Year In Review : 2015 : And Camellia’s Most Read Posts

Reflecting back on 2015 has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me.  We’ve had some highs, lows and everything in between.  From a trip to the Bahamas, to the loss of our beloved Lily and a fetus all in the same week, to fun family gatherings and a quick trip to NYC for Christmas!  We’ve covered the gamut of emotions!

I thought it would be fun, a little reminiscent, to check out our most read posts from 2015!

First, a huge “THANK YOU!!”to everyone who has read, liked and/or shared any or all of these posts.  For 2015, I wrote a total of 161 posts!!  I’m going to rank the top 10 based on the number of views…and get ready for this top one.  {Links are in the titles if you want to read/reread these posts!}

1.  The Sursy.  This one was just short of “viral” on the world wide web!!  Andrew called it a “southern phenomenon!” – over 133k views!!!!!!!  Holey cow, it took off and still continues to blow everything out of the water!  Is it the word?!  Is it in the giving?  I have no idea, but you all LOVED this post and shared it like it was on fire!
2. SC Flood.  ‘Nuff said, right?  Gosh it was devastating and we’re all still trying to rebuild.  The minor repairs we had to make are still being done: our upstairs a/c is getting installed this week and the downstairs 1/2 bath is almost finished!  I’ll blog about that once it’s done because I can’t wait for you all to see it!  Talk about an upgrade from even this →slightly upgraded powder room from 2013.
3. Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day.  Written just a little over two months ago, it was my opportunity to share with you all where we were/are with the grieving and what’s next.  And to share with so many of you, sisters, who have been down this road that at times seems so lonely and sad.  A reminder, we are never alone.  And dear friends, SO MANY of you have trod the path, we can all love on and encourage one another when this trial appears!  For us personally, May is just five months away and we continue to hope and pray that another little one is in the big plan for us.
4. A Clay Paw.  Lily’s Oncologist and the hospital where she was receiving care for her cancer made this beautiful gift for us and we gave it a special place in our home.
5. Getting Real and Personal.  This one is funny to me…not sure if it’s because I truly put myself out there – I mean who cares anyway?!  or if it’s the fact that my hair is truly awful in the last photo!  Bless.  I need a hairstylist, makeup artist, stylist….
6. Thoughts From A Momma.  This one brings up a range of emotions because it was written right after we told the world we were expecting baby #3…and now to know what happened later that week is a bit emotional.  But then to reread some of the sweet things I shared with y’all about moments of being a mom – moments between our kids, with us and them…it’s all just beautiful.
7. Celebrating Baby Brynn.  A little DIY meets pink and gold glitter…meets our sweet friend Dana is having a baby {and now Brynn is 8 months old!!}!  What a fun morning it was to celebrate the coming of this beautiful little girl!
8. Christmas in NYC.  Oh, what a wonderful trip!!!!  And there were SO.MANY.PICTURES to share with y’all that the first post bit the dust {not really}, it was so overwhelmed, that I split it into two posts:  NYC 1.  NYC 2.  This was one of the funnest short trips Andrew and I have taken – we had an incredible time doing only a few things, but things that we really wanted to do: ice skating in Central Park, seeing Andrea Bocelli in concert…
9. Mixed Emotions.  The roller coaster that April was between Reynolds’ 2nd birthday and Lily’s diagnosis and treatment.  Happy and sad all in one beautiful post!
10. Renewing Love & Faith In Marriage.  A guest post I wrote for a blogger friend, about what it was like to be divorced, and to find love again.  To know that though I came with baggage, my husband finds me beautiful and lovely.  He loves me like Jesus.

What a year!  Really, it has been an incredible year and we’ve learned a lot and grown so much.  We’ve loved {and cried} more than we ever dreamed we would.  We laughed A LOT.  There was a lot of play.  A lot of work.  A lot of joy.

I pray as you reflect back on your 2015 that you can see the really good, the little bit of sad and the things that kept you “slammed up against Jesus.”  AND, I hope that your 2016 is filled with love, joy and lots of laughs!

 

Thank you again for all of your sweet messages, notes of encouragement and unconditional love!