Some late night blogging.

All of my energy always come so late at night. (Hence the fact that Im blogging at 1:40 in the morning). I could probably contribute it to my multiple cups of coffee I had around 8:30. I don't handle late night caffeine very well.

Christmas was so great. Being home and getting to spend time with my family is always so... Just awesome really. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas. It came so soon this year though, does anyone else agree? I still feel like I should be waiting for Christmas, but it's already come and gone. It was a beautiful holiday, nonetheless.

Next is New Years. I am really looking forward to 2013. Now, I don't believe in New Years resolutions really. Let's face it, they never last. And shouldn't we be bettering our lives at all times of the year? I don't know, that is just my opinion on the matter. HOWEVER, I am still looking forward to the year. 2012 was great, and I will reflect on that in a minute. But I'm ready to close parts of that chapter and move on with my life, while continuing to build on the amazing aspects of my life that have began to evolve in 2012.

2012 in a nutshell:

18th birthday.

My decision to attend the University of Missouri.

Last State Beta Club Convention.

A lot of self-improvement after some major changes in my life.

Last school play.

Graduation.

A summer filled with goodbyes and more self-improvement.

Also, trip to Alabama and Louisiana

  & trip to North and South Carolina

Mizzou.

So many friends.

Connecting with the best church family I could have asked for.

Halloween REMIXED.

Thanksgiving.

Finals.

And now we are here :)

Looking back, it has been a really good year. So many lasts, so many firsts. I'm happy to look back and be able to say that I probably wouldn't change a thing. With all my trials and mistakes have come knowledge. Without every little detail of my past, I might not be where I am today, and I am happy today.

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On another note, I've noticed a flaw in my thinking lately and I would to share it. More or less I just want to share it just as a reminder for myself to stop thinking this way. Constantly, I am looking toward the future, planning for the future, imagining the future. "STOP THAT, ANNA. Enjoy now before it is too late. Be better at living in the moment. Sure, be prepared for the future, but don't forget that you will never get this moment back." That's my advice to myself as I have began to notice how quickly my life seems to be passing me by. I am tired of only planning for the future and forgetting to live for every single day, every single moment. I don't know if anyone else struggles with this, but it's something to think about at least.

I apologize for the scatteredness and multiple grammar mistakes in this blog. It's 2:00am and I've lost my mind!

Henry wanted to make an appearance on my blog.

One last thing. I just got iTunes money for Christmas. Album, song or artist suggestions anyone? I can think of plenty I could get, but it has to be really worth it, so give me good ones!

Until next year,

Anna

The sun always rises after a storm.

It has been forever, I know. The last few weeks have been filled with studying, exams, more studying, and more exams. Before that was Thanksgiving break, which was truly amazing. I couldn't have imagined a better break home from school, except if I would have got to spend a little more time with friends from high school. Besides that, it was hard to go back to school after such a good break, but I did it. I stuck it out and finished. My motto throughout the past week has been, "Well, if I fail out of college now at least I can say I completed 24 credit hours!" I'm kidding of course. I won't fail out, but just in case... Anyways, after 6 tests/finals in the last two weeks, I finally made it home on Thursday night. I was so anxious to get home. I'm not really sure why, because I absolutely love my little life I have made in Columbia. Actually, that is probably a lie, I know why I was anxious to get home. Never mind that though, I am already missing my friends from Mizzou. Thank goodness for Brooke, Tori, Jordan and Daniel Boone for living so close to me. 

This break has already been much different than I was thinking it would be. Even just in two days I can tell it is going to be a lot harder than I expected. That's what I get for trying to predict the future. I am convinced though that God is going to use this time for me to grow closer to Him and really make sure I am putting Him first in my life. 

When I think back to where I was even a month ago, I realize I felt so comfortable with my life and the way things were going. With time has come a lot of questions though. Questions about what I am supposed to be doing with my life. Everything from my major to what I am supposed to do with myself over this break. This is hard for me because I like having a plan, it's just my personality. I'm a planner. But I think God is using this time to teach me that I don't always have to have a plan, because He does, and I need to learn to rely on that and trust that.

I don't know much about what these next 5 weeks are going to look like. I have hopes to spend time with friends from Ash Grove, my family, take a trip to Chicago, spend time with Jordan, Tori, Brooke and D.Boone, etc. Those are the only plans I have at this point and that is okay. I am learning to be flexible and take my life as it comes. Maybe I'll even end up back in Columbia sooner than 5 weeks from now, we'll see. I am trying to learn that the best part about not having a plan is knowing that I can be more in tune to God and his plans that way. Thanks D.Boone for that one. Also, sorry I'm referring to you as that, but you understand the confusion. I hope everyone is having a great Christmas break so far. And if you are a real person and have a real job, I'm sorry that you don't get a Christmas break like the rest of us. Unless you are an educator, you are real people and still get a break. Good choice in professions.

Thank you Margaret for introducing to me to this song on this week. Your timing couldn't have been better. It's perfect.

Also, as always, some pics from the last few weeks.

Plaza Canvas Group aka "Hipster CG" after regaining #1 status.

Cotton House, looking good guys.

Haha, love them :)

How many people can we fit into Katie's car? A lot.

I feel so fortunate to have this lovely group of women to share 
my life with every week.

I Need More Than One Title.

First I want to talk about last weekend. I went and saw PAUL. MCCARTNEY. It was AWESOME. If you didn't know, I consider myself to be a fairly big Beatles fan. Well as big of a fan as a girl my age can be I guess. I grew up listening to their music and actually  dressed up as Paul McCartney once for a talent show at church camp. Remember that Kayla? Those were the awkward days... Anyways, Gunnar, one of my best friends from high school and now college, asked me a few weeks ago if I would like to tag along and go to the concert. I am so glad I did. It was truly a once in a life time opportunity.

The rest of my week was spent being anxious about coming home. I was so ready, it's not even funny. I think just because I had so many tests last week and a major semester project due yesterday, I was so ready for a break. I haven't got to spend a whole lot of time at home since coming to college, so more than anything I think I was just ready to come sleep in my bed, see Henry, and spend time with my family and my friends from home. The week wasn't bad though, I shouldn't make it sound like that. There were a lot of great things about it. The best part was without a doubt, spending sunrise with some of my best friends yesterday morning. Our FLG group is becoming so close, and that makes me incredible happy. We have started having "family dinners" and hangouts, and it is really awesome getting to know all of them. Getting up at 5:40am to go see the sunrise yesterday was no easy task, but I was so happy that everyone got up and came! We drove out to Capen, walked up to the top and hung out there as the sun came up. Of course I have some pictures to look at below :)

Now I am finally back in the Grove! Let me just say, it is so nice to have a home to come back to and a comfy bed to sleep in. I am so excited for Thanksgiving and spending time with my family. Also, my schedule is fairly relaxed for the next week, especially during the daytime, so if anyone from home would like to hang out, give me a call or something! I miss everyone.

Credit to Miss Sarah Bell.

Photo Credit to Tori Vaughan :)

I'm Free!

It is always a good feeling when I complete my last exam on the weeks that I have 4-5 exams. I walk away from Middlebush just finishing my Psychology exam feeling so relieved and ready to conquer the world. Today was no different. I walked out of those doors and wanted so badly just to yell, "I'M FREE!" and then run all the way home to Ash Grove for Thanksgiving break. Unfortunately I still have a week before I can actually come home, but boy am I ready!

Tonight was good though. We had what I understand is our "Annual Plaza Canvas Group Thanksgiving." IT. WAS. AWESOME. I'm still stuffed. Talk about some good pie. Actually, everything was good. I was thoroughly impressed with our collaborative college cooking. Special shout out to Margaret on the mashed potatoes, I know she's reading this ;). Also, to my brother and Aimee who let us take over their apartment for the very last time. The next Plaza event at 'The Swifts' will be at their new house! How exciting. I am really happy for them and what looks to be an awesome next chapter in their lives as homeowners. Anyways, I'm getting sidetracked. Tonight was good, and I am so thankful to have all of the people in Plaza be a part of my life. They make a really good family away from family, even though some of my family literally is in the canvas group... But again, that's beside the point. I am thankful for them, and that was my sticky note on November 4th (see below).

I am really excited to go home and spend time with my family though. I haven't been too homesick since I've been here, but it's time. I'm ready for the holidays and ready to spend time with everyone from home. Until then, I'm working on making every day count for something! Have a happy day everyone, I hope you feel very blessed.

Picture Time! These first few pictures are from Monday. Monday I got to go out to Capen with my core group and do a balloon release. I wont get into too much detail about it, but it I really enjoyed it, and the pictures turned out awesome too!

P.S. Margaret was there too, but she took the pictures! 

And for the rest:

Some of the best friends a girl could ask for.

^"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

It's November?

I only blogged one time in the whole month of October. And it wasn't even a happy blog. No wonder I haven't been as cheery lately. I think it goes both ways, you know? I generally blog more when I'm cheery, and blogging makes me just happier in general! That is why I am blogging right now when I should be doing things like studying for my 4 exams next week, cleaning my room, applying for more jobs, etc. Darn it, I just needed a little 30 minute break. 

Wow, so not a lot has actually happened in the last month I feel like. I've developed a routine, which makes for an incredibly boring monotonous lifestyle. All of my weeks look roughly the same. I guess it's good to have some structure, but I need to learn how to spice it up a little! However, there were some fun things, including: Morgan coming for a visit, going home for a weekend, starting core group with some really great girls from The Rock,  getting my jaw dislocated at the Imagine Dragons concert (which was well worth it by the way, they were AWESOME), getting my first tattoo, and Halloween! Okay, now is when I need to apologize to my father who just started coughing, fell out of his chair and had a heart attack. I didn't really get a tattoo, I'm just making sure everyone is still paying attention. Anyways, for the most part October was a pretty routine month. It went by fast, had a little bit of a roller coaster aspect to it, but nothing life changing. I wish there were never months like that. I'll do better this month.

November. Ah, November. November through February has to be about my favorite time of the year. Not to be prejudice toward the rest of the months, but there is just something special about these in particular. This is when the real holidays start. Halloween is fun and all, but Thanksgiving and Christmas warm my heart, and that's something that Halloween could never do. This is when I can justify listening to Christmas music (like I ever stopped), spend extra time being thankful for all of the things in my life, enjoy the good things, and try to help the things that aren't so good. It's not like I don't try to do this at all times of the year, but the holidays always seem to put things in a different perspective. It fills me with joy to see all of the gracious and giving people during this time of the year. I am so excited for all of that holiday spirit to begin!

My craft for the month is this: 

Every day, Brooke and I are going to put a sticky note on the board with something we are thankful for. Visitors are welcome to partake in this ritual as well! I will take a picture at the end of the month to show how many sticky notes we put up :)

Here are some more pictures taken since the last time I blogged!

Driving home!

In Springfield :)

The Wizard of Oz, REMIXED! Love these girls.

P.S. I mentioned them earlier, but check out Imagine Dragons. Here is a video I took at their concert!