2010: Year in Review

2010, I feel like you left me in the dust.

In January I ran my first marathon by the grace of God. I also went to Passion 2010 with sweet friends and was shaken by the immense poverty facing people around the world today.

February was the first time I led a Discipleship Now group. 18 girls in one (large) house in Houston. It was both challenging and deeply encouraging. My dear grandmother passed away. I will forever remember the memories made in her last days.

March was my first encounter with the people of the projects in inner-city Bryan. There began a beautiful friendship with three girls (ages 6, 9, 11) and their many cousins.

In April I ran a 5k for Compassion International.

May I was a part-time nanny for three precious children and developed a new thankfulness for this single, childless stage of life.

June was filled with typical summer activities...swimming, arts & crafts, movies...and a road trip out to Pace Bend in Austin for the weekend.

In July I moved in with the generous family I nanny-ed for and said goodbye to friends who moved to Guatemala for 15 months to teach at an orphanage.

August marked the beginning of my final semester at Texas A&M University. Those 4 (and a half) years flew by. I was also adamant about permanently moving to Africa come December to care for orphans. The Lord had other plans. I moved into a new house with girls of all ages (18-24) and learned the true meaning of community.

September I considered training again for the Houston marathon and decided instead to hunker down and make sure I would graduate.

October my roommate organized an art show in Belton to raise money for Compassion's Child Survival Program. We road-tripped it out to her place for the night and enjoyed s'mores and the Game of Life.

November I studied my tail off for my finance class and rested with a full tummy thankful to be surrounded by family and good food.

December I interviewed with Teach For America (final decision to be posted Jan 18), graduated with a B.B.A. in management, and moved back in with the rents in Alabama.

I'm expecting big things from you, 2011.