How do you measure a year?

In daylights? In sunsets? In midnights? In cups of coffee?

In inches? In miles? In laughter? In strife?

In truths learned? In times cried? 

I've been in Savannah for 13 months now ... crazy long time. Still feels like just a few months -- I'm sure eventually it'll feel longer. Some aspects are "home like" and some are still getting there. Not sure how long that takes. Manhattan maybe took 2 years, I don't really remember but I know eventually it'll all feel like home.

I moved here for my job and thankfully I'm still here for my job :) Which means I love it. I've also made some friends along the way which is quite helpful for me.

I still do wonder though if I'll make friends like I've had in the past (they're still in my life, I just means friends I made before Savannah). I know I'm supposed to be here -- it's very clear so that's reassuring. 

Besides moving to a new, unfamiliar city in the last year I can't really say much has happened...which might be a 1st for me...and maybe that's good. No big, eventful news ... do I want something big, I duno ... maybe!

In the next year let's see what'll happen:

-I'll turn 24. (In less than a month actually) Gifts accepted.

-Trip to Orlando ... coming soon and I cannot wait!

-Getting a new car, hopefully sooner than later, '09 Toyota Camry here I come. 

-I'll make a few trips to see my parents.

-I'll go over-sees on a missions trip .... TBD.

-I'll find prince charming (Unlikely -- but hopeful)

-And I'll buy a house (again, maybe unlikely but more possible than the above)

-Oh, of course I'll learn and grow and all that good stuff too.

I think you learn a lot about yourself when you move away from everything you've ever known -- surroundings, friends, family, etc... I think I suggest this for everyone (or almost everyone).

In other news: I saw The Proposal and it was really great and really fun. Boys, you'd even like this one. I saw the preview for New Moon which isn't coming out until November 20 but I'm super excited. And lastly, I cannot believe it's basically July. Time flies when you get old and grow up, I guess ...

Plans for the 4th = ZERO ... Savannah is too hot to spend it outside and I'm not sure there's anything else to do. Friends in far away places -- fly to me.

"You know that love is a gift from above.

Share love, give love, spread love.

Measure your life in love."

I choose joy.

For some time now I have been seeking what we call true joy, contentment, happiness. Is there ever an "ending point?" Nope, I don't think so...for whatever reason I always think I can be a little happier a little more content -- and maybe that's not a bad thing. Thankfully at this point and time in my life I am truly filled with joy. I have desired to find my "nitch" ... to find a career/job that I love, a place where I can call home (slowly, but surely...it doesn't happen over night).

Are there things I don't have that I WANT, sure! I'm not sure anyone could say they have everything they WANT (need, sure...I'd say so) but I wouldn't mind if 20 of my closest friends moved to Savannah, if my parents lived just a little closer, if I didn't have student loans, if prince charming really existed and was in my life, I owned a house and a new car, etc... :) You get the picture -- I guess I can want a lot sometimes, ugh. But I am TRULY happy. I am finally disciplined in my relationship with God, I am learning that honesty is the best policy -- in any/every situation (with tact at times, of course), I love my job, absolutely love it, I am living in a place where I feel free and loved, I have people in my life who care about me, and I am happy! 

I was reading over this the other day and liked it...so I'll share: http://kevinpierpont.com/217/true-joy-philippians-11-2/

"Happiness cannot be traveled to, owned, earned, worn or consumed. Happiness is the spiritual experience of living every minute with love, grace and gratitude." 

So ~ I'm happy I'm happy. :) 

Things I look forward to:

-Parents visiting in May

-My throat getting rid of this soreness stuff

-A vacation ... even if it's not till Orlando with my oldies, but goodies.

That's all! :)

to every season - turn, turn, turn.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace

i always seem to look back at the past a lot or constantly dream and wonder about my future. what about the joy of living in the now...of taking in every day, every moment that God has given me. there may be a time to reminisce in the past and a time to anticipate the future but for the most part i need to live in the present season. i wonder if this is hard for others as it is for me. and this time, right now, is rather good :) 

With the past, I have nothing to do; nor with the future. I live now. ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

When one door closes another door opens; but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us. ~ Alexandar Graham Bell

It's only possible to live happily ever after on a day-to-day basis! ~Unknown

what time is it for you?

a lot can happen in 5 years

on my drive back from hilton head island today visiting a good friend i was thinking about how time flies (at least in retrospect it does...not always each day, but you understand).... and i was also thinking about how much can change it such a little period of time.

high school (jr. year ish) till freshman year of college in JoCo = lots of big changes. (what the heck was i thinking is my response back to most of that nonsense)

2004-2008 = life in Manhattan. lots of great memories, tons of amazing friends (seriously best part of those 4 years) and a lot of life lessons learned, learned again, and now mastered :)

2008-now = moved to savannah....found a career/job i absolutely love.. i work with some of the most talented and loving and caring people i've ever met. i've found my "nitch" ... or at least part of it. i've made some good friends, learned some more about myself...and am now a grown up? really. yah, i think just about.

anyways -- a LOT has happened in my life in the last 5 years. some good, some bad...lived a lot, learned a lot, and now just flying through my mid-twenties.

i can honestly say that 5 years ago i would have NEVER imagined i'd be working in ministry, in savannah georgia -- graduated from bible college and away from all things familiar.

i'm still learning. but i think i've got a lot to teach too.

i'm staying put. (for the most part)

half full...half empty

I'd like to think that I typically look at the glass half-full .... hopefully I'm not fooling myself!

I'm leading a small group and we're going through a book by Andy Stanley called Take It To The Limits.... there's some good stuff in it. I guess we don't actually start till next week but since I'm "leading" I figured I should know that I was talking about. Here was a funny, or at least I thought it was funny, quote... "Today, there are three kinds of people: the have's, the have-nots, and the have-not-paid-for-what-they-haves." Haha....good one :)

I think 2009 has some potential.
-Holly is coming to visit in April for 5 days, WOOHOO!!!!
-October will be a fun month. Orlando with some of my bestest friends!

I saw Bride Wars last night. It was pretty hilarious! I love girls night with great food and movies.

Life in Savannah is slowly becoming home....I don't know how long it takes necessarily but it's crazy to think I've been here about 8 months already.

Ok--ta ta for now.

2009.

ok, so i never do these and even when i have i rarely accomplish them. we'll see how 2009 goes in about 365 more days, right?!

1. no more coke.
2. pay off credit cards.
3. make a trip to kansas.
4. make a trip to colorado.
5. make a trip to arizona.
(i'm betting i won't/can't make all of those trips...)
6. go to Orlando with some of my best friends.
7. find a boy. a nice one, a little older, mature, good looking, etc...
8. read the other 3 books after Twilight. (this will be done within the week)
9. every years resolutions: work out more, read the Bible more, trust more, fear less.
10. enjoy life.

that's all, for now. those seem pretty do-able. well, except # 7 probably :) but my imaginary boyfriend Edward will suffice until something better comes along.

2008 was.....some of the worst times of my life, some of the greatest change in my life, and some pretty good times. i can't say some of the greatest times were in 2008 but i sure am thankful for a lot of things -- like my friends, my family, my job, and grace.

and to all a goodnight.

--oh, and a thought i should remember next year. do NOT spend New Years Eve on the beach when it is 35 degrees....(75 the last 2 months tricked me tonight!!)

Dear Cupid....

We have got to discuss your aim.