2015 – one of the more exacting, brave, and transposing years to date.
One year embodies so much. Experience in and of itself, but also one year is quantifiable in different ways pending perspective and the individual measuring. A year is a blink to God. A year is not enough to a parent. A year is an eternity for a college student. And to a child, a year is a finger used to answer an age old question. Because we humans don’t know what else to ask toddlers.
For me…for Erin…this one year has been involved. I ventured through foreign commencements, brutal honesty, error, resonant love, surrender, and friendship. Grace and hope marked a theme through it all and my restless heart has grown to trust my Maker, my community, and myself more. This year has been life.
What made it so? What are my honest top moments of the year? Ahh, well, my sweet little chick nuggs, look no further. I know that a list of event synopses making up my one year is ALL THAT YOU WANTED AND MORE! Top 10 shall we? Nay, this is 11 in 11, people. Let’s stick to the programme (SMK).
Without further ado, in random order, my top moments of 2015 are as follows:
Moment Numba 11: My 25th birthday. Man, I had a lot of hype surrounding my birthday this year. I wanted to throw an old fashioned dinner party where people look fancy and only drink champagne with cranberries in it and every surface area has a vase of flowers. And then a snow storm came in and expectation was not met. However, it turned out to be an intimate and precious birthday far more meaningful than those expectations. My mother made me an orange cake from scratch and all of the best people came to the dinner party that still happened. I prayed real hard for it not to snow, but the snow made it all the more precious.
Numba 10: Farewell Fiesta in San Antonio. A couple weeks before I left the states, my mother and I went to San Antonio for a farewell fiesta. We stayed in a Victorian style bed n breakfast along the Riverwalk, just us. We shared deep laughter, stimulating conversation, hiking, eating, rest, and exploration. I found horchata ice cream for the first time (now favorite), and we had a fancy dinner. And of course, the video that went VIRAL of my Mum and I questioning why we don’t have our own British comedy show. That weekend is easily one of the sweetest and cherished moments of my life thus far. I love and miss you, Mum.
Numba 9: The Benefit Jam II. Everything about this night. The eve of launch, we sang, ate, laughed, cried, all the things. Some more than others. It was an altogether perfect night and many people that I hold so dear were in attendance. I think my favorite part about the entire night was singing with my brother, Jordan, and the practices leading up to that night. Since high school, he and I have had different schedules and lived in different towns. This was a season of getting to spend a lot of time with him again as he helped me put on the final jam. Good big brother. The only thing missing was da odda wahn!! Alex!!!
Numba 8: Community. One of my top compilation of moments is this idea of community. Throughout this year, I’ve had the honor of being a part of a number of communities that have all poured into me and provided such care. From my entire Watermark community, to my Encore Live framily, to my Flabiminal Befemenemnity group, and my squad here on the race with each team that I have been a part of. I love people. I love community. It can be hard and real honest. But it yields some wildly beautiful life.
Numba 7: Y’all, I left my job. Not that this was a happier moment, but it was definitely memorable. Noteworthy to say the least. It represented far more than just leaving a full time job. I left perceived security and residual income. Which I could kind of use right about now LOL. I put down my idea of life and success and held it up in my hands saying, “Alright, Lord. I don’t know how to do this, but here is my life. All of it. Even a major pillar in the foundation of what we all call life, my career. Take it, if you will have it, and teach me how to solely trust and depend on you.” This is pretty cool. And not only that, but the company in which I worked for was unlike any other. The boss I had was more giving and supportive than I could imagine one being when an employee says they are leaving for a year. He donated more time and resources than any other donor. WHO DOES THIS?!
Numba 6: I went to my Dad’s 40th High School reunion. Not worthy of being a top moment of 2015, you say?! Think again, people. Think again. This last minute decision weekend was not only hilarity in it’s utmost fashion, but eye opening. To see my Dad in his old element and see how much people from his high school adored him hahaha so good. The first time I heard, “Oh, did you see? Tony Cramer is here..” was just laughable and awesome. The whole weekend was worth it. My Dad. Mr. Popular. King of Putnam City High. And to top it off, no one could make out whether I was his daughter or his trophy wife. Seriously, rumors. And Tony didn’t make it any better…but eventually everyone knew the truth and from that point on he just bragged on me the whole night. Which, of course, I loved. My Dad. Big Pappy. Every girl needs someone in their corner that loves them just beyond reason. For me, that’s my Dad.
Numba 5: I wrote a blog a few months back called Relentless and Without Reason. That entire moment was a top one for me this year. Maybe go back and read it, if you want to recall or hear more about it. Since, I’ve been thoroughly convinced that I saw the face of Jesus when I looked at that man.
Numba 4: I led worship for the first time in my life. Not harmony, not back up, but heading it up. It was a time where in God spoke to me about it for a few weeks prior and He used me for what seemed to be a pivotal and needed moment for ouR squad. He spoke fasting and communion and the Revelation Song. Other than that, I wasn’t sure what He wanted us to sing in worship. Through a few other moments and conversations, I got the hint through Psalm 62:1a “For God alone, my soul waits in silence…” He wanted us to worship Him in silence. And at first, I laughed and thought, ‘This is so Him’. The first time I get the nerve to lead and He wants me to do it in silence to show His faith and my response to it. I loved every minute of it and still to this day find it to be one of the more powerful worship services I’ve ever been a part of. Amen, Lord. Amen.
Numba 3: Thanksgiving. This year, it all worked out perfectly with the squad and we shared fellowship and food in a beautifully lit and intimate setting. One of the moments you wait for in life. A room full of people, all with gratitude in their hearts and a glass of wine following their hearty meal. Toasts and speeches and reflection filled the air and we all looked pretty. Wonder-filled night.
Numba 2: Thailand. Just in general. The entire month is a top moment. Maybe due to the fact that I am still reeling from the relational high of the month. We met beautiful people. We loved them best we could. God loved them beyond measure. We threw Christmas parties and attended a few others. Thai’s know how to party. Women were ushered to us by God and the swelling of my heart from these occurrences has yet to subside. We worshiped in the face of evil and brought victory in for the kingdom of God. Man. This month was powerful. And fun.
Numba one: Malawi. Oof. This month. A month of family and children and being the good kind of tired. My little boy, Oscar, who stole my heart. Those eyes. My baptism and how that brought many others to getting dunked as well. The prophecy spoken over my life saying that I have the heart of a mother and that God will bless me with a room full of children and twins and a husband who provides for it all. That God would send money my way in order to establish projects and ministries for Him. Seriously. This is what he had said. And then of course, there is the surprise party for Daddy Pastor Phillip and Momma Lillian. Their faces were priceless and the fact that the lights came back on at just the exact moment, TWICE, made all the difference. I love that family. The boys of Bangwe. hm.
This is my Oscar. Sweet boy.
2015 was remarkable. Still is, I suppose. And as you can tell, it was the people that made each moment. The people in my life have shared in these memories and I am honored and touched to be by their side throughout it all. Thank you everyone. Happy New Year.
P.S. I AM FULLY FUNDED! THANK YOU TO ALL DONORS! Your trust in me and your gifts have been so valued. Love you all.
