Another year begins

HAPPY 2010!!

It's time to begin a new year with new possibilities, opportunities, and adventures! While I am thankful for all the things I have in my life, I am most thankful to be alive and well to see another year begin. we only get one life, and it's up to us to make the most of it!

There are many important things happening in my life this year. It is the year of my 21st birthday, which is very exciting. I am not a huge party-goer or anything, but it will be nice to go out with my family and friends and order a drink at dinner. I think that's what I am most looking forward to--being able to order drinks with my meals at restaurants. There is just something about turning 21 that means adulthood. While it is believed that one becomes an adult at the age of 18, I find that to be false. 21 seems like a much more mature age and time in one's life to become an adult. By my 21st birthday, I will have completed 3 full years of college with only one more to go. I will have had only 3 jobs since I turned 16, and I will have a little bit of money saved up. It just seems that I am much more mature and on track with my life than I ever was at 18. Even though I was successful at age 18--graduated high school, held a job for a long time, and saved up thousands of dollars--I feel so much more mature now. I feel that by the time I am 21, I will have a serious plan for my future involving possible careers, marriage, a home of my own, and eventually a family. I cannot wait to achieve all of those things.

The other important thing happening in my life this year will be my sister's MARRIAGE! I am very excited to see my sister get married. I have been exploring ideas for her Bachelorette Party, which will be sophisticated but very fun! I am so happy that she found someone she loves to spend the rest of her life with. Her fiance is a great man, and he will take good care of her. They love each other very much and that love is evident in their interactions with one another. However, I have to admit that I am a little sad she is getting married. This means no more late night talks when we really should be sleeping, which I have always been fond of. We shared a bedroom while growing up, so we talked about everything together. Literally, everything. We have had some really great times in our room just chatting away and playing games and singing silly, made-up songs (which I am entirely convinced will become huge hits someday). Once she is married, when she and I are visiting our parents for the holidays or summer, those late-night talks will take place with her new husband. No more sharing a room, staying up late talking and sleeping late the next day. That's how it should be though, I suppose. It's a transition that will take some getting used to, but I know it will all turn out wonderful. I hope she and her new husband can laugh and cry as much as we did growing up in the same room. I'm sure they will.

I am very excited for this year to begin! I know it will be full of every human emotion possible, as years always are. There will be times that I wish I could give up on school and work. There will be times where I fight with the ones I love. There will be days that just go completely wrong. But I will always take a moment each time those things happen and think about all the wonderful things I have in my life. Family, friends, love, hope. Always hope. I truly am blessed. And I will always remember that I have the greatest gift of all: life. It may not always go how I planned it, but at least it still goes.

<3 love.