Reflections

I'm writing this from a cot in the middle of Illinois. It's like I'm in Little House on the Prairie. I can't even see the closest house and our "walk" yesterday consisted of going to the mailbox because it was so cold. But I'm enjoying being with my parents, grandma,Stephanie and Johnny. They couldn't come to NY for Christmas so we came to them. The people here are friendly and the food is delicious. Can't ask for a whole lot else, can we?

We visited a lot of Johnny's family after church. I feel like I know the family tree but all the branches are laying on the ground; I can't put it all together! His Grandma had this beautiful saying hanging in her kitchen:

"We give you thanks Lord 

for the food before us,

the friends beside us, 

the love between us,

and Your presence among us."

Tomorrow is New Year's Eve! 2012 will officially be done! It's crazy. So crazy. I was looking back on 2012, doing a little bit of introspection and, to be quite honest, my first thought was "I'm glad that's over". I had to put a quick check on my natural pessimism. The only real bad thing about 2012 was the time I spent in doctor's office. Between losing my vision in the spring and having my body hate me all fall, I have spent more than enough time in medical institutions. So yes, I'm glad 2012 is over. But if that was my worst? Boy, I have it good! 

I'm going to miss 2012. I've met some AMAZING people and done so many awesome things. God has shown himself more than faithful this last year.

Here are some highlights and things I have learned in 2012:

• I love weddings. I love being in them. I love (almost) everything about them. Amy, Lauren and Stephanie all made sure I got my wedding fix for the year (yay for more in 2013!)
• Michigan: God worked out everything for my time there. Friends and a family there... I could go on for days but I'll refrain.
• I got to fly a plane!
• Getting more involved with Women At Risk, International and Human Trafficking
• Being a Senior and more importantly, being treated like a Senior.
• English Country Dancing every Friday was such a wonderful experience (thank you, Kazia!)
• Realizing that there are more people who are just as much dorks as I am :)
• I made some fantastic friends that encourage me to be better, mostly just by their actions
• I drew closer to those already in my life and I'm so thankful for that
• Learning to trust God with my future (He is still working on me)
• That Everything works out for His glory
• Treasure my moments. All of them. Especially with people I love.
• To take more chances (What is the worst that can happen?)

This is by no means an exhaustive list but I'm feeling sentimental and cheesy and just so thankful for this past year of life. I feel like I could just go through every person in my life and explain how happy I am that they are in it but alas, that is not practical (and it would take far too long).

2012 was a good year. I'm thankful that I was here to be a part of it. Here's to another year of our Lord!

Want to get dinner?

My brain has been constantly spinning since Thanksgiving break. It was a mental marathon where papers, tests and good byes happened in a flash. It was during the chaos (which every college student experiences) that I came to the realization of my love for food.

Let me clarify: I enjoy food but I love the people that accompany the food. My college meal plan allows me to eat one meal a day in my school's dining areas. I try to ration the meals and plan ahead for the week, knowing who I'll get to spend the one meal with. I have also gotten quite good at finding the free meals on campus. This way I won't be a poor, starving college student, I'll just be poor :)

I realized that I am closest with the people I eat with. I have friends that we each promise to "get a meal" together but it has yet to happen. A meal shows a connection; a time together outside of the usual place of socialization. I have my closest friends because we sought each other out and ate together.

In Michigan I became closest with my friend, Emily, after we ate lunch together repeatedly. We were able to talk outside of the office about our lives and everything therein. It was in between the chewing and sipping that we became the dearest of friends.

Of course, it is very difficult for me to eat with other people because I just want to talk with them. Meals always take at least an hour. Two years ago, the leaders of the Christian Fellowship group would eat dinner together before every Fellowship meeting. The other leaders soon became close friends: close enough that they would just tell me to stop talking so we could finish our dinner. I would be on my salad and the others would be on their second plate. I looked forward to every meal, though, because I would see them. The food was less than desirable, but the experience was so much better because of the people I shared it with.

This kind of seems like a monologue about my love of eating with friends but I have found it to be true. My family always ate together when we lived in the same house and, among many other things, it really drew us together. I know that we're true friends when we have eaten together more than twice. That shows that the conversation and length of dinner were both pleasant to all involved parties.

Jesus understood the importance of food. I mean, he did perform some hefty miracles surrounding it! He seemed to always be eating or visiting a party, He knew how to draw close bonds (Isn't he like the Maker of close bonds?) I would love to have dinner with Him. That would be the BEST dinner date. Though I doubt I would ever touch my food, having so much to ask.

So, for me Friends=Dinner Together.

Want to grab some food?

12/12/12

Isn't this date awesome?!

December 12th, 2012

12/12/12

Whether European or American, everyone will know what date it is!! There will be no confusion.

12/12/12

wooohoooo

just one more time

12.12.12

The twelfth day of the twelfth month in the two thousand twelfth year of our Lord

YES.

(I have fried my brain and its energy can only be used for Ancient Greek, Ancient Literature and saving Kenya. So much to do in the next day!!)