I am sure many of you saw this coming but for my final post for 2013 I thought I'd reminisce on the 13 BIG things I learned this year.
But before we get to that, my last thankful post.
I am thankful for Megan Fenney who drove up to spend the day with me! LOVE HER so much and could not ask for a more perfect person to ring in the new year with. I still cannot believe we met as potluck roommates at Texas A&M! God is so darn good!
1. Family matters.
As a 25 year old, it is so easy to push family away in a search to find independence, freedom and self-value but what I learned more than anything else this year is that family is of the utmost importance. With my Dad's diagnosis of lung cancer, Uncle's diagnosis of bladder cancer and the passing away of my Grandad I probably spent more time with my family in 2013 than most years which is quite sad. Circumstances brought us together frequently this year but it was our love for each other that kept us all going during an extremely stressful and hard year that none of us foresaw.
2. Friends are the family God gives you for when you can't be with your own.
I would not have made it this year without the love, support, encouragement and comfort given to me by my friends. From Katie P, Lindsey and Alley, who spent many hours in my apartment in Irving consoling me when I learned of my Dad's diagnosis and then dealt with the process of his surgeries and recovery. To Bekah and Megan, who despite the distance poured out love to me through care packages, cards, phone calls and text messages. To Phillip who always knew exactly which verse I needed to hear and consistently poured truth into all areas of my life. To my PT classmates, who sent me texts and offered me help with notes when I missed multiple days of class. My friends have been a solid foundation to an otherwise unstable and unpredictable year. We laughed together, cried together and grew together as we all inch closer to the real world!
3.25 is more awkward of a year than anyone ever warned you.
I've had this conversation with many of my friends...no one warned us about this really awkward stage in our life that consists of the years 22-27. I was not prepared. When I was a little girl, I always imagined that by 25 my life would be "all together." I'd know exactly who I was, what I was doing and it would be awesome. I probably also imagined I'd be married and working on starting a family by now, but that's not my reality. Despite this being some of the most tumultuous years of my life, they've also been so of the most random, fun and exciting years too. So if you don't have your act today, don't stress it. Live it out!
4. Graduating is always stressful, exciting and intimidating.
I don't care if you're graduating from 5th grade, high school, undergraduate, or graduate school graduating is stressful! You are worried that you look stupid in the hat (which you do), and that you are going to trip up the stairs. You are even more intimidated by the idea that this is closing a chapter and you are being forced to turn the page. But if you are honest with yourself, you are also really freakin' excited (GO ME! I DID THIS! HATAS GONNA HATE!!). My graduation was an absolute mess due to SNOW-PACOLYPSE 2013. But it was also amazing because I was able to celebrate the completion of a journey I had been working towards for a long time!
5. Moving still sucks.
I moved a total of 4 times this year and every one of them sucked. I feel like a moving pro now but if you know you have to move in 2014 just prepare yourself now, it will be terrible.
6. Boys are still stupid.
It doesn't matter their age, occupation or initial level of interest in you, boys are still dumb. They still don't know what they want. They rarely initiate. They leave you clueless and at the end of the day being single really ain't that bad.
7. I yearly need to travel outside of this country.
I did not make it out of the country in 2013 and man am I itching to get out! I love learning about new cultures but I crave being immersed completely in them. I am making a promise to myself to go somewhere I have never been every year. It may not always be out of the country but it will be at least out of the state.
8. You are always 17 in your hometown.
Everytime I go back home, I leave a strong independent woman and arrive in Rockport as insecure and lost as I was the day I left. Curse you hometown! Your hometown has some kind of voodoo hold over you that is hard to break.
9. Peace can be found in the most random places.
This year require a lot of quiet time for me and I realized that this doesn't have to take place on the top of a mountain just before sunrise (although that would be stinkin' awesome). It's okay for your quiet place to be a random city park, your apartment patio or the local coffee shop. Find somewhere where you can really just sit and be still. God loves to talk, you just need to listen.
10. God challenges you using multiple mediums.
This year was my year to learn about trust and patience. I can imagine God throwing His hands up multiple times this year and saying "Did I not already teach you this exact thing already?" I am kind of (cough cough) stubborn. Boy did He teach me though. Through books, sermons, songs, conversations, blogs and His Word, He poured into to me, affirmed me and reminded me that I am the daughter of the King of Kings and I will NOT be shaken because He is my rock and my salvation.
11. It's okay to still be learning who you are.
If 2013 highlighted anything in my life, it's the idea that I am still growing. I mess up, daily. I fall, daily. And I constantly needed to have my eyes turned back to Christ and the cross. I learned a lot about myself this year but I am not done learning who I am and most importantly who I am in Christ.
12. It's even more okay to not have a 5 year plan.
I have no idea where I will be 5 years from now. None at all. I have a couple dreams but I am not fastened to any of them. I am learning to embrace the freedom I have to go where I am called and I hope that I continue to pursue Christ completely and that I answer His call with urgency.
13. Looking back helps you to heal but don't let it hold you back.
It's always important to remind yourself of where you've been but I refuse to allow my past to leave me feeling downtrodden and shameful. Christ is always turning my head forward and reminding me that I seek Him and Him alone.
I hope you take the time today to thank God for His goodness to you over the past 12 months. I pray it's a time of learning and growth for you and not a time of shame. And then, I ask God to turn your head forward as He beckons you to walk even closer with Him during the year 2014. I pray for blessings over all of you! Thank you for your support during this 365 project. Although I will not be posting daily I will still be updating my blog regularly!
