Highlight Reel
Can you believe 2015 is over?! It certainly seems like it flew by. As I create goals for the new year, I want to take a moment to reflect upon 2015 and share some of the highlights. January-- My extended family took a trip to Walt Disney World in Florida. I hadn't been there in almost ten years, so it was a completely different experience than when I was a kid. I loved the nostalgia of visiting old places and the chance to try new things that hadn't interested me when I was younger.
February-- My best friend and I hosted a fancy dinner party. Each course represented a different country, and I think we had just as much fun making all the food as we did eating it with our friends.
May-- I went on a mini roadtrip with a couple of my friends to Madison, WI, to meet up with more friends and see our favorite band, Needtobreathe. The whole experience was straight out of a movie.
June-- I went to Joyful Noise Family Fest with my family once again, and we had a great time! It was so fun to listen to bands I loved and hear music from artists I wasn't familiar with, all the while bonding with my family.
July-- One of my college roommates got married, and it was such a sweet reunion of all the girls I had lived with as we gathered together to celebrate this milestone in her life.
August-- I ran my first half-marathon. Man, that was definitely a big challenge, especially since I had never done a real trail run before. It was long and muddy, but I was able to push myself to new limits, and it felt really good to achieve my goal.
September-- My cousin got married, and I was blessed with the opportunity to be a part of the celebration. The whole family came together to make everything run smoothly, and the entire day was spent together, cherishing one another's company and conversation.
My sister and I also moved into an apartment of our own in September, which was a big change from living with a few of our closest friends. It has given us the opportunity to spend more time together and become closer, which I'm really grateful for.
November-- amidst the celebrating of Thanksgiving, my family participated in the Walk to End Hunger at MOA, which was a sweet time of walking together around the mall to support efforts to feed those who are food insecure while we think about how grateful we are for all that we have. I also got to celebrate Thanksgiving with my community, and it was so touching to hear how everyone in the group truly was thankful for the friendships that have been forged in that group and the support they have felt over the last year.
December-- all the Christmas things. I hosted a party themed after How the Grinch Stole Christmas, which was a blast. I also spent time with my family, watching episodes 4, 5, and 6 of Star Wars in preparation for episode 7. It was good to spend so much concentrated time with those closest to me, especially during the holiday season, which is my favorite time of year. My cousin and I got to plan games for Christmas day with the extended family once again, and it was a lot of fun to get together for such a happy occasion.
As I begin a new year, I can't wait to see what joyful memories it will be filled with. May it be a very happy new year for you all!