2015 was quite a ride! From graduating high school, going on the vacation of a lifetime, moving out of my parents house to a new city, starting college, and every other little thing in between has made this year fantastic and stressful. I know 2016 has a lot of things in store as well and I'm pretty excited about those.

Every year I like to sit down and pick out a Bible verse and one word to focus on for said year. Also, instead of resolutions I like to write a list of things I'd like to improve on. The following is my list of things for 2016.



Word: F E A R L E S S

Verse: "Do not FEAR, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous hand." Isaiah 41:10

Goals:

make time to spend with my Creator
The One that placed the stars deserves my all. He deserves my time.

make time to make
Being a creative means that when I haven't made something in a while I get in a place where I have too much bottled up energy. I NEED to express myself creatively. I need to make time for that. I need to take more creative and inspiration breaks.
be more present
One phrase describes it all "put yo phone down." I am not terrible at this, but there is always room for improvement. I want to make a conscience effort to put my phone away when visiting with friends and family. I want to take more pictures with my actual camera and less with my phone. I want to be more excited about my next 2am adventure than what picture I will post on Instagram of it.

be more selfless
I want to make more time for friends. I want to be the first to ask them about their day, their week, their hopes, their dreams. I want to be the person that is considered a good listener. It's not about me.

be more humble
It's not about me. Therefore, there is no need to brag about anything. There is always something else to learn.

be more adventurous
Again, I already do this, but I want to do more! I want to go on spur-of-the-moment road trips with my favorite people. I want to sit on a roof, stargaze, and talk about life. I want to be more spontaneous.

 The goal of this project is to publicize P A S S I O N! I want to show the world these everyday people that are getting up every day and doing what they love, what drives them.

My first semester of college has been completed! *whoop* So many good things have happened in such a short span of time. I am really in awe of all that the Lord has done. I started out this semester  as an 18-year-old know-it-all that knew hardly anyone to a girl that has learned that she has so much to learn and that now has too many friends to count!

No, this isn't going to be a post about a boy. As of today, I at not in a romantic relationship. However, lately the idea of relationships has been running through my thoughts. I have started to realize how blessed I am to have as many relationships as I have.

Since I've moved to a new town for college many different people have crossed my path. Some of which have become some of my closest friends. I am SO thankful for the relationships that I have with those people.

I am also remembering not to take my friends back home for granted. I left my very best friend back home when I moved. It has been so hard not seeing her only once or twice a month, but our relationship has gotten surprisingly stronger.

Yesterday I checked the mail to see a letter from a "wiser adult" friend from my home church. This woman has poured so much into my life ever since I've known her. When I had to move I knew that the dynamic of our relationship would change and that made me sad. Our relationship has changed because we no longer get to see one another twice a week, but our caring for one another hasn't. I am so grateful for her continuous encouragement.

I recently got into a different kind of relationship, discipleship. But that's for a whole other post. :)

Every since I've moved to this little college town I have wanted to check out downtown. There are cute little stores, a coffee shop, and a lot of good opportunities for pictures. One of my camp staffing buddies was visiting for the day so after a walk in the park, and some Menchie's we decided to explore downtown.

One of my very best friends exited teenagehood this past week and hit the big number twenty. Her sister (who also happens to be a dear friend of mine) decided it would be a good idea to throw a surprise picnic for her, so that's just what we did. We took a trip to St. Fransicville and decided to lay our blanket down by the lake at Hemingbough plantation. There was food eating, story telling, lots of laughing, and flower crown making.