What went on in 2012?

Have to do my annual post..:)

In 2012.....

-I started life in my very own apartment
-Payed a lot of my own bills...(hah)
-Started working retail
-Got a hammy and lost one..=/
-Made a lot of close friends at the school where I work
-Had a few interviews
-Turned the big 2-3
-Went kayaking for the first time
-Saw monkeys riding on sheep dogs
-Saw lumineers live in Philly
-saw ZZ ward in MD
-Went to Alabama with MDS
-also went to Savannah GA, and Charleston SC
-Shot three weddings
-Tasted wine at a vineyard
-Experienced the joys of the laundromat for the first time
-Got an iphone 5 :)
-Got a THIRD job. (why yes, I am crazy, thanks for asking)
-Stood as a bridesmaid in my best friend's wedding
-Threw a bridal shower
-Chopped my hair and donated it
-Made a quilt in 2 weeks time
-Went camping and bought a tent AFTERwards (that I still haven't used)

2013 GOALS
-Make healthy meals for myself often
-Get involved with a church
-book at least one wedding
-Get a teaching job ( how likely? but PLEASE 2013 BE GOOD)

End of 2011...

Hellllooooo FRIENDS!
:)

It's almost 2012! After I post this, I will have done 110 blog entries this year!
Although that doesn't seem like very many when you consider the fact that there are 365 days in a year.
Hmm...

Today I was a second shooter at my first wedding photography gig! It was great! I really like being a photographer at a wedding and would so do it again.

I am exhausted though. I woke up at like 4-430ish to drive out to Lancaster at 5am.
It was worth it, and I would do it again in a second!
(If you're wondering to yourself why I got up and left so early it's because, yes, I'm still home, and yes that was MY decision. and yes, I'm still very much a homebody ;) )

Last year, I posted some happenings from 2011 and wanted to do that again!

SO...in 2011

I...

-Student taught in 1st AND 6th grade
-Graduated from college!!
-won 2 CDs on the radio
-Got A JOB
-Had 3 interviews
-realized even more, that God doesn't need me to DO things for Him. (and I don't/can't earn His approval. It's just there.)
-Got my Nikon D3100
-Had about 6 photo sessions
-Second shot a wedding
-Started medication
-Saw Mat Kearney in concert
-Got my very first OWN apartment!
-Started two babysitting jobs
-met a handful of people from two different churches
-joined a gym
-had my first "car" breaking down" experience

Quite the year! Lots of change and transitioning and there will only be more to come.

I think I definitely learned a ton this past year. About myself. About teaching. About what it feels like when God is the one carrying me through my day.

I don't worry as much. I have a lot more control over my anxiety and nerves.

God's shown me through all of that that His strength is verrry apparent in my weakness.

I'm excited for 2012 but at the same time, don't want to look far past next week!! ;)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

Beginning of Luke

So in my last post I wrote a few "resolution" type goals for myself for this new year (2011!!!). They all look really good in writing, and they are all things I desire to do/grow in SO very much. but I was thinking about them more on Sunday morning and I realized those are things that will take effort and some change on my part. I can say those things and it's all well and good, but I can't just keep living the same way and expect those things to change on their own. What's the point of writing them down just to forget them? So I'm going to try to be really conscious of them. Some of them are also things I need God's help with. They also go hand in hand, for example by staying in God's word and praying often, I will be able to love on people more naturally. That seems to be how it works out. Find yourself in God, and everything else clicks in place.

SO anyway, that said, I decided that I should pick a book of the Bible to start reading in. I have a daily devotional, which I LOVE, but I feel the need for something else to go with it. I decided to start in Luke. I read part of chapter 1 today (1-55). I was really interested in the fact that the gospel, Luke is sort of connected with the book of Acts! My Bible has notes in the beginning of the chapters and it also said that Luke is "noted for his interest in various classes of people"...I thought that was cool. Apparently in his account there are details about women and children that aren't in the other gospels simply because he noticed them. I like that.

In the verses that I just read Luke is writing about Zachariah, Elizabeth, and Mary.
Zachariah and Elizabeth couldn't have children for years and years. An angel comes to Zechariah and tells him that Elizabeth will have a child. The verses that stuck out to me from this part were 11-13.

11And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.

12And when Zachariah saw him, he was troubled, and fear took possession of him.

13But the angel said to him, Do not be afraid, Zachariah, because your petition [k]was heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you must call his name John [God is favorable].


Zachariah saw the angel and was afraid. The angel tells him about his son to be named John and Zachariah doubts him, as a result of this his voice is taken away.
A similar thing happens to Mary when angel Gabriel came to her. She was also afraid...

28And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [[w]endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! [x]Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!

29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled and disturbed and confused at what he said and kept revolving in her mind what such a greeting might mean.

The angel said to Mary "the Lord is with you" "Blessed are you!" and still she became afraid at what he was saying. She was "greatly troubled" and it says that she kept turning over in her mind what the angel might be telling her.

I was thinking about how often this happens in my own mind..and how much I can relate to those statements. There are so many times when I've gotten unnecessarily afraid or stuck with fear, or had doubts...
At first I thought it was ironic that Zachariah and Mary become afraid because it's an angel that confronts them...it seems like it would be a comfort, but after thinking about it more, I understand why they might be struck with fear upon seeing an angel.

After Mary becomes afraid, her attitude does a 180 and she begins to rejoice God. I liked this a lot too. :)

46And Mary said, My soul magnifies and extols the Lord,

47And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48For He has looked upon the low station and humiliation of His handmaiden. For behold, from now on all generations [of all ages] will call me blessed and declare me happy and [aa]to be envied!

49For He Who is almighty has done great things for me--and holy is His name [to be venerated in His purity, majesty and glory]!



Happy Monday!

Winter break bliss and 2011

I've been feeling a TON better these past couple days. :)

I'm not sure what it is, maybe just being home, relaxing, hanging out, family time, God time, OR a combination of all of those things.

I really really love being home for break. I think I'm appreciating it WAY more this time because I know what's coming up next semester. Don't get me wrong, I am way excited for student teaching, but I know how time consuming it will be...especially after having my little taste of it with my J-block placement. It's so nice being on break and getting to read whatever I want, whenever I want. Catching up on shows. Being with friends. Gosh. Love it.

Today I read over these couple verses in my Bible over and over. They brought so much comfort today and I love how they apply so well.

4But God--so rich is He in His mercy! Because of and in order to satisfy the great and wonderful and intense love with which He loved us,

5Even when we were dead (slain) by [our own] shortcomings and trespasses, He made us alive together in fellowship and in union with Christ; [He gave us the very life of Christ Himself, the same new life with which He quickened Him, for] it is by grace (His favor and mercy which you did not deserve) that you are saved ([a]delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation).

6And He raised us up together with Him and made us sit down together [giving us [b]joint seating with Him] in the heavenly sphere [by virtue of our being] in Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

7He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:5-7

All of Ephesians 2 is reaal good. :)


Today is the day I also went to the doctor for my anxiety. I know a lot of people have their own opinions on that sort of thing, but I just want to do what's right for me personally. It's such a constant battle and I really believe that (at least for right now) something could be done to help me. My doctor talked with me a little bit and then gave me a prescription for Zoloft. Hopefully the side effects won't be too bad, and it'll help me rather than hurt me. We shall see.

It's totally not a "spur of the moment thing" though, it's something I've thought about often and also prayed about. I don't have the desire to tell many people about it..I'm mainly putting it on here for my own records..=)


2011 is almost here!

2010 was a pretty successful year I'd say.

I...
-conquered ALL of my early childhood classes and got all A's in them
-successfully passed two summer courses, one while working
-got to go on a mission trip to California and learned a whole lot about myself and who I am in God
-made it through some rough drama with a fellow Christian and I think we're both stronger for it
-turned 21!!
-got bangs =)
-learned to play ukulele
-joined worship team at church
-PASSED my Ed certification tests
-volunteered a week of my time at an overnight camp

So yes, overall, good year.

I was thinking about it, and I don't think this was one of those HUGE growing in God years. I definitely grew with God. Just, not as much as I would have liked to say I did. I learned a bunch of important lessons, but then in other ways I feel like I took some steps backward. I was really up and down this year, but I do also think that is necessary sometimes.

Here are some of my goals for 2011:
-LOVE love love, EVERY single person I come across.
-Don't overlook the people around me.
-Pray. about everything. All the time. Everyday.
-Spend lots of time in God's word.
-Exercise and eat healthier
-Take things/life events in stride (and let God handle them)

:) Bring on the new year!