Goodbye, 2012. Hello, 2013!!!

What a year it has been! As I sit here reflecting on the past 366 days (thanks, leap year for the extra day), I can only smile and feel blessed for each and every person, lesson, trial, and laugh that graced its way into my life. From New Year’s Eve in Denver, CO to my road trip home in May, to the week-long driving vacation with Telisa to Canada, to my moves back and forth from Chattanooga to Nashville, it has been nothing less than an exciting roller coaster of fun, loss, gain, crazy emotions, love, and endless stories that will be told for years to come.

On this day last year I remember how ready I was for 2012 to arrive. Since mid-February of 2011 I had been praying for a new year and a change from everything that I knew.  Anxiously I held my breath and tried my best to get through one of the hardest years I have ever experienced. I eagerly welcomed 2012 with opened arms. Although there have been some obstacles, some sadness, and some loss, these past twelve months have been pretty great to me. I loved; I experienced new people and new places; I found courage within myself that had been pushed to the wayside; and most importantly, I had a blast and laughed a lot.

So, here’s to you 2012. Thank you for everything that you taught and showed me. Thank you for the people that stayed constant in my life and for those who walked out of it. Thank you for new relationships and the strengthening old ones. Thank you for the family time that I was abundantly given. Thank you for the laughter, the tears, and the memories.

And to 2013: I am so excited to see where this year takes me. New cities, new friends, new career opportunities, and possibly new love. I will cherish each and every day and live each one to the fullest. I will embrace challenges and keep an open mind to changes. Here we go… Welcome!

A reflection on the best of 2012:

NYE in Denver, CO with Cameron, Katie, Matt, Shawn, and Joseph

Easter weekend with J.R., Cam, Sheena, Chris, Tara, and Josh

Preds/ Avs Game in Denver with the MJ buddies

Garden of the God hikes

Red Rocks runs and hikes

First NBA game

Climbing Red Rocks with Seve, Drew, Matt, and Aaron

Girls’ Nights with Seve

Lessons from lost love relationships

Girl time in the city parks with Natalie

Spent the night in an airport by myself

Roadtrip home to Tennessee with my mom

Kenny Chesney & Tim McGraw concert in Nashville

First visit to Chicago

Family reunion with the Mitchells in Avon, OH

Five new states: Oklahoma, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania, New York

One new country: Canada

Niagara Falls and couchsurfing in Toronto with Telisa

New friends in Chattanooga & Nashville

Eric Church concert in Chattanooga

Week long fun with Aaron in Chattanooga, Nashville, and Atlanta

SEC Football games & tailgating in Knoxville, TN

Ten-year High School Reunion

Thanksgiving with the neighbors

Christmas with my family