2011?!

I would just like to say, time needs to stop going by so fast. It's seriously getting annoying. For real though, the past few weeks have been a blur. Christmas is already over and in a couple hours it will be a brand new year.

Let's recap on 2010:
-I started a blog!
-I blew out 17 candles on my birthday cake
-My true love came into my life (Brylon, my camera)
-I applied, and was accepted into Clearwater Christian College
-I actually attended 2 school dances (If you know me at all, that is a pretty big deal)
-A new addition to the family! My cousin now has a beautiful baby girl, Rylee Paige, who will actually be a year old tomorrow!
-I learned how to catch a frisbee
-Senior? Is that possible?
-I watched my baby brother sing in many Show Choir performances
-Speaking of singing, my little sister scored the solo in her Veteran's Day program
-Youth group went to Teen Leadership Conference
-New(ish) Youth Pastor, and exciting things are happening at Southside Baptist Church
-Started playing guitar
Wheww, I feel like that's a lot, when it really isn't half of it!

Looking ahead to 2011:
-Graduation
-I will be a legal adult!
-College
-China? (Oh, I'm hoping so!)
-Did I mention graduation?

I love the idea of a fresh start and a new beginning. A new year kind of gives us that, a time to start again with no mistakes. What we forget though, is this is a gift God gives us everyday. Each morning we wake up is a brand new opportunity to serve Him. So my new years resolution is this: Remembering I don't need a new year to start again. God forgives my mistakes and I can live everyday for Him!

10 Days until Christmas!

Time is just going by faster and faster. I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner and 2011 is right behind.

Where does time go?

 First off, I have been accepted to Clearwater Christian College. Wooohooo! It's very exciting and at the same time completely terrifying. Does that make any sense? I am almost finished with half of my senior year. That is just crazy and a little bit sad. On the bright side, I treated myself to an early Christmas present and bought a new best friend. (A Nikon D300) I have been drooling over this camera for a couple years and I am so excited to finally have one. This means I have been spending a lot of time taking pictures recently. It's been great.

With Christmas coming up there is a lot of festivities going on. Tonight at youth group is our annual Christmas party. It's kind of sad to think that this will be my last Christmas party in youth group. A girl in my small group said to me the other day, "I can't believe you're graduating. I can't picture youth group without you." Well good. Because I can't picture me without youth group. It will be a hard transition but I hope to one day be involved in youth ministry and invest in young people's lives just as so many leaders have done for me and the other students in my youth group. This Saturday, the girl's Sunday School class is hosting a ladies brunch. The goal is for our girls class to connect and build relationships with different ladies in our church. I know my mom has put a lot of hard work into this event and us girls are excited about it.

I have started the countdown and it is 103 days until I am 18. Woot! (Not that I'm excited or anything)

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

I am so thankful for the peace of God. I don't have to worry about tomorrow, or the next day, or the next day. God gives me a peace when I do not understand the things going on around me. And the best part, God wants to hear about it! God wants to hear my requests, my confusion, my excitement. And then he gives me a peace about all of it!

Joy To The World

Joy- the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation

A very famous Christmas song is "Joy To The World". I love it. And the meaning of joy. Christmas is when God sent His son to this messy world so we could find delight and happiness.That is so awesome to me.We have joy! We can see the delight and good in things because Jesus was sent to Earth. There was a gift given on Christmas that nothing can compare with. Jesus came on Christmas. And because of it, we are given the gift of salvation, and joy in Him!

It is pretty much the best thing. Ever.