reflections.

2009 was a whirlwind.  beautiful and difficult and grandiose and large and painful and joyous.

i learned that sometimes the most peculiar people stick with you, while others surprise you by falling away.  be shocked, be hurt, be humbled--but stick out your hand and nonetheless embrace the ones who choose to stay.

i found that everything--everything--is usually harder than you imagine it to be--but also more worth it in the end.  [except, possibly, for greek]

when packing boxes, label everything.  also, when moving, make sure to write down the code to access your storage unit.  this is vital.

i learned that you're never too old to dream.  you're also never too old to cry to your mother via the phone.

i know now that i'm probably not going to live in the south forever...hopefully 2013 will bring a new region of the country, with new people and new ministry opportunities--though i would love for some familiar faces to travel with me.

i realized that there aren't a lot of easy answers, and that the questions themselves are sometimes more important than the answers.

i learned that there are huge benefits and negatives to living in the central time zone, that milo's is disgusting, and that i really miss beezer's.

so, here's to 2010:

to being back in south carolina for another summer--the state that i once hated--and in charleston, no less.

to attempting to conquer greek and beginning to learn hebrew.

to my ELC babies growing up and walking, and talking, and learning.

to a new addition in my MBBC family :)

to financial provision from the Lord--i always said that, if i could make it through undergrad out of debt, i wouldn't worry about my debt in graduate school. and here's to just that--not worrying my life away [thanks jason mraz]

to taking more risks, being true to my feelings, worrying less, and loving without abandon.

to spending less, giving more, and worshipping truly.

i think it'll be a year to remember. 2009 certainly was.