most of my friends are older than me so the discouragement can kick in doing the un-fruitful countdown to how many years are left to marry or have children.

But God being faithful and giving only good gifts to His children (even when they don't appear to be good to/for us) never fails us rather in marriage or singleness so long way to say it's a blessing to see what he's done in your lives.

And as a side note I'd love to learn how to cook Chinese food if ever you feel inclined to share some recipes on your blog:)

[Ja]

I have been to Taipei too last March and cannot wait to go back again! I look forward to more of your post about Taiwan. HA, thanks for sharing!

[Michele]

What a memorable year. I enjoy your blog. Thanks for letting us follow along.

[Kimberley]

Hello,
I was lucky to come across your blog while searching for images. Reading that you now live in Taiwan, I had the idea of asking which church you go to. As I am half Taiwanese (my mom was) and I am planning a trip back to Taiwan this year end. I'm not sure which part you live in, but I thought of taking a chance. All my relatives there are Buddhist, so when I go there I will have to look for a church to go on Sundays. They live in Taipei City,中山区,伊通街.
IF you know any churches nearby, could you please email me.

Thank you for your time,
Kimberley

[Maia Forde]

This is such a fun idea!!! Love it! ;)

[elde]

I love your pictures. You did have a whirlwind year-- I didn't realize that you started dating in January. Many blessings to you and your husband in your new life together.