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… =)