2014

2014 has had its ups and downs, but has been an altogether great year. A lot has happened, and all of it happened for a reason. Looking back, I can't help but thank God for every single thing that He has done. I've come so far in my life, and He is the one to thank for that. 

For starters, 2014 had an interesting beginning. The first Sunday of the month, I will never forget. I came to church with a hangover. So dumb. God got ahold of me big time. Now, I can happily say that I have been alcohol free since then, and I couldn't be happier. 

The second Sunday in January, was my one year anniversary at my amazing church, Turning Point Life Center. Coming up on now two years, I cannot believe how God has brought awesome people to that church who have helped me on my long journey. 

Skip forward a few months to March 29th, 2014. I will never forget that day. I finally received the gift of the Holy Ghost. It took me forever to finally surrender my all to God, but when I did, I felt a joy that was indescribable. I'm so blessed that I was surrounded by people who never turned their back on me, and who didn't give up on me during that part of my journey. 

June 1st, 2014, I graduated high school. It still feels unreal that that chapter of my life is over. It seems like it just happened yesterday. I walked across the stage and got my diploma, and I felt SO accomplished with my life. 

August of 2014 is when my life changed 110% more. I learned about outward holiness and took the next step in my faith by representing God not only on the inside, but on the outside. 

All of this was happening while I moved in with an absolutely wonderful family from church, the Marshall's. They're such a blessing in my life, and I couldn't be more thankful for them and everything that they do for me. 

A couple weeks when by, and things started getting weird. The devil started to hit me where it hurt. He would try to bring me back to my best friend at the time. Short backstory: I was never my true Christian self around that friend, so God told me to break ties with Him until he was no longer an idol in my life, and until I was secure enough in my faith to defend it. It hurt me, but I'm still trying to work on it. It's a journey/process, but I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). 

Then, the next week, I turned 19 years old. Whoa. I'm old. Lol. 

I got my first job, working for latchkey, and got accepted into the elementary education department at Indiana University East where I will start attending in January of 2015. 

Here it is now, in December, and the year is already almost over. It went by so slowly, but so quickly. 

I am a completely a different person that what I was 11 and a half months ago, and I just cannot put into words how happy that makes me. 

God has been nothing but good to me, and He has never let me down. He is so awesome. 

That about sums up my year. I pray that you all have a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. Blessings to you and your loved ones this winter season.