Monday, January 2, 2017

Hello 2017


Happy New Year, everybody! I hope you have had a great 2016! I always look forward to a new year. It is really exciting to have a fresh start!

The first half of 2016 was amazing. I had so many fun things happening, I started my senior year of highschool, I really grew closer to some amazing people, I turned 17, I got really involved in writing, my blog really started to grow, and life was great. Things couldn't have been better! 

The last few months have really been a difficult, but growing time. I went through a big personal struggle, I found out things about some of my friends who I thought were a certain way and ended up being completely the opposite, I missed my long-distance friends, we had to put our dog down, and I ended up being pretty sick. It was all really discouraging for me to look back at the year, because that was all that I was seeing. But I had a perspective change after realizing that there really were good things that happened in that time! Even the bad things that happened had their good parts. 

For instance, I found out that I am going to be an aunt (which is super exciting!!), and I have been able to talk and pray over Skype and email with a very close friend of mine from a long time ago about our struggles and life. Our bond is growing stronger, and I am so thankful for her! 
I discovered how awesome things like Skype, emails, and texting are, because my Ohio sister and I were able to have a Christmas party even though we were hundreds of miles apart! We have been able to communicate and keep our friendship strong, which is a huge blessing!
Through my spiritual struggles, I have really seen God's hand in my life and I have grown so much closer to Him through it. He has given me passion like I have never felt it before, and I am already able to look back on the last few months and see how much he has brought me through.
I am learning how to rest and that it is ok to take a break once in a while so that I can recover. I have learned to treasure the friendships that are genuine and deep, and I am learning thankfulness and joy in every circumstance.

When I think about the year that way, I see it in a completely different light! I am able to pick out the beautiful things, and be thankful for the lessons that the hard things taught me. A big thing that I have learned is that growing cannot happen without struggling. Those are the things that really push us and stretch us. To be honest, I am someone who likes to be comfortable. I don't like being out of my comfort zone, and the thought of doing it freaks me out! But I have realized that it is necessary for growing, and I really want to embrace change and new opportunities for growth this year. 

Something that I sort-of announced recently was that I am going to be changing my blog! I have really felt like God has placed it on my heart to do more of a devotional style of blogging, and I am going for it. I will be sticking with this blog, instead of doing a completely new one, but the content will be changing. I still have some things to iron out, such as figuring out the best posting schedule and such, so posting times will most likely be a little random for a while. Each Thursday, I am planning on doing a Thankfulness Thursday post, and I want to do a thoughtful/devotional post another day of the week. This is something completely new for me, but I am looking forward to it! Prayers would be appreciated as well, because this could not happen without God's guidance and grace! 

So...goodbye, 2016....hello, 2017! This year is going to be a big one, and I am looking forward to it! (I'm graduating and turning 18 Y'ALL HOW IS THIS HAPPENING?!?) I used to come up with big lists of aspirations and goals, but this year, I just want to really focus on my relationship with Christ and grow spiritually. I want to learn true faith and confidence in Him, because, as I realized this past year, that is the only place I will get it. I want to hide God's Word in my heart, because I have learned that it truly is the best and most powerful weapon there is, and I want to see God in everything and be thankful for everything, because everything is a gift from Him.

Thank you Lord for another year!! ♥ 


For God gave us a spirit not of fear, but of power and love and self-control. 
2 Timothy 1:7

12 comments:

  1. Happy Late New Years! I'm excited to read your stuff :) and I'll be praying for you too!

    Ellie
    www.uniquelyyou1.blogspot.com

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  2. Happy New Year! I'm also graduating and turning 18 this year -- hard to believe.

    Hailey
    haileyhudson.wordpress.com

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  3. Happy New Year! And congratulations on being an aunt; that's so wonderful! Best of luck with your new blogging; I look forward to seeing it. <3

    Ellie | On the Other Side of Reality

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    1. EEEP THANK YOU ELLIE!! :) You are so encouraging and kind! ♥

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  4. Happy New Year? Isn't it amazing how technology can bring us closer together? And you're graduating, AHHHHHH!!! I'm a junior this year and I can hardly believe that I'm entering my senior year in the fall. Time passes by so quickly that it feels like high school was a blur, you know?

    xoxo Morning

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    1. It is amazing! I have definitely gained an appreciation for it lately!! :)
      GAH I am SO excited!! High school was pretty much a big blur. It all kind of runs together at this point. lol

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  5. Hey first of all YOU'RE GOING TO BE AN AUNTY?!?!?! NO WAY MEGAN NO WAY THAT IS SO EXCITING!
    God bless you in 2017!! By the way just wanted to say.. No matter how your blog changes I'll still follow and occasionally comment random things <3

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    1. EEEKK THANK YOU BONNIE!! I am super duper excited!! Thank you so so much! You are so kind!! ♥

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  6. AWWW!!!!!! Just read this. How sweet!! I am thankful for things like that too, Illinois sister! ~Abby <3<3<3

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