It's A New Year

As I sit and ponder on this past year, I constantly see God at work in my life and the lives around me. 2009 was most definitely a year of growing. I don't think God has taught me more in a year than He did this year. It was exciting, refreshing, and full of learning.

Reflections on 2009...

School: In May I finished my 9th grade year quite successfully. It was a crazy first year of high school, but it was fun and I loved almost every minute of it. :) This fall I began my tenth grade year with a new excitement for learning. I am taking all my classes at Creative Arts in Action (recently changed to Center for Home Education, but I like to stick with CAIA). I took on Anatomy and Physiology, Geometry, Literature, an extra writing class, World Geography, and Spanish. With lots of hard work, I have completed my first semester with all A's. It would be hard to choose a favorite class, but I really like Science (even though it is really hard), and probably loving Literature the most...for many reasons. I have always loved reading, writing has become more fun as I get better, and my teacher has blessed me more than I could have imagined.

Theater: I have been in so many plays and it is something I have come to love doing a lot. The Cottage Theater at CAIA put on Sound of Music in which I was assistant stage manager, then I played the title role in Snow White. =) I have grown so much in my acting abilities and...my singing capacity..thanks to Mrs. Anicia (the theater director and the voice lessons teacher).

Family: This has been a fun year for my family. The biggest thing was that my sister got married in May. So the whole, first half of the year was spent in slow preparation for the big day. It turned out beautifully and Joshua, her husband, quickly became a brother and son. This is Hunter's senior year so he has been busy applying for college(or acting school) and everything that seniors do. =) We took a big family vacation this year to the beach in Florida...it was fun to have all 8 of us together for a week. It was sad when Thanksgiving hit us and Rachel and Joshua were not able to go to Alabama with us, but reality is hard sometimes. My first Thanksgiving without my big sister :(...but we all still had fun where we were. What else has gone on this year with us? With a family of 7..or 8 now..there is always something. Well, my mom registered for college in December and she will be taking 3-4 classes. It's going to be another busy semester but it will be fun! OH! I got my permit! That has been exciting and I'm counting down until the day I get my license. =) Other than that, I don't think there is anything else but that was enough for me. =) We all grew closer to each other and are learning together (because family makes you) how to work through differences and living life to the fullest, the way God intended. :)

Friends: I have made so many new friends this year in addition to the amazing friends I already had! Even though school is crazy, we manage to get together as much as possible. I love those close friends that you can share with and talk about the Lord with. God has blessed me with many.

Hobbies: I have continued to cook and bake all the time! It is one thing I find so enjoyable. Babysitting...always included in my hobbies because I love it. Holding little babies and playing with young children is so special and such a gift to me. Moving to Fort Worth a few years ago made it harder to be able to do that but God has a purpose for everything (something I have had to believe this year). Thankfully, a few people I used to babysit for still work it out sometimes and I am very grateful. We also have a little girl next door that I have been blessed to watch. Reading...I could bury my nose in a book all day. Cooking, Babysitting, Reading, playing games, and just hanging out with my friends and family. Everything I enjoy most.

My Spiritual Walk: Like I said this has been a year of tremendous growth. God has put people in my life that have furthered my relationship with Him. I'm so grateful for my teachers and the role they have played in my life. God has taught me so much. I really feel that He has opened my eyes to a lot and helped me realize things I never have before. He has put me in other people's shoes so I am able to talk to them in whatever place they are. I have come to see the importance of Scripture more than ever and I'm loving every moment I spend in it. I have learned to be content and to trust God. I know I have a long way to go in my relationship with Him, but I'm working at it every day.


Dreams for 2010...

I want to continue learning all that I can in school. I know God will continue to put that passion in me for learning. I want to work on sticking to my schedule and not just planning on it. I'm very good at organizing and planning but following the plan (especially for school) is not quite as easy. :) I'm planning on continuing in theater throughout this year as much as possible. I like to switch back between actually acting and being a part of crew. We are performing Sleeping Beauty at the end of January and I am planning on being stage manager or a part of tech for the spring musical, You're A Good Man Charlie Brown.

Family: I want to continue growing close to each of them and learning to treat them with love, the way God would have me. I'm praying for patience and help to not just survive this busy semester of my mom in college but living it to the fullest and having fun while my responsibilities at home will probably grow. Hunter will graduate in May...I will get my license in August..and with this big family I'm sure we will have something else exciting!

Friends: I want to be there for my friends when they need me and continue to make more. God has blessed me with so many great friends at my school and I love every single one of them.

Hobbies: One thing that I would add to this list is riding horses. One of my new, but close friends has horses and I found that I love being around them. So a big dream for this year is that I will have the opportunity to ride horses more often, and even possibly vault with her. Why not dream big?

My Spiritual Walk: I' m praying for a year of more growth (because there is not an end to that) and actually going out and furthering the kingdom. I really feel that this year is going to allow for that. I want to reach those in need. Another thing I want in my spiritual walk is consistency in reading the Bible. I have been much better this year, but I find times where I am constantly in it then I go a while without really meditating on His Word. It is so beneficial and I just feel the Joy of the Lord when I am.

2010 lays ahead of us with so much mystery. We don't know where God may lead us or what could happen and that is so exciting to me. It may seem scary at times but that is when people grow closer with each other and with God because they need someone to lean on and what better person than Jesus?