Reflection of a Year

With New Year's Eve only a few days off, I reflect on 2008 and cannot grasp how the whole year has passed. This has been a pretty big year for me in many ways. Some good, others bad. I'm almost sad to see 2008 end, but a lot of me looks forward to what the new can bring.

In January, I discovered that I would be moving back to Kentucky. My friend Annika came and visited me in Connecticut. I went to the March for Life for the second time, got lost in DC, and met some awesome friends. : ) I found out I was moving the day before the March, so I was able to tell a lot of my KY friends in person and it was pretty awesome.

February was jam-packed. My friend Theresa came for a weekend visit and we went to NYC. Then we got down to business and moved. That had a lot of mixed emotions. We moved a short 3-4 weeks after Dad accepted the KY job. There were too many goodbyes to say in too short of a time. The people I met, the places I'd been to, the memories Connecticut had held for me...all were gone in a few short weeks. We had a crazy drive down, but I managed to meet up with my friend David on the way down and that was fun (even though it was only for like...5 minutes). After arriving, I realized what I think I'll have to realize every time I move...moving disappoints you. Things were naturally what I thought they would be but I managed to get through.

March was a whirlwind of trying to get school done and adjust to the move. We were living in a tiny apartment and I would walk to the library as often as possible. A few friends drove to visit me during their spring break and we had an awesome 24 hours.

April came and went. I was still trying to adjust to being back in town after being gone for two years. We bought a 68 acre farm in Kentucky. I got a job working as a housekeeper for a family we know. All the while, I tried to keep up with school.

May was awesome. I went to my first concert. It was loud and crazy and I LOVED it. I bought a digital camera (something I'd been wanting for years!) I cut my hair. I had my Sweet 16 on the 17th. We moved to our farm. We struggled to adjust and settle into our new home.

June was amazing...My sister and her three daughters came for a three week visit. I had a birthday party (where my guests were mainly interested in our puppies and baby goats...go figure...). I got my permit. I went to Christendom! During my week at the summer program, I met some of the most incredible people and wouldn't trade my experiences for anything (except maybe the hike...that wasn't so much fun...). I spent time with my friends Elise and Shelby and realized that these girls were friends for life! I was delayed on my returning flight for 9 hours (be careful what you wish for...when I told God I wanted to stay there longer, I DIDN'T mean inside the airport...*sigh*).

July was pretty amazing, too. I was sad to be home without my sister and nieces and missed everyone like crazy. I went to a youth conference and the conference really strengthened my love for the pro-life work. Life is such a beautiful gift and I want to shout it out to the world!!!

August was fun...I went and visited friends for a week. I lost to my friend Rob at bowling by one stupid measly point (and totally demand a rematch...). I went to the mall with a few of my girl friends and charmed a guy into giving me a free slice of pizza (well, IDK if charmed is the right word...but it was something like that!).

September was good. I didn't do a whole lot, and mostly just doubled and tripled my school efforts. I got a ton done. : )

October was the same...life centered around trying to hurry up and finish junior year! On Oct 6, I joined ProgressiveU and started blogging. This has been an incredible experience and I can't believe how much I enjoy blogging! Towards the end of October, some of the kids in my youth group and I helped set up the "Cemetery of Innocents," which was basically a bunch of crosses to honor all those lost daily to abortion.

November was awesome. I love November. Actually, I hate the month cause I don't like the cold, but I got accepted to Christendom in November, so it's all cool. 8) Yeah, it was pretty amazing. I also FINALLY finished junior year. YAY ME!!!

December's been pretty good, too. I volunteered at the local pregnancy crisis center for the Christmas party and that was amazing. I finished the cross-stitch I was working on for my parents for Christmas. The blogging contest ended and I reflected on how much I'd learned in the past 2.5 months. Christmas came and went and Christmas Eve Mass was incredible! My grandmother helped me to miss CT less by lecturing me on how I don't eat enough. December has also been hard because I've reflected on the ups and downs of the year, regretted mistakes, missed people, that sort of thing. However, you can't change the way things are, so I guess there's no point in obsessing over it.

Wow, this was a lot longer than I meant for it to be. Anyway, I guess this year hasn't been such a drag as I thought! I'm excited to think of what the future brings, though...I graduate from high school, begin college, hopefully won't make as many mistakes (live and learn), and all that other fun stuff. Life is incredible! Good and bad, there is ALWAYS a reason to hope and ALWAYS a reason to smile!!!