reflection//bring it on

is it honestly already time for another end of the year post?
is it really already time to sigh and remark "geez. time goes so fast!"

yup. it's already that time.

when i reflect back on this year, i get a giant mix of emotions, thoughts, memories, colliding together into a chaotic mess of life.

there was adventure like i've never had before.

devastation like i never want to have again.

brokeness that's still healing.

happy times that bring smiles to my face and so much more.

this has been one of the most challenging and wonderful years of my life. 

i've lost 3 people to broken friendships in my life that i never imagined i would lose. broken friendships are the worst, and really, it never gets easier. it still makes me cringe just thinking about it. God certainly has healing yet to do in me. 

at the same time i've made so many new friends this year and i've learned soo much about making/keeping friends and what it means to be a real friend in return..

over the course of this year i met around 150 new people. i don't know if that's a lot or not..but it sure seems like a lot to me. 

at least 10-15 of those people i consider friends. that's a lot for a kid who's not very sociable and hates introducing herself and sucks as starting new friendships. 

but i'm coming out. heck, i even say things to strangers in walmart these days. i like it when i can make a stranger smile just by being friendly.

at the beginning of every year i would always tell someone the things i didn't want to happen. i'd list off all the awful things that happened the last few years and say i didn't want those things happening again. once was enough.

but life happens, and brings on nasty and good things. you can't have one without the other. and all i know is that God is faithful through it all, pulling me closer to Him through each trial.
this year has been really good for me. i can only hope that next year will bring on it's own unique bout of challenges and experiences to stretch me and grow me the way this year has.

"therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grave in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

and not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;

and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us."

ROMANS 5:1-5

like a lot of people, i say i haven't ever been good with new years resolutions. i don't think i even made any last year.

but this time. i have one, and it's to love God more.

just that.

but i think it'll keep me pretty busy.

xx-noni