Learned from the old, bring on the new, 2011

So 2010 was probably one of the hardest years of my life, but I learned so much and I feel like I'm stronger. I've lost some important people and had some adversity with others, but so many of my relationships have only grown stronger and deeper and I am finally at a place where I feel happy. Not surfacey happiness, but happiness with some meaning. So praise God for the desert. He does provide. So here's a little tribute to 2010 (copied from Olivia) A song and picture (or 5) for each month.


January
Song: Help Me Out of the Dark by Matt Hires
Picture:


January was when I first started hanging out with this one. Love her and our strange signs of affection :)

February
Song: Possibility by Lykke Li
Picture:

Shewolf awesomeness begins... :) Good pranks with that Shewolf

March
Song: I'm Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance by Black Kids
Pictures:


-Best Spring Break road trip ever with my parents, my dad the Ranger and I turned 20
-Rae and Bri came to my house and it was a good time :)

April
Song: Zombie by Cranberries
Pictures:


-Mustache-a-Palooza! My first Open Mic Night! Anddd
-My second ever chipping experience.... which was a disaster... but a memory nonetheless :)

May
Song: Little Help From My Friends by Joe Coker
Pictures:



-My roomies from Sophomore Year :)
-Just me sitting at Madee's desk... In the bathroom. One of the best pranks ever. Good thing my suitemate loved me
-Liv and John and I at Open Mic Night at LCS. Got some BFF time in at the end of May
(Also, this song was chosen for this month because it happens to be the theme for Wonder Years which I finally made it all the way through during this month

June
Song: Tiny Cities Made of Ashes by Modest Mouse
Pictures:


-Oh ya know, just Liv and I being Liv and I one weekend at Camp
-This month I met THIS GIRL!!!! Who restored some of my hope and joy in life and is just plain amazing. LOVE ALYSSA YERIAN!!!

July
Song: Cry In My Heart by (preferably by Camp Band, but normally by) Starfield
Pictures:


-This is the outfit from Senior Teen Trip Camp that earned me the nickname of "Rambo"
-Me, my boss, and a cabin of girls on a photo scavenger hunt. Also the week I hardcore bonded with Marissa, Stacey, and Olivia. Love those girls! Lifelong friends for sure... even if it brings us to Africa when we cheat on our husbands....

August
Song: What Sarah Said by Death Cab for Cutie
Pictures:


Lost my Coach and Grandma this month. Both wonderful people. RIP Coach and Grandma, you were dearly loved and missed

September
Song: Freedom to Feel by John Reuben
Pictures:




-New Roommates! And Roommate photos!!! Yay! Love these girls
-Let's Go Fly A Kite!
-I got to dress up and run around campus in a Chipmunk costume. But Tammera stole my body...
-Won a pineapple as best dressed for Lowell Luau in this palm tree costume :)

October
Song: A Boy Brushed Red… Living in Black and White by Underoath
Pictures:


-Me and two of my favorite people at Midnight Bowling who honestly are the reason I made it through this semester. Love them so much.
-Ya know. Bought a Spiderman costume for $3. I'msocool.
(Also, restored my love for screamo this month)

November
Song: Baby I Like It by Enrique Eglesias
Pictures:



-Dad and I waiting in line for Black Friday for my new laptop... which I love
-Me and Stout with coffee mugs that matched our shirts. Cold weather = Chai tea = Mmm
-The result of the best Steak and Shake run ever. What a good night :)
(All this, and discovered my Naked Song)

December
Song: Only One by Yellowcard
Pictures:



-Some of my new friends I made this year who were nice enough to bring me with to Applebees the last night of exams
-The Lehman girls on Christmas day. Love my family :)
-My crew from the Epic Penny Adventure!!!! And my Christmas Break Hangout buddies


Soo all that in 2010... and now, for 2011

I hope this year is a bit easier. I don't know, 2010 was one of those years that kept me honest and kept me growing and did not allow me to be stagnant or comfortable. 2010, while I did not like going through it very much, will probably end up being one of the most valuable years of my life. But I would like a chance to have a little fun this year and relax again and start building up without so much tearing down. So, unlike B, I do kind of do the resolution thing, so here are some of the things I hope to do better this coming year.

1. Be more intentionally appreciative of the people I love and who love me
2. Spend at least 10 minutes of just quiet with God every day. Not devotions or music or stuff like that, but just 10 minutes where I shut up, listen, and let God be God. I feel like this will bring a sense of peace into my life that I have never had.
3. Be more faithful in my devotional and prayer life
4. Stand up for myself a little more, not be as passive
5. Overcome some fears and maybe learn how to keep my mind controlled better. Things like getting my ears pierced and jumping on the blob, maybe even the zipline?!?
6. Take more pictures

That's all I've got for now... Happy 2011 to everyone!