I thought about going through each month of the last year and posting pictures of each month and write a little about what I did. The only problem with that is the last year of my life has been so full that I do not remember what happened when. So, I am separating my life this last year into sections rather than months. Enjoy!
Beginning of the year- I welcomed the new year with joy and great expectation for what was going to come in my life. I knew that something was around the corner but I was unsure of what it was. I started my last semester of my junior year.
Beginning about February, my life began to take some changes. My boyfriend at the time and myself decided to take a break, regroup after that month, and reevaluate our relationship. I began to hang out with my staff more often and pour into those relationships, began to be more involved with the youth group I was a leader of, began to pour more into my studies and focus on school, and most importantly, I began to pour my heart into the word and began to glean from those older and wiser than me on where the Lord should take my life next.
That month was one of the best months of my life. The Lord taught me so much! He revealed sin in my life that I had ignored, that I had chosen to neglect, and showed me how to reverse it (still working on that even a year later). It really was a sweet time of brokenness and surrender to the Lord. My heart was opened up to so much and freed from a lot that I had never given to the Lord.
I spent the rest of that semester enjoying the time I had as an RA in University Place with the amazing women that the Lord had placed on my staff. I finished planning events, working on papers and taking exams, and spending quality time with friends who were graduating and moving on from CBU.
In May, my former boyfriend and I decided to finally split. He left for the summer and I started work for the summer. The Lord used a time that could have been devastating and disastrous to such a sweet and intimate time with Him. I had some very low points, but they were covered with joy in hope in a savior who had provided for the biggest need – my utter and deep sin. I spent the summer learning and growing, finding joy in singleness, finding out what my identity was in Christ, and who he created me to be.
I spent the summer working as a receptionist, hanging out with friends, going to youth group, small group, accountability group, singing on the worship team, and whatever other ministry I could get my hands on with all my extra time (such great times!!!!). I went to several weddings, a half a dozen or so beach trips/bonfires, pool side days with friends, moved from one house to the other, celebrated Matt and Bekah’s birthday, dinner/ice cream/coffee with friends, BBQs, went to the movies a ton, went to the drive-in, etc, etc, etc. I had a full summer all the while learning and growing so much about my savior and getting to know my church body as a single person. It was an amazing time!!!
August soon came and I moved into the dorms and began training for RA. I got to be apart of a staff that has blessed my life more than I ever could have imagined with friendships that will last a lifetime and sisters who I am indebted to forever.
The end of August came and I got to meet all of the beautiful residents I had been preparing for and praying for all summer. After quite a full year, those girls were a gift that I could not even explain. I have grown to love each one in their own way. Each a special gift from the Lord to me to continue the healing and growing process in my life.
This semester was filled with a gift a day under my pillow (pictures bellow), late night conversations till 3AM, early morning classes, events to Casey’s Cupcakes and the Mission Inn, beach bonfires with the Hall, monday duty nights, class after class with Taylor =), many disneyland trips, my first adult trip to Seattle to visit Emily, lunch dates and coffee dates with friends, bought my first car, and so much more. It has been a such full, unexpected (in a good way) semester and I am looking forward to my last semester of college. I am so thankful that the Lord has provided and protected for me in more ways than I can count. I am so thankful that the Lord’s plans are better than mine. I am so thankful for this year of growth and learning! I am just thankful for 2011. It is a year that I will always hold a special place in my heart for so many reasons.
Enjoy the pictures (there are a LOT)!!!!
 |
| RA staff ~ 2010-2011 |
 |
| Kelly and I – Sarah and Kris Corso Wedding |
 |
| Ashley and I – Corso Wedding |
 |
| Bekah, Ashley, and I – Corso Wedding |
 |
| Kelly and I in our natural state 😉 |
 |
| Sarah Corso and I – Her wedding =) |
 |
| Sam, Sarah, and I |
 |
| Paula, Charlene, and I – Spring Semester 2011 |
 |
| Disneyland with Sarah Trout and Liz Hild – Spring break 2011 |
 |
| Emily made me breakfast for my birthday – March 27th, 2011 |
 |
| UP RA staff retreat – March 25-27, 2011 |
 |
| Staff retreat at Lucille’s BBQ – March 2011 |
 |
| The youth group surprised Jen (my bday twin) and I with birthday desserts |
 |
| Birthday gift – my favorite slippers – March 2011 |
 |
| Summer Starbucks and grocery runs with Mamaw |
 |
| Kayla and I made Emily a ‘Welcome Home’ sign |
 |
| Summer BBQ with the small group |
 |
| Breakfast with Jen and Becca before church |
 |
| Summer shakes from Chick-fil-a |
 |
| Movie nights with Emily, Kayla, and Matt |
 |
| Love these two!! |
 |
| Sunrise |
 |
| Sunset |
 |
| beach bonfire |
 |
| My sister finally came home from Russia – Summer 2011 |
 |
| While moving, I found many old pictures |
 |
| Sisters |
 |
| Beach bonfire – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Kate exhausted after moving – summer 2011 |
 |
| beach bonfire – summer 2011 |
 |
| Kayla at her summer beach house – summer 2011 |
 |
| Emily, Kayla, and I |
 |
| Amy and I at Olive Garden – Summer 2011 |
 |
| yummy drinks – summer 2011 |
 |
| Ashley and I eating yummy purple icecream – summer 2011 |
 |
| One of the many pool side days – summer 2011 |
 |
| my love, Kate |
 |
| Date with Amy to Basken Robins |
 |
| My best friend Taylor and I – Clash n’ bowl Fall 2011 |
 |
| Breakfast with Emily before she left for Seattle |
 |
| Sweet, sweet quiet times – summer 2011 |
 |
| first gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| beach bonfire with 1C – September 2011 |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| Kate in all her beauty |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| hanging out in the box with Jim and Paige – fall 2011 |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| gift under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| making signs with the ladies of 1C – fall 2011 |
 |
| gifts under my pillow – fall 2011 |
 |
| shopping with Bon Bon and the hall at Target |
 |
| The 1C mascot |
 |
| Jenta and Weezer |
 |
| pretty in pink |
 |
| my residents made my bed, so sweet |
 |
| Simmon’s Hall Fall Pajama Ball – September 2011 |
 |
| scary drive to disneyland |
 |
| Jordan and I in Disneyland – Fall 2011 |
 |
| Precious Quiet Times – Fall 2011 |
 |
| crocheting |
 |
| one of the many, many, many coffee’s I consumed Fall semester |
 |
| Kugel Walk soon to happen in May 2012 |
 |
| pretzel bread from briscos |
 |
| coffee on the way to Seattle |
 |
| Colbie Concert in Seattle with Emily |
 |
| Brian and Sarah – soon to be Mr. and Mrs. – Seattle, WA |
 |
| Emily and I at Jai Thai Restaurant in Seattle, WA |
 |
| yum! |
 |
| on the way home |
 |
| yum yum yum |
 |
| my welcome back sign |
 |
| My youth girls – Valentine’s Dinner – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Fellow Youth Leaders – Valentines Dinner – Spring 2011 |
 |
| My sweet friend Andrea and I – Valentines Dinner |
 |
| Photoshoot – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Photoshoot – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Photoshoot – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Photoshoot – spring 2011 |
 |
| Photoshoot – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Photoshoot – Spring 2011 |
 |
| Liz, Sarah, and I at Disneyland – Spring break 2011 |
 |
| Sarah Almost-Frausto and I at disneyland – spring break 2011 |
 |
| Rose Ceremony – Simmon’s Staff for 2011-2012 |
 |
| Matt and I at Carissa and Stanton’s Wedding – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Some of the fam – Callaway Wedding – summer 2011 |
 |
| Callaway wedding – summer 2011 |
 |
| friends who I have grown to love – fall 2011 |
 |
| Love these girls – fall 2011 |
 |
| Emily and I – Seattle – Fall 2011 |
 |
| Gum wall – Seattle, WA – October 2011 |
 |
| View of Seattle Skyline from Kerry Park – October 2011 |
 |
| Seattle, WA – October 2011 |
 |
| Julia and I at Youth Summer camp – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Youth girls and I – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Andrea and I – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Res Life wedding reception – RA Training August 2011 |
 |
| Kelly and I – Res Life wedding reception- RA training August 2011 |
 |
| Res Life wedding reception – RA training August 2011 |
 |
| Bekah and I – August 2011 |
 |
| 1C girls at Simmons Hall Fall Pajama Ball – Fall 2011 |
 |
| Some of the girls and I at FBC Norco – Summer 2011 |
 |
| Jess and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Liz and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Jess and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Miss CBU and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Jess and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Jess and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Bekah and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Tyler and I – Yule – December 2011 |
 |
| Tyler and I – Yule – December 2011 |
To Be Continued… =)
sarahecooley.com 