I sorta fail, epically, at this whole blogging thing...but I think I've figured out why...there's really no specific reason for me to blog...I don't post recipes, pictures, quotes, stories, yada yada...I'm just like hey a blog sounds fun, and it's a way for me to vent...
So, this is my last blog for 2012! It has been a great year, I'm kind of sad to see it go. At the same time, it has been a rough stretch, these past 4 months. I am looking forward to all of the blessings 2013 will bring.
Here are 12 of my favorite things from 2012/things that made it so wonderful:
1) Zach and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary - I never dreamt of meeting him, and when I did finally meet him I had no idea what I was in store for, no idea I had found my best friend, love of my life, and the one whom God would use to teach me and mold me in so many ways for the rest of my life!
2) Forgiveness - 2012 was a year of forgiveness and letting go of grudges...I had 3 people in my life with really rough past situations that had changed my life in many ways for many years. Starting in the spring, one of those relationships was mended. Shortly after, another one. And then yesterday at church, the last one. It has indeed been a year of learning how to forgive. Not to mention how God has been teaching me to forgive myself for my own screw ups, and to let go of the guilt that I tend to carry with me. He forgives us the first time we ask. We need to forgive ourselves too.
3) 5 weddings & an engagement - Zach and I went to 5 weddings this year. FIVE! That's a lot! It was fantastic because I LOVE weddings and it sparked so many ideas for us and our future together. And, my best friend got engaged this summer and is getting married next spring. I could not be happier for her!!
4) Graduation - I made it. I graduated this spring with my BA in Elementary Education. Kind of a big deal I guess. Definitely a highlight of the year.
5) MYANMAR - I was blessed to travel to Myanmar this summer. The most life changing event I have lived thus far. Period. End of story. Can't wait to go back. Zach is there now, so it's really cool that we were there in the same year. He is ending 2012 and beginning 2013 there. I can think of no cooler way to end and begin a year!
6) Traveling - Zach and I got to do a lot of traveling, both together and individually. We went on our first road trip together to Tennessee for a wedding in October (can't wait for all of the future road trips we'll get to take!). He got to go on several trips with friends. He did a lot more traveling than I did...lucky dog ;)
7) I got my first "big girl" job. No it isn't exactly what I want, and some days it drives me crazy, but it is a start and I am thankful for the opportunity to work with the kids I do on a daily basis.
8) I became a Certified Group Exercise Instructor! An unexpected step that I never saw my life taking but I am excited about the possibilities it could bring for me and my future!
9) Zach and I survived this fall semester...it was like tackling the largest beast I have ever met in my life, and then some. It sucked, to say the least. But we did it. And as hard as it was, we both came out stronger from it, I believe. We learned a lot about each other through the struggles this semester brought for us. While I can't say I'm looking forward to next semester starting, I know that we will make it and, again, come out stronger from the struggles it may bring us.
10) Serving locally - Zach and I are blessed to be able to serve our home churches like we do. He plays music (and I join him when I'm there) at his church, and I have recently started teaching Children's Church every other month at my home church. There are so many mornings that I don't want to get up "so early" and I always leave with a warm heart, overflowing with blessings from the things I learn from the children I "teach."
11) Concerts - we went to quite a few concerts this year! I LOVE concerts! Together Zach and I saw Needtobreathe and Brad Paisley, and I got to see Thompson Square with my girls.
12) I fell more in love with my best friend each and every day. I can't say enough how blessed I am to have him. As I said, the last few months have been pretty rough on us, and he has done nothing but love me through each and every crappy moment. I have not been the most loveable person at many points throughout the year, but again, he has stayed right there loving me, encouraging me, and walking with me through everything. I am so excited to see what this next year brings us.
So yes, I would say 2012 was a very good year. Compared to some of the things I have seen with my own eyes, seen on the news, I have nothing to complain about. Nothing.
Some new year's resolutions that I am going to try...
1) Eating better - NOT "going on a diet" That crap doesn't work.
2) Reading a chapter of my Bible every morning when I get up - seriously, this would take like 5 minutes at the most...no reason I shouldn't be able to do that one.
3) Pray more (and more seriously) - I think everyone could use some of this.
I've never been a big new year's resolutions person, so I'm stopping there. There are always things we could all change, and I don't think it has to be right at the beginning of the year. I realize things throughout the entire year that I need to change and work on. Just my opinion :) I get the whole idea behind resolutions - new year, new beginning, woo hoo!
I wish you all the best new year and hope 2013 is a great year for you!
See ya 2012! 2013 here I come!
