Year in Review

Okay.
I thought it would be kinda fun to walk back
through the year of 2012.
Maybe.
I guess we'll just see how fun it is.
I'll be throwing up some major highlights.

January:
2-5 - Passion 2012 in Atlanta, GA!
14 - started getting closer with Clara
30 - the continuation of watching Once with Rach and Mel on Mondays

February:
10 - the beginning of a good friendship with Alicia

March:
6 - decided to go to Amerika Samoa!
10 - spent the day with my lovely LCMer's from the previous summer.
11 - got my first speeding ticket. ever. for going 115 mph. crazy!
13 - the fundraising letters went out!

April:
3 - my court date for my speeding ticket
6 - took a little trip to King's Dominion with some friends for some roller coaster action.
20 - diagnosed with Bell's Palsy. what. a. day.
27 - IDC women's prayer night. we gathered together to pray for many different things. it was such a sweet time.

May:
3 - interviewed at Ravenscroft for my job
18 - moved out of the dorms!
28 - drove down to SC to spend some time with MG!
30 - flew to LA!
31 - flew to Amerika Samoa!

June:
4 - first day of VBS at SBA
10 - worship at Happy Valley Baptist Church. (this means listening to Samoans singing. it was absolutely wonderful!)
16 - went to the waterfall. :)
18 - painted the weight room at Tafuna High School
22 - traditional Emu dinner
27 - last day of VBS where I met the sweetest little boy. he reminded me why the Lord brought me to the tiny little island.
28 - flew out of Amerika Samoa
29 - flew home!

July:
3 - went to Inlow for the day!
4 - went to Sandia's crest and saw the fireworks from the mountainside.
5 - flew back to MG!
7 - drove back to NC!
17 - get a job at Keva Juice
18 - first day at Keva
21 - apartment shopping with Krystal

August:
1 - got our apartment!
3 - move-in day!
11 - Rachel officially came back from her summer job
14 - first day at Ravenscroft!
20 - first day of class

September:
1 - found out that bike rides with Rach are a lot of fun
7 - met our Turkish friends! :)
16 - decided to switch growth groups.
18 - first night with the Shaddix growth group
21 - bought tickets to the Cowboys' Thanksgiving day game

October:
7 - went to Rex Rehab center to have a service for our elderly friends
13 - went to the Renaissance festival with Sarah. so fun.
18 - went to the State Fair with our Turkish friends :)

November:
10 - prayer night for our missionaries. so. wonderful.
18 - flew to Dallas!
22 - Turkey Trot with some of the fam. annnnnd. the Dallas game with my dad.
24 - flew back to NC
25 - my dad admitted to the hospital
28 - found out my dad had lung cancer

December:
12 - flew home.
14 - my dad had his first chemo treatment
and i got to spend some quality time with a really close friend at ihop.
15 - got the sister time that i didn't get at thanksgiving.
17 - flew back to NC---many tears were shed that day.
23 - drove down to SC to spend a couple of days with MG and her precious family.
25 - celebrated Christmas with the Ballews



So.
In a nutshell,
my year has been pretty great.
A lot has happened.
So much more than I could ever put here.
Because a lot of it is very personal.
But even in these highlights,
it is evident that the Lord has been at work this year.
And not just in small ways.
The Lord has been completely
changing and working in my heart.
He's been changing my affections to Himself
and continuing to teach me how to live for Him.
And sure, a lot of things the world wouldn't see as "good."
For example,
getting a terrible speeding ticket.
(Now, I didn't like getting that ticket either.
But the Lord taught me that day to
really pay attention while I'm driving.
I still have a little anxiety when I drive long distances.
But I know to stay right at the speed limit.
Although I feel like a slow-poke. ha.
Also, it taught me that
driving at 115 mph will be the best cruising speed.
ever. ha
It was the best ride I'd ever had.)
My dad finding out that he has cancer wasn't good news either.
But the Lord is able to use all things for good.
So even the cancer my dad has will be used
for God's glory and our continued sanctification.
God's good like that.
Many tears were shed this past year.
But I think the joy God has placed in my heart
far exceeds the sorrow that I've experienced.
My hope and my joy is not found in things
or circumstances in this world.
But they are securely found in Christ.
How wonderful that I serve a God who loves me
and pours out His grace on my life daily.

I can't wait to see what will happen over the
course of 2013.
So many possibilities exist.
And I just don't even know what will happen.
But I know that it will be good.
Oh. So. Good.

What a great year.
What a great God.
What a great future
to be found in this great God.

Blessings.