A Year in Review.

     I know I’ve said this before (actually I tend to say it about this same time every single year), but 2010 really flew by. I can’t even put it into words, it seems like we were just celebrating New Years of 2009, and the big turn of the decade, and now it seems like just a few short months have flown by and we’re celebrating yet another passing of a year, and a brand new beginning.

     In a way (or for me at least) the last week in December is a little sad. I often just catch myself sitting around thinking about the many memories I’ve made that year. This year in particular was so huge for me, I feel like I’m a completely different person. I’ve told myself that many times “Oh, I think I’ve definitely ’grown up’ this year.” or “I definitely think I’m wayyy more mature now.” and I’m sure I did grow up a lot in those years, but for some reason I look back at 2009 and I see myself completely differently than I do now. 2010 for me has been absolutely incredible, I’ve learned so much, I’ve experienced so much, I’ve grown so much (unfortunately not physically…I haven’t gotten any taller in years..), but I feel like I’m really starting to understand what Life’s really all about. I know next year I’ll look back on this post and laugh, but it’s the truth.

     In the year 2010, I feel as if I really started getting my act together. I’m still far from perfect, believe me I have many things I need to work on in the years to come, but just knowing that God is always there, and that he has a will for me, and he knows exactly what he wants me to do in life, and when the time comes I will discover what that is. This year I’ve really accepted the fact that God has everything under control, you just have to give it all to him and have faith that he will take care of things. I used to worry about things, even the things that didn’t really matter too much, I would often catch myself being uneasy and anxious about things, and God would kind of speak to me and I would instantly think to myself  ‘what am I doing?’ There is an almighty and powerful God up there who literally has everything in his hands, and here I am worrying about it? What good will worrying do? Over time I began to realize that more and more, and it’s so comforting to know that when you’re feeling uneasy or just having one of those days, that God is always there, and that is so comforting to me.

     I’m sure you’ve already heard me talking about this many times, but I’m going to talk about it once more…I went on my very first Mission Trip this year, to Kiev Ukraine. Not a day has gone by from the time I got home that I didn’t think about the people that we encountered on that trip. I still see their faces in my mind and I remember how I felt the week that I spent over there. The one day where we went to the small village is the day that stuck out most for me, those people had almost nothing. They lived in tiny little houses that were run down, their clothes were dirty and they were miles and miles away from any big city. Almost every night I start to think about those people, and how content they were in their tiny little houses. I look around my room and see all the stuff I have, a closet full of clothes, a big bed, a TV, my iPod, a Laptop…how selfish am I to think that what I have isn’t enough? We always want more in life, more clothes, more money, more shoes, more this, more that…and in the long run, what is any of that going to matter? I’ll tell you what it’s going to matter…nothing. This year I’ve sort of made Romans 12:2 my life verse, it says “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing or your mind.” I love that verse, and even though I still struggle every day with wanting what the world wants, I feel as though this year God has really spoken to me about that, to be content with my blessings, to look at what I have instead of what I don’t and to be able to focus on what’s going to matter in the long run.

     On a less ‘serious’ note, other things that I’ve done this year would be, FINALLY getting my Learner’s Permit! Yes, I know I’m 17 and I should’ve been driving two years ago, but who cares. I will be able to get my License on my 18th birthday in January and I’m totally thrilled about it! Also, my passion for Photography has just excelled tremendously, I shot my first wedding, and many many families as well. I hope to do this for years and years to come. Like last year, I spent 2 weeks in Georgia over the summer, and just as expected it was so much fun. That is always one of my favorite parts of my year, and I love spending time up in my hometown. As you can tell, I’ve also really gotten into this blog. I’ve had over 1,600 viewers in over 45 different countries! I’m so excited. My love for writing is something that I often forget about. There are few things that I enjoy more than sitting down with my laptop or a notebook and just writing my thoughts (when I do I usually end up sitting there writing for hours on end..haha). A few other random things are, I started my Senior Year in highschool (eeeek!), Went to Prom, Visited the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Saw Deathly Hallows at midnight with a group of friends, Had an amazing weekend at D-Now, Was blessed by the Christian Music at Rock the Universe, Made so many memories with my best friends, Made a ton of new friends, Spent a ton of time with a family that I quickly grew to love and now consider family, Saw one of my friends get married, Had an amazinggg Christmas, Read a book that changed my life (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Read another book that didn’t change my life but I sure did love it (The Last Song), I realized I have an insane love for Italy and Alaska (though I’ve never been to either..but I will one day, you just wait and see!).

     Basically, this has been an amazing year, one that I will not soon forget. I’m very sad to see such a great year go, but I can’t even begin to imagine what next year will be like. I’ll be turning 18, Getting my Driver’s License, Graduating from High School, Getting a Job, Starting College, and who knows what else, but I’m so ready for it. I’m so excited to see what 2011 has in store for me, and everyone else for that matter. I can’t wait to see what God’s going to do in my life and in the lives of the people around me. It’s always sad to say goodbye, but it sure is great to have a new beginning, a fresh start, a brand new chapter…ahhh, I can’t wait.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Well that’s it for me this year! I’ll be back sometime in January, but until then, I hope you have a fantastic New Year!

-Macey.

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