Looking Back on 2012

2012 has come to an end.

Looking back throughout the year, I could easily claim this year as being one in which I have grown up the most. It has been a year of struggles, joys, and ultimately trusting God through it all.

Picking a few things to highlight is tough, but here is a quick overview of my 2012 and God's faithfulness in it all.

1. The classes I have had this year. These classes were fabulous. In the Spring I got to write my own children's book for a class (Which was a blast, and if you ever want me to read you my story I definitely will!). I was also in Developmental Psychology. In this class I got to write my autobiography. It was fun to write. It was also neat to see all that God has done in my life. The Fall semester classes were good too. It was named fall block due to the classes being in blocks and being switched up mid semester. It involved 9 education classes. I loved them! It was wonderful having in depth classes on each subject that I will be teaching one day. 

2. Health. There are some things that I don't realize I take for granted until I don't have them – health being one of them. Coming back from Zambia at the beginning of the year I was feverish and weak for about two weeks. I got malaria medication which helped for a bit, but then I got sick again. Another round of malaria medication did the trick and I was semi back to normal. Except for the headaches. I have had headaches for a while, but suddenly I was having intense headaches and a few migraines. I'm thankful for the friends who have prayed with me and for me about my headaches. They come and go still, but for a few months at the beginning of the year it was rough. I am thankful for the days that I feel healthy and normal! 

3. Watching Damarise run her first 5K! It was exciting to watch Damarise complete her first 5K! She had been practicing for a loooong time and finally ran it! She got second in her age group, and I couldn't have been more proud! She also inspired me to get into running. I am no where near as good or as fast or as graceful as her, but I do enjoy doing it.

4. Spring Break 2012. By far the best school break (outside of the long breaks) that I have had. Damarise, Davey, Micah, Janessa, and I spent Spring Break in Missouri. We've all been friends since freshman year and it was great to take a week break and spend time together. We had a blast talking, singing, and hanging out with each other without having classes or work to go to. 

5. Graduation. Usually watching my friends graduate is a little bittersweet, but always exciting knowing that they're off into the real world. This graduation was more intimidating than anything else. This year's graduation bid farewell to the seniors... leaving me as a senior! It was a bit nerve racking to realize that next year it'd be me and my friends walking across the stage and being handed our diplomas.

6. Tomato plants. Those tomato plants were one of the neatest things to grow and showed me how, in the end, I cannot bring life to anything. I can nurture and help, but ultimately God is in control of even the tiniest thing as a tomato plant. Having Him make the dying plant produce tomatoes (that were scrumptious too!) was such an encouragement to me especially at the exact time when He did it. I realized that if He cares enough for a plant, how much more does He care for me and have my life under control! It was (and still is) a great reminder for the year.

7. B.E.S.T. This summer Damarise and I worked on B.E.S.T once again. We were placed in a house with 6 other girls and loved it. We made wonderful friendships with many people and have continued to be blessed by having them in our lives. It was a tedious summer, but also a good summer of being thankful for those who do labour for others through cleaning. 

8. Licensed. It was a long time coming, but it happened! I finally got my license. I was ecstatic when I was told I had passed my driver's test and could not have been more thankful. Without a wonderful sister (Damarise) and two amazing friends (Davey and Micah), who risked their lives every time they took me out on the real road to practice driving, I would never have gotten my license. I am immensely blessed to have friends who encouraged me, challenged me (I was freaked out about driving around other cars...) and helped me get it and I definitely thank God for them and for His protection while I've been driving. 

9. Home. Damarise and I settled down in our first home this year. God graciously blessed us with the perfect sized house. It is a one bedroom, one bathroom house with the perfect sized living room and kitchen. It was everything we could have hoped for in a house. We also have wonderful landlords. And  living on our own... it's spectacular. We love having people over, getting to cook and bake, and having a place to call our own. 

10. Practicum. This was a major part of my Fall semester. Two days a week I was in a classroom getting hands-on experience for teaching. It was a growing experience. I experienced more nervousness throughout those practicums than I ever thought possible. I taught two lessons. And I fell in love with being in a school environment and getting to know my cooperating teachers and students. It took me so far outside of my comfort zone, but in a very good and needed way. I am thankful for the way God orchestrated my placements and the classes I was put in. It was an experience I will never forget. 

11. Friendships. I have already mentioned friends in several of these highlights already, but I think it's necessary to mention them in a category of their own. I am blessed. And that has been made overwhelmingly clear to me throughout the year. The friendships God has given me have been so good. Over the summer I went out to dinner with my friend who I have known the longest, Victoria. Talking with her was one of the most encouraging parts of my summer. We have known each other basically our whole lives. We haven't seen each other for a lot of those years, but our friendship has stayed strong. Whenever we get together we start right back from where we left off. Getting to share with each other what God had and was doing in our lives was so exciting. It made me so thankful for her friendship.

I am also thankful for the friends that God has given me at Covenant. I truly am blessed. My friends have encouraged me, prayed for me, laughed with me, cried with me, talked about Christ with me, taught me, and blessed me in more ways than they could ever know. Sometimes I wonder how we even ended up being friends, and I don't know. But what I do know, is that I am thankful to God that He placed them all in my life because I am thankful for each and every one of them. 

12. Travel. This year involved some big trips to Zambia, California, Atlanta, London, and Missouri. I traveled to all of the places with Damarise, who I think is one of the most fun travel partners. We got to go out to California for Thanksgiving (thanks to Grandma). It was fun to see a bit of L.A. and see extended family who I haven't seen in three years. It has also been great to be back in Zambia again and hang out with the family. I have missed them and it is nice to relax and spend time with them. 

All in all, 2012 has been a good year. Looking back I can see how God's hand has been involved in every aspect of it. It has been a year of struggles and joys, but through it all God has sustained me and shown me that He is my strength and ultimate joy. This year has been a year of learning more of Christ, seeing more of His hand at work, and trusting in His will. I can't wait to see what He will do in 2013!

Looking Back on 2011

2011 has come and gone! It doesn't seem like it's time for a new year, but it is! Looking back over 2011 I realized how blessed I am! God has blessed me abundantly with friends, safety, food, education, church, etc, and I am so thankful!
Here are 11 highlights of the year 2011:

1). I got my braces off right at the beginning of January! I was thrilled to be able to chew and talk normally again, and SO thankful to Grandma for paying for my braces. They were definitely a blessing and it has been nice to have straight teeth.

2). God's protection and power seen in the frenzy of storms that hit Covenant College this year. We tried to start off Spring semester on time, but ended up delayed a week because of the snow storms. I'm not complaining though. The snow was stunning and it was great to be at school with no work to do and just get to hang out with friends. (It was also fun to see how southerners responded to snow… we saw one man with a leaf blower trying to blow away the snow!)
We ended the semester with another storm. A day of tornado warnings kept us huddled down in basements across campus. It was scary and I'm thankful that God protected us. (it was nice to have no exams to end the school year with!)

3). The family left in early march. That was definitely something that I was not looking forward to in 2011. But God has been faithful! Damarise, Micah, and I went up to Missouri in late February to say goodbye to the family. It was great to be there as the church said their goodbyes to our family as well. It's always encouraging to know that many people and churches are praying for them. It was also fun for Micah to come along, and help us on the long drive back to Georgia.

4). The first week after the family went to Africa. I thought it would be rough, and don't get me wrong it definitely was hard! It was hard to know that I couldn't pick up the phone and call them at any time since we were both in the States. But God has abundantly blessed Damarise and me! So many people emailed, wrote, or told us face to face that they were praying for us – even people who we didn't know were telling us that they were praying for us! The Schreiner family welcomed us into their home many times that first week. Everything was just a huge blessing and such a great reminder that God has placed wonderful people in our lives!

5). Budapest! It's crazy to think that that happened this year– it seems so long ago! God provided the funds for me to be able to go on a college trip to student teach in a missionary school in Budapest, Hungary. To be honest, I have always been scared out of my wits to get up in front of a classroom and teach. I feel like there are billion other people who are much better suited to do this. But God used that month at ICSB to show me that this is what He has called me to. The teacher that I was placed with was so encouraging and let me teach her class as often as I could. It was such a blessing! I learned SO much and loved being back in a missionary community.

6). B.E.S.T! No one knows what those initials stand for, but that is the name of the cleaning facilities at Covenant College and my job for the Summer. Again, I am blessed! This job, though disgusting at times, was wonderful! I worked eight hours a day 5 days a week with fellow students. We talked, laughed, worked, and just had a great time. I loved living in an apartment, cooking meals and shopping for food with Damarise and Micah, and hanging out with friends who were also working at Covenant over the Summer. It was definitely one of the best summers of my life!

7). The infamous road trip. The one where we lost two transmissions in one day and had to be rescued by the Schreiners… yah. That one will forever be a memorable road trip. It made and still makes quite the tale!

8). Changing my major. That sounds drastic, but it isn't as drastic as it sounds. I changed my major from Middle Grades Education to Early Childhood Education. It's a few extra classes, but definitely an age group that I want to work with. I'm still not sure where I want to teach or what I want to do when I graduate, but I'm praying about it and trusting God… changing my major to early childhood is just one step to whatever God has for me.

9). Driving! I'd like to have posted that in 2011 I got my driver's license, but alas that may come in the 2012 update. I did however get my driver's permit and become a resident of a state! It was exciting! I had a lot of help getting my driver's permit (Thank you Damarise and Micah). And I have been practicing driving. Damarise is a good teacher and I'm blessed with her patience in letting me drive (even when I drive terribly sometimes).

10). Seeing old friends, meeting new ones. It was great to catch up with old friends like the Woodrows and Ruth this year! They are wonderful friends and it was nice to see them and hear what is going on in their lives. It was also nice to meet Janessa's family, meet some people at church, and meet some new friends on our plane trip to Zambia. …Which brings me to my last point…

11). Family! Zambia! Christmas! New Years! God provided the money for Damarise and me to fly over the ocean to Zambia! And I am praising God for His provision! He knew that it was hard knowing we wouldn't be seeing the family 'til 2013 and He allowed Damarise and me to see the family in their new home. It has been wonderful! Zambia is a beautiful country with friendly people and it has been good to meet Dad, Mom, Sarah, Ian, and Andrew's friends. It has been an encouraging and fun visit! I'm just SO thankful!

I am blessed and thankful! I'm thankful for all God has done in 2011 and can't wait to see what He has in store for 2012!

Happy New Year!