The sweet 16 is over. The big 16 that everyone makes such a big deal about, yeah it's gone. They were right though, in the fact that everything changes.

16 was good to me. It taught me how to accept change, how to let people go, and how to love more deeply than ever before. It taught me how to step out of my comfort zone, and that what others think isn't all that important. Oh, and by the way God taught me these things not my age.

I grew a LOT this past year. Most was learned from hardships, and rough patches, but in the end I can see how much those experiences taught me.

16 was fun. I made lots of new friends, and learned how to be a better friend. Started driving. Marked several things off my bucket list. Met Donna Douglas. I am forgetting something...oh well. I had some great experiences.

Today is my 17th birthday. This next year I hope to learn more than ever before. I know that there are going to be a lot of exciting and fun things that are going to come this year, but with that I know that there are going to be hardships too. I am ready for all of it! I can't wait to see what God has in store for this new chapter! I know that He has BIG plans for me and I can't wait to see them unfold!

The left is taken a week before my 16th birthday and the one on the right was taken a month or 2 ago. I look too "comfortable" today to take a picture. :)