Hey...remember that time I had a blog...

Hey...remember that time I had a blog?!  As my sweet friend and new roommate, Blanca, would say, "oopsies!"

There are many reasons I haven't blogged lately, but the overarching excuse is life. Yes, life. Instead of writing about it, I've been living it.  This is a good thing...but once upon a time I said I would like to blog "once a week-ish"...can we say fail?!  Yes, fail.

In review, here are some major events from the past 4 months...

Parents came to visit - I bought a new car - Chill Out (7th-9th grade winter retreat) - Shelley Baugh (roommate) got engaged - Savannah Hill became Savannah Conner - Tucker Hill went to be with Jesus http://amylhill.blogspot.com/ http://savannah-myheartyourhome.blogspot.com/2012/03/wedding-funeral.html  highly recommend you reading these blogs about sweet Tucker - My sister, Laura came to visit - Mission Trip to Englewood, TN with a bunch of 7th graders - My best friend, Susan came to visit (she may or may not have flown from Indiana to watch the Hunger Games with me) - Went to Orlando. Hung out with Blair Brooks & Allison Benage AND Lauryn Dixon said yes to becoming the future Mrs. Allen - Visited Waco and was reminded of how many great people live there.

The most exciting thing for me to realize is that NWA is becoming home at a rapid pace.  The Lord has blessed me with great community here....old friends who have made life sweet from the moment of my arrival and so many fun new friends who bless me daily.

Here's to living life.

At this time last year...

It's definitely cliche for me to be writing a blog post about the New Year, however, I believe that sometimes things are cliche for a good reason and if reflecting on this past year makes me unoriginal or boring...I can deal with that.

At this time last year I didn't know what I was going to be doing or where I was going to be living.  My fingers were crossed for Dallas...I loved a church there and wanted to stay in Texas. That was my plan and not God's. Now I'm living in NWA, working for an incredible church and surrounded by incredible new and old friends.

The whole "my plan vs. God's plan" got me thinking...here is the result...

• Junior year of High School--My plan: continue to live very comfortable, average teenage life.  God's plan:  face the trial of losing my mom, which challenged and strengthen my relationship with Him.
• Postgrad year #1--My plan: attend the Kanakuk Institute.  God's plan: wait a year in order to support friends and family and learn that being an elementary ed teacher is not for me.
• Kanakuk Institute--My plan:  work for Kanakuk Kamps...live happily ever after.  God's plan:  get me in full-time ministry (K-Life) so I realize a little more about who He has created me to be and what I love to do the most. 
• Waco K-Life year #4--My plan: student ministries Watermark, Dallas, TX.  God's plan:  student ministries Fellowship Bible, Northwest Arkansas, among too many great people to name/count. 

So many events I could add...but in an attempt to keep this short(ish)...I'm just extremely thankful that I'm not in control of my life.

Happy 2012!