I know it's a tad early to be writing this, and who knows, maybe a whole bunch of other things will come along and make this post obsolete by the end of the year!
But for now I feel like giving a recap of what happened in 2014.
In the end of 2013 Gary, Emily, and I decided to move back to FL in the new year. They left in February and I stayed behind for a few weeks so I could go on an amazing adventure to New York City with Jessica and Candace, it was incredible.
Incredible for a few reasons, one being; it's NYC! The second one is because it's the first time I've gone somewhere "by my self". I know I had friends with me, but we planned it! The three of us. My momma didn't help me (In fact she wasn't too thrilled with it) I saved my money and I booked my flight and hotel room. I can go on adventures! NYC was more amazing then I expected it to be, I figured it would be amazing because it was my adventure, but it turns out the city is actually pretty cool, who would have thought? LOLOLOLOL. My favorite part was the subway, it is such a stretching experience, you have to be close to people, you have to be assertive but at the same time not be afraid to ask for directions, you have to be cool (minded) in case you get separated from your group (ahem, Jessica). Also, the concept of the subway was incredible, I wish we had something close by in FL that I could use! The subway stations were unique and some very beautiful! I loved and sometimes hated crossing through the different stations to switch trains, the up and down and around (Not fun when you first arrive there and have suitcases!) We went to see Aladdin on Broadway (Yes, you read me right!) The theater was beautiful! And for a homeschooler that has never even seen a highschool play, I was amazed. I might have sat there the whole time with my mouth open. We had a drink in a fancy lounge with a super expensive cover charge, we ate at some great restaurants, Candace got engaged in central park! We visited Ground Zero and the statue of liberty, went to coney island, China town, little Italy, and stayed in Brooklyn. We topped our trip off with a ride in a taxi (Because we got lost on the subway to the airport and were running late) and a night in the JFK! We missed our flight. That was not fun at the time but I do cherish those memories with my sweet friends. Yeah, I never thought I would be the type of person to love New York City but I definitely want to go back some day, if to just ride the subway :) After my trip to NYC I packed up and moved home.
Florida:
It was amazing to be home again, in some ways nothing changed. It's been amazing to be back with Katie, and to be able to spend time with my Rob and my Zoey-Boey! When I first got home all I wanted to do was stay at home and spend time with my sisters, just being sisters. But I couldn't, so
I searched for and found a job. I applied to GEICO on Emily's suggestion and was offered the job the same day as my interview. Which apparently is incredible. People apply 6 and 7 times and never get hired (And you have to wait 6 months between applications/interviews) So, I started that venture because it was offered to me.....I lasted three months. During that time I cried almost daily because I was so freaked out, I was constantly anxious, I had a weird rash on my arms and legs that was itching like crazy only to realize later that it was from stress. My biggest stressor was having to spend time away from my family, all I wanted to do was be with Emily and Katie, to be sisters. I was counseled by so many people on what I should do and how I should handle the situation and eventually I just quit. Okay, I didn't just quit, I had a backup and I was waiting to hear back from a job interview. I applied and got hired by Starbucks which is where I am now. So far I barely have any hours and I try not to "Oh no! Why did I ever quit GEICO???" Mainly because I don't regret quitting, I just regret not saving my money. Cause I'm stupid when it comes to money. I'm much happier at Starbucks, I feel like I'm actually doing things instead of taking calls and dealing with irate lawyers, med providers, and body shops. I'm also hoping to start picking up shifts with Billy even though his store is just over an hour away >.< I'll have enough to pay my bills though!
In the midst of GEICO stuff I tried to enroll for the fall semester at PSC....I tried and tried and ultimately, after jumping through many hoops, failed. It was too expensive because I'm technically "out of state" for them (which Emily counters with, why the heck does a community college have out of state tuition?!) The adviser I dealt with the most felt so bad and encouraged me to not give up and also suggested I try applying for some scholarships in the mean time. I intend to :) I'm not done with the idea of school but in a stroke of....something, I changed my mind about what I wanted to major in! I had previously decided to go for Social work so I could eventually become an adoption specialist (Which don't get me wrong, sounds amazing) I made this choice after reading Radical by David Platt. But the more time that passed after reading I could hardly remember why I wanted to do this....and the more I thought about school the more I thought about friends and people I know that have gone on to become Doctors, Actors, Firefighters, Game designers, and so on and I just stand amazed at them, they're living life! They grew up to be what they wanted to be! And it was in one of those thoughts that I realized it's not impossible to do what you've always wanted to do, you just have to work for it. So, Lord willing, when this girl starts school in 2015 she's going for a major in Archaeology with a minor in Anthropology :) It's what I've always wanted to do! I've shared it with my parents, sisters, friends, and mentors, and all the ones who have known me since I was a child all said (No lie) "I always wondered why you didn't go to school for that, it's what you've always wanted to do!" It's encouraging, and true. I did minimal research into it when I was younger and found out that in order to be awesome you had to have a doctorate, that was about 8 years of school and clearly that would take too long, I wanted to be an archaeologist now! And if I had only stuck to my guns I would almost be done with my masters.....But now I get to start and I'm okay with that :) I'd rather start than whine at Starbucks that I'm at Starbucks and not on some astounding dig in Egypt, or off some coast finding Atlantis!
So, aside from that, I've been going to church. Which doesn't sound like a big deal but church was a chore when I was in Winston, I didn't like going. But now I'm back and God has been working and speaking in my life. I recently prayed to God that I didn't understand the point of prayer and to please make it relevant in my life. That Sunday Gary spoke about community in Sunday School and Tom spoke on prayer. They worked in perfect unison and God practically shouted at me! That following week I prayed daily for the people in my Sunday School class, I prayed for Rachel and her job, and I prayed for my Dad. He had recently told a guy that was at our house that he hadn't been to church in 5 years. Now, I knew my Dad didn't go to church but I didn't realize just how long it had been! It broke my heart. I know how important church is to me and to drive that point home is our SS series on community and how important it is. So, I prayed that God would give my Dad a burden to go to church, I prayed that God would lead him to a gospel centered church full of believers who would lift my Dad up, encourage him, and guide him. I told God a couple times that I don't expect my Dad to go to church the very next Sunday but that it would be cool if he did and I knew it was possible because God can do anything. But I didn't have my hopes up. Sunday came and Daddy didn't go to church. But I found out tonight that Dad asked Gary about his SS lesson and Gary shared with my Dad about how it's on community in the church and whatnot and he got to speak to my Dad about it! I was so blown away! Even though I didn't see the result I know my God is working in my Dad's life! I can believe that he will guide my Dad!!!!
To add to my prayers, this week I'm praying for my Mom, and for my attitude towards her. I desire to be patient, understanding, loving and sacrificial, to show my mom love in every way possible. I want to be able to truly communicate with my mom, to understand her, and to see God work in her life in the miraculous way I know he can.
And in some non-me news, Elli Jane was born July 20th! She's pretty cute, but still pretty young. Ana loves being a big sister!
There is so much more I could say but thats about it for now. 2014 has been so different, so unexpected and so full of mistakes, I just hope I can be in sync with God so I can stand.
"When you open your heart up to the love of God through Christ, that love becomes the bedrock foundation out of which you move in your human relationships" Bill Hybels, "This is a Friendship" from Groups: The Life-Giving power of community
