looking back at 2012

{january}

--joined pinterest

--saw beauty and the beast in 3-D...twice

{february}

--bought my new mac computer...Minnie

--my brother Logan turned twelve

--started writing in a journal again

--my brother Zachary turned sixteen

{march}

--started straightening my hair

--turned eighteen...official adult! O_o

{april}

--my beautiful sister, Annie, turned fifteen

--read the hunger games

--my car, Waldo, was given to me

{may}

--graduated high school...!!

--watched a sunrise

{june}

--played mini golf for the first time...let's just say it's not my thing

{july}

--helped lead a middle school church trip and got to go zip lining and white water rafting

--colored my hair for the first time

--watched Annie play softball...she is one awesome catcher

{august}

--fell in love with the doctor 

--rode my first roller coaster

--started my first full-time college semester

{september}

--my sister and i painted our bathroom...doctor who themed

--went to my first drive-in theater

{october}

--took a huge family vacation to Florida

--met my amazing dear friend, Emily

--was a pink lady for Halloween

{november}

--helped host a great Thanksgiving

--made my muscle head model for anatomy class. i call him Herman and he seriously boosted my grade in that class. i owe him.

--put up our Christmas tree

{december}

--my grandma went to be with Jesus

--survived school

--went to see the hobbit

--had a very blessed Christmas

There were a lot of firsts this year. And a lot of lasts. I will admit, 2012 was a tough year. But that doesn't mean there were not good memories made. It's the first day of 2013 and I want to pray for a peaceful new year. But most of all, I pray that God's will be done in 2013. 

It's Christmas

Christmas has come and gone. The new year is approaching fast. My holiday was different this year. But still blessed as ever.

One of my most favorite parts of the holiday is our Christmas Eve service at church. It was beautiful.

We spent Christmas Eve dinner with my grandparents, uncle, aunt, and cousins. Christmas Eve night always means lots of family jokes, presents, food, games, and getting home late. It's a blast!

On Christmas morning we all woke up around 7:00 (which is early for me folks) and headed downstairs to see what Santa had left us. And boy was it a sight. People, over my two days of Christmas, I've never seen so much Doctor Who merchandise...and it's now all found its home in my very own bedroom. *happy dance*

After all our presents were unwrapped and we'd all made a thorough mess, we got ready for our day. This year we hosted a big Christmas day brunch and invited multiple families from our church and home school group. Our house was packed! This was my absolute favorite part of Christmas this year. Serving these people, my friends, on Christmas Day...what a huge blessing!

{Photo credit goes to my dad.}

his death and resurrection

‎I will not boast in anything, no gifts, no power, no wisdom. But I will boast in Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. What should I gain from his reward? I cannot give an answer. But this I know with all my heart, his wounds have paid my ransom.

"How Deep the Father's Love" 

{source}

In Christ we are free...free indeed.

Happy Easter Sunday.

Looking Back at 2011

Can you believe it?  2011 is over.  2012 is already upon us.  My 2011 certainly had its downs...but also most certainly had its ups.  No, I didn't finish everything I set out to accomplish.  But I ended up doing so much...things not in my original plan.  Overall I'd count 2011 as a good year.  Here are just a few highlights:

{in january...}

--My daddy gave my sister and me his old Canon.  It's a great thing having a photographer as a dad.

--I bought my first Owl City album.

{in february...}

--I got an electric fiddle.  Electric.  Love.

--My baby brother, Logan, turned eleven.

--And my bigger than me little brother, Zachary, turned fifteen. ;)

{in march...}

--I turned seventeen.  And had a pretty great birthday.

{in april...}

--My best friend, Annie Beth, who also happens to be my sister (what a great coincidence) turned fourteen.

{in may...}

--I passed my state nursing test and became a CNA (Certified Nursing Assistant).  Whoa.  What a blessing.

--We threw a surprise birthday party for my amazing mother.

{in june...}

--I went to Crossings Camp with my youth group.

{in july...}

--I went on my Chrysalis flight.  (One amazing youth retreat.)
--I got my license!  Watch out world. ;)

{in august...}

--I got my job at the library.  Again, one super blessing.

--I became a senior in high school

{in september...}

--My grandpa went to be with Jesus.

{in october...}

--I saw the ocean for the very first time.  And what a sight it was.  Just beautiful.

{in november...}

--I had my first Starbucks coffee.  Ah.  Love.

{in december...}

--I celebrated one very merry Christmas.

2011 was a year of change for me.  And I expect 2012 to be one as well.  I'm growing up.  There's no stopping it.  But I think I've realized how to live in the moment.

The other day I realized something.  At this very moment, I'm living in a once in a lifetime day.  January 2, 2012 at 10:53 pm will never happen again.  Ever.  Life for today...for right now.  And have a wonderful 2012.

The night when Christ was born.

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn

Fall on your knees

Oh hear the angel voices

O night divine,

O night when Christ was born

~~~

Truly He taught us to love one another,

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease

Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,

With all our hearts we praise His holy name


Christ is the Lord, 
we'll praise His name forever
His power, and glory 
evermore proclaim

This was just a little bit of our wonderful Christmas.  Don't forget to remember Jesus' birth.  Even though the holidays are over, the Light of the world is still here...shining bright. 

I hope you all had a very merry Christmas!

P.S. All photography credit go to my dad and sister, Annie.