Is it just me or did 2013 zoom by? I can hardly believe we rang in the New Year! Though I am personally very excited about all the Lord will have in store for me in 2014, its always good to reflect on the wonderful year He so graciously blessed us with. We are not even promised another minute, and yet He gave us another year. Looking back on the year, sure it had its ups and downs, but each day - every moment was a blessing from God. Its amazing how much a person can change in a matter of a few months. Who I was at the beginning of this year, by God's grace, is not who I am entering 2014. Through each trial and each heartache this year, God showed His goodness, His forgiveness, and His love. He held me in the good moments. He held me in the bad moments. He carried me over every mountaintop and walked with me through every valley. 2013 has been a year of growth, a year of change. And even though we don't like change, God meant it all for my good. And you know what? It HAS worked out for my good! God's promises are as sure today as they were 1,000 years ago! Isn't that such a blessing? That God never changes. People change. Places change. The world changes. God never changes. With an ever constantly changing world, I am so thankful for my unchanging God! I had exciting adventures in 2013. I made amazing friends in 2013. I learned so much in 2013. But 2013 is gone. We can never repeat it. We will never have it again. And so that leads me to ask myself this question, what did I do for the Lord this year? Did I waste away another year? Now leaving me with less time to do something for the Lord? That is my goal...my mission for 2014. I want 2014 to be a year sold out for the Lord. I want to do as much as I can to serve and please my God! And you know what? You don't have to go on a missions trip to serve the Lord. Service starts at home, that is your first missions field. This year, I want to learn to serve - really serve the Lord, my family, and the people around me. I want to give God my best this year. But I don't want to just stop at 2014. No, I want this to be the springboard for how I will live the rest of my life. I surrendered my life to the Lord to do whatever it is He wants me to do back in 2011. And this is what God wants me to do. Serve. Everyday for the rest of my life. Serve! Even if some days are spent at home helping with day to day events. Even if it is spent doing school (which, by the way, school can still be done to God's glory. He privileged me with an education. Use it.) I can do everything as unto the Lord, because everything is a gift from the Lord. Think of the New Year as a new opportunity. A clean slat, if you will. A fresh start. Remember the lessons from the past, but don't let the failures take you down. A mistake isn't stupid unless you don't learn from it. But remember, anything good we do, any righteous acts, are as filthy rags. I'm not making that up. Its in God's Word. None of us have arrived. Were all trying to become more and more like Jesus, but none of us will be like Him while we are on this earth. But let that encourage you! Your growing! Continually becoming more like our great Savior. And someday we will be with Him. Ok :-)! Now for 2013 a review of pictures!!! I tried to put them in somewhat of an order...but it failed. Sorry for the randomness :-)!
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| Skiing! Feb 2013 |
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| My first time! Feb 2013 |
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| And I never fell! Feb 2013 |
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| Worked at Camp Joy for a weekend retreat! Feb-March 2013 |
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| And that's when I met Chester Cheese. March 2013 |
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| I was also able to go spend a weekend with Alayna! March 2013 |
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| And we went to the CSO in Chicago. March 2013 |
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| We took the train there. March 2013. |
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| Ministry at Senior Star Nursing Home. We go every month but this picture is when I sang in a vocal quartet. March 2013. |
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| Easter 2013! |
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| I visited MBBC ( now MBU ) for the first time in April 2013. |
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| Our Spring Drama. April 2013. |
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| Scene 5 ladies. April 2013. |
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| I was able to go to Alayna's graduation party! May 2013. |
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| Georgia. May 2013. |
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| We went to Pensacola, Florida for my brother's graduation! May 2013. |
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| The Seniors did our own reader's theater. December 2013. |
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| I had my Senior Pictures done! November 2013. |
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| November 2013. |
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| Our car got smashed. However it was able to be repaired! December 2013. |
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| We got tied to the mixer ;-)! I think this was...May 2013. |
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| Nikki and I! July 2013. |
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| Abby ;-)! July 2013. |
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| The chocolate milk we prayed for! June 2013. |
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| June 2013. |
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| This is one I got CPR certified. May 2013. |
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| At the Hattchett's home. June 2013. |
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| A staff meeting. June 2013. |
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| Playing volleyball :-)! June 2013. |
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| Sitting on the mixer! June 2013. |
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| We all got tied together...haha June 2013. |
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| And I got tied to the tilt skillet. June 2013. |
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| At Rosa's Pizza! June 2013. |
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| Camp Joy Staff 2013! |
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| GIANT ONION! July 2013. |
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| At the bonfire :-)! July 2013. |
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| Making s'mores in a bag! June 2013. |
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| Cookie Monster Shirt Day! June 2013. |
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| Before getting trapped on the island. Heading out for our island dinner :-)! June 2013. |
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| Laser Tag at the gym. June 2013. |
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| Two sweet junior campers :-)! June 2013. |
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| Maddie! June 2013. |
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| Kitchen girls outting to Culver's! June 2013. |
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| Alayna and I in the sports shop! Red spirit day! June 2013. |
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| New flag pole at Camp Joy! June 2013. |
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| Canvassing in Chicago! June 2013. |
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| Fun in the dining hall :-)! July 2013. |
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| Chick-Fil-A after canvassing! June 2013. |
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| I stayed a weekend at Alayna's home :-)! July 2013! |
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| It was a blast! July 2013. |
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| Goofing off in the bouncy house. July 2013. |
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| Beautiful weekend. July 2013. |
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| Mountain Dew Shirts! June 2013. |
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| I found a salamander! July 2013. |
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| That nut bit me :-(! July 2013. |
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| My dad's surprise visit! July 2013. |
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| A smiling grapefruit. July 2013. |
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| Sabrina :-)! July 2013. |
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| Justinne. July 2013. |
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| Kristen. July 2013. |
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| Nikki! July 2013. |
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| My wonderful friends :-)! July 2013. |
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| Carolyn. July 2013. |
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| Camp Joy Kitchen Staff 2013. |
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| A pizza party at the triplex! July 2013. |
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| Mya and I running a volleyball game! July 2013. |
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| Miss Jenna! July 2013. |
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| Playing in the rain! July 2013. |
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| Eating without our hands! July 2013. |
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| Josie. July 2013. |
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| We stole Miss Jenna's socks! July 2013. |
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| Last Sunday at Kettle. July 2013. |
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| Room 203! Summer 2013. |
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| A fun time at Culver's! July 2013. |
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| The group who went to Kettle Moraine Baptist Church for summer of 2013. |
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| Last week of camp. August 2013. |
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| Matching shirts! August 2013. |
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| Pushed Miss Jenna in the lake the final day of camp. August 2013. |
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| Alayna came for a weekend! August 2013. |
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| Bean-boozled challenge. August 2013. |
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| On our way to Chicago! August 2013. |
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| The flamingo! August 2013. |
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| The bean! August 2013. |
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| Chicago Skydeck! August 2013. |
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| Sear''s/Willis Tower/ August 2013. |
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| Chicago. August 2013. |
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| Train ride home. August 2013. |
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| Marni swimming at Walon Lake! August 2013. |
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| Shedd Aquirium. August 2013. |
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| Cantigny. August 2013. |
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| Bowling! August 2013. |
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| PGM! August 2013. |
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| Northwestern Wildcats Football Game! September 2013. |
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| Go #74! September 2013. |
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| Go Graham! August 2013. |
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| Farmtastic! September 2013. |
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| Car smashing! Farmtastic, September 2013. |
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| September 2013. |
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| Farmtastic. September 2013. |
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| September 2013. |
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| At Maranatha. September 2013. |
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| Corgi Bath! October 2013. |
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| Visting Nikki's church. October 2013. |
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| Getting my nails done for my birthday :-)! October 2013. |
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| October 23rd, 2013. |
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| Fall Festival! October 2013. |
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| Fall Festival! October 2013. |
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| PGM! November 2013. |
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| Decorating for Christmas! November 2013. |
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| Skipper! November 2013. |
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| Christmas decorations. November 2013. |
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| A double rainbow! November 2013. |
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| Thanksgiving 2013. |
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| Thanksgiving 2013. |
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| Thanksgiving 2013. |
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| Craft Party. December 2013. |
HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY 2014 :-)!
