goodbye 2006....hello new

2006 was full of a lot of ups and downs for me. Mostly ups I think, but there were definitely some downs. There were also plenty of just plains.
My biggest mistake was probably all the times I ignored God...especially when I needed him the most. The best thing I ever did this year was realizing what an idiot I was being, kicking myself in the butt, and falling falt on my face at his feet.
It was a year of second thoughts. and thirds, and fourths. I often felt confused with the direction my life was going...and I finally decided to stop selling myself short and to listen to God and realize the gifts and talents he has given me. My eyes have been opened up to a whole new world of opportunities. There is so much I can do, it's almost overwhelming....yet so, so exciting.
I fell more in love with six things: God, a boy named Tim, my family, my friends, art, music, and China.
2006 was a year of happiness, excitement, joy, and love...but it had its moments of grief and the question "why". My church lost 3 very special people: David, Sydney, and Tony, all within a month. It was all hard to swallow, and hard to understand. But thtough it all, I'm learning how amazing God is....and how temporary this world is.
I had the chance to travel to Portland, Oregeon and Los Angeles, California....both trips were very different....both amazing.
A lot of things happened....a lot of things were learned....it was a good year.

Now, it is 2007. A brand new year. A fresh start. I have about a million goals I want to reach. I know I can do it, too:
*I want to become super organized.
*I want to read all the books on my list.
*I want to watch all the movies on my list.
*I want to go to a bunch of good shows.
*I want to get in better shape. (hooray for cliche new years resolutions)
*I want to paint our bathroom.
*I want to cook a buttload of new dishes (yay for my new Paula Deen cookbook)
*I want to get involved in my church more - with the youth and college ministries.
*I want to become a better friend, girlfriend, sister, and daughter. So I guess just a better person...
*I want to go to China.
*I want to take more pictures.
*I want to write more.
*I want to work on learning guitar/relearning piano.
*I want to take a fun trip with friends.
*I want to explore the outdoors more.
*I want to waste less time.
*I want to go downtown/museum district/theater district more.

there's a few of them...I have a lot I want to do. and I'm gonna make the most of 2007 :)