2008

Another year is drawing to a close. To me it is kinda hard to believe. It seems like just yesterday was New Years and here we are again at the dawning of 2009. The past year has had ups and downs with a lot of changes. It is always interesting to me to look at where you were a year ago. Sometimes it seems like you were a completely different person and I guess in a way you were.

This time last year I was merely a junior and not really expecting college to end anytime soon. My thoughts were centered around my vault career and hoping for the best season ever, but doubting it just the same. My boyfriend was in Iraq and not coming home any time soon. I was watching my hero and the most amazing woman in the world slowly slip away from us. Kodi was a puppy celebrating his first Christmas and birthday right around the corner, just to name a few. A lot has changed, there is no denying that, but that is life I guess.

This year I'm a senior entering my last semester of college. I have no idea what I'm going to do for a job come May or if there will even be jobs. My vault career is still a huge deal to me, since it is my last season ever, but my world doesn't revolve around it. I have found that it is better for me to just worry about myself, do what I need to do, and have fun with. For too long I have worried about the bar and made myself try to hit a goal, but secretly I doubted my own ability to achieve it. My whole purpose this year is to have fun with it and enjoy it while I can. James came home in May, which has been wonderful! The thought of him possibly going back within the next year is heart breaking, but a very real possibility. I don't want to see the day come, but I am willing to go through it again and I will support him 100% in whatever he has to do. My sweet Grandmother left us in February. It was a very hard time for the whole family and not a day goes by when she isn't missed. It was not a pleasant experience watching her go to be with the Lord, but you could feel an overwhelming presence of the Lord in the room. This Christmas has been different without her here and depressing, but I know she is celebrating with Jesus this year. She is no longer suffering or in any kind of pain and I know that one day I will see her again, but until then I have her memory that I will always carry in my heart. Kodi has successfully managed to take over the house and become possibly the most spoiled dog on the face of the earth. He is still a light weight, but the most adorable newfie you will find.

So 2008 has been a time for many changes. If we like them or not, we have to take what we are given and run with it. We can't chose the cards we are dealt, we can just trust God to bring us through it. By leaning on Him and His wisdom, we can get through anything. No one except God knows what 2009 will bring, but we can rest assured that He will be with us through it all and will have His perfect will done.

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace... He has made every thing beautiful in His time." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, 11