So first of all, Happy New Years Eve everybody!! I just wanted to share with you all something very simple I decided to do for the year 2014 that made it so much better to look back on. It's very easy to think about a year being horrible. For instance, I lost a job, our dog died, and I was horribly sick for two weeks straight. However, looking back on the highlights of 2014 was a lot easier for me than it has been in past years. The reason for that is because I decided to write all the good things down and keep it in a nifty little jar. You may be thinking, "Okay Faith, that's cool and everything, but honestly... How do you expect me to keep this up the entire year?" Good question, but that's easy to answer. It's really not hard at all! Put this jar in a place you see everyday, keep a few notecards beside it, and have a pen nearby. When something really good happens and you write it down, it'll become habit to run straight to the jar and plop it in. Now that you know the crazy simple idea of writing down the best moments of your year, I want to share personally how it impacted me. I knew from the start that this idea would be something I would really enjoy. I remembered from previous years that I had funny little moments happen that I wish I could remember more clearly. I remember wishing I knew the dates for certain monumental moments that happened, or even sad moments that happened. This jar gave that all to me and much, much more.
While reading through all 85 of my little moments, I was able to relive them all. Some of the things I wrote were very descriptive, like "Darren and I are going to start doing a Wednesday morning Bible study with some friends in the book of Romans!" (9-15) Others, however, were a result from giddiness and joy, so they turned out as short little phrases with tons of exclamation points: "JMU ACCEPTED ME!!!!! YAAAASSSSS!!!!!" (1-9) Regardless of how important they are, like being accepted into my top choice, or how simple they were, like "I got to bond with Alaina today" (10-2), reading back on these cards made me appreciate my year a WHOLE lot more. From the pile of 85 beautiful moments, I decided to handpick a few that really impacted me or made me smile reading back on them. Here they are from earliest to most recent.
There you have it folks. I encourage you all to do what I did. Spend the whole year focusing on the positives or how you took the negatives and transformed them. It's beautiful to look back on it. Make 2015 a great year!
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Now I may have only been at college for one semester, but one semester is enough time at college to realize that things there are a lot different than back home. I absolutely love being at college; don't get me wrong. However, in the midst of it all, I can't help but miss being home.
So far over my relaxing winter break that is ONE MONTH LONG (yeah, you read right), I have been appreciating home more than I usually do. First of all, I've actually had time to appreciate home, which in itself is pretty awesome. Here are a few things that college has made me appreciate more about being home, and not being at college in general:
I am sitting alone here in room 108. I have "Hillsong United Pandora" playing in the background with my brand new Jesus Calling Devo/Journal beside me (thank you Darren). I just finished taking my third exam this week our of four, and I couldn't be more at peace.
It's very easy to get carried away in the stress and business of finals week. After all, about 15 weeks of intense curriculum is a lot to remember for a (sometimes) cumulative exam, which is often placed on the same day as another exam. Oddly enough, I haven't been cramming like the majority of the students here at JMU. I haven't been frantically making flashcards of terms that I don't even remember going over or filling out a 13 page long study guide filled with stuff that may or may not be asked about. I am not bragging; please don't think I am. I am at awe with how much God gives peace to those who seek it from Him. Philippians 4:6-7- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Over and over again in the Bible we are reminded of God's power. He can do anything, right? And he is faithful and wants the best for us. If we follow him and trust him, he will give us the desires of our heart. (Psalm 37:4) This week, and from now, I decided to choose peace. I decided not to worry about a grade defining me, but trusting that God has a beautiful plan for me no matter what happens. I've done all I could do thus far, now it's time to give it all to God. So as we go through finals week or just a stressful time in general, remember that God is always there waiting for you to come to him. He will give you an immeasurable amount of peace if you spend time with him. Besides, what is honestly cooler than spending time with God? Nothing. Show those finals who is boss! |
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November 2015
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