Welp, here it goes.

What a great Christmas season. As much as ever I just feel really blessed to have a Savior like Jesus, you know? The Lord has done so much for my life I am just really grateful for that.

Well, about a year ago I did a little recap (here) of 2012 and how much I had experienced and learned throughout the year. So, here's to tradition!

2013 in a nutshell:
Brought in the new year with a group of Springfield friends.
Had an awesome train trip to Chicago with some of my favorites.
Said a sad goodbye to Great Granny Ruth.
Threw a rockin' throwback birthday party with my brother.
Had lots of snow days and snow ball fights at The Cotton House.
Came to terms with singleness and learning more about what it means to live for The Lord.
Decided to dye my hair really dark.
Spent spring break at home.
Cut all my hair off. (I went through a lot of weird hair transformations this year, ha)
Was baptized.
Had one conversation with Tyler at Lakota.
Soon followed by a DTR. ("Wait, what? I thought you just came to terms with your singleness." "Yeah, God has weird good timing.")
Moved to Colorado for three months.
Made some of the best friends I could ever imagine.
Came back for school, did outreach, and started a new job.
Started dating Tyler.
Went through a busy, crazy, stressful semester I think without blinking.
Made some new friends, became distant from others.
Some concerts in there... NEEDTOBREATHE and Iron & Wine.
Thanksgiving.
And... Christmas.
Tomorrow I drive to KC to leave for Indianapolis for IGNITE the next morning.

I can't put in a list quite everything that has happened this past year. It's especially hard to describe the spiritual and emotional growth I have experienced in 2013. Things have been fun, things have been challenging, things have often felt impossible. But they weren't, and here I am reflecting on the year. I'm so thankful for the work that The Lord is constantly doing in my life, no matter the trials it takes. He desires me to seek after Him and love Him, and I can only hope to do even more of that next year. Thanks to everyone who has made this year yet another truly special, awesome year of growth.


...Imagine what you or I could be reflecting on a year from now. WHO KNOWS.
Things will be different. But that's okay. Maybe it's good.

Speaking of which, here's one last picture of Plaza Community Group. I am so thankful for the work God has done in this group this year. From the loss of some awesome seniors in May, to the gain of some amazing young adults this fall, The Lord has totally been present and doing some major work. I am excited to see what He has in store for our two groups in 2014 as we multiply and work toward reaching more of Mizzou's campus to share the love of Christ.

I like to think of this life as an adventure. An adventure to which December 31st doesn't bring an end. An adventure to which January 1st does not promise change, and it does not promise successful resolutions. However... I do believe that January 1st DOES promise the opportunity for growth. It promises a chance for reflection. And it promises the opportunity for adventure.

But doesn't April 26th, July 5th, or October 14th? Make those decisions every day. Live every day. That's something I have been struggling a lot with lately. I'll stop rambling.

Happy New Years to you all! I hope your year has been one filled with joy. Love you guys.

Anna

UPDATE.

I updated my blog. In case you didn't notice. It's kind of plain, but I kind of like it right now. That's all. 

Merry Christmas y'all. <--- that was for all of my Texas friends that I am SO excited to see at Ignite in a week and a half. Also, I've never said y'all publicly before, and it may not happen again so take note.

Restoration.

Today... Today I just want to brag on one of my favorite girls in this whole wide world. This girl has been on my heart so much lately, and I just want to share a little bit about my life, her life, and our friendship.

Mel.

Oh, Mel. This girl and I have been friends for a LONG time. I can hardly remember life before first grade when we met. Or even sixth grade, when she moved into a house right up the street from mine. When we would get on the same walkie talkie channel every Wednesday night at 9 o' clock just because we could and we thought it was cool. Who knows what we talked about those nights on our walkie talkies. Basketball, school, I don't really know.

Mel and I continued to be friends for the rest of our school years. We weren't always close, we were often bitter, and we were frequently jealous. There were times when Mel and I probably didn't like each other very much. But that's what is so cool about this story.

After leaving Ash Grove and coming to Mizzou, I found God. He was always there, but I couldn't see Him. I had been looking for happiness in all the wrong places and never felt fulfilled by anything. I had been searching harder to find proof of His inexistence than I was for His existence.

One pretty awesome thing about that, is that while I have been here in Columbia and while I was in Colorado growing in my faith and really learning about God, Mel also accepted Christ and was baptized.

Over Thanksgiving break, I saw Mel for the first time since all of that happened in her life. I had the opportunity to talk to her and spend time with her (and the rest of my Ash Grove girls). We, meaning Mel, Morgan, and Brodie for good portion of it, talked for hours until it was WAY TOO LATE. We sat there and talked about things I never imagined talking with her about. And in that moment, I felt so vividly the restoration and healing that God was bringing to our friendship. Ahh, I can't even explain it. I see so much change in her it's unreal. Between the two of us, it was like a new friendship forming, and it made me so excited.

We both decided that probably for the first time, we were actually excited to be friends. I am excited to spend time with her and to keep growing with her. The best part is, she is only one of my friends who has recently decided to start following Christ. I am so stinking pumped to see all of the work the Lord has been and is doing at home.

I am thankful for my time spent with these girls and the ones not pictured this past week.

So for now, that is all.

Love,
Anna.