LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD (longest friend)
Kayla Hartmann (as always)
MOST UNDERSTANDING FRIEND
I cannot possibly give this to just one person. Amanda, Sarah, Kathy, Abby, and Dazzer have listened, advised, and been understanding COUNTLESS times this past year. I do not think I've ever relied more heavily on friends. I'm so grateful to count them as my good friends.
HIGH POINT OF THE YEAR
The Pro-Life trip at the beginning of this year was fantastic, but I think the award goes to Steubenville 2011 Week 1. My small group of seniors and experiencing the retreat with the absolute best teens made this a holy and wonderful weekend!
LOW POINT OF THE YEAR
This is my blog, and I can be honest here. From mid-June to mid-November I walked through each day broken, confused, and very hurt. In the midst of that time I asked myself hard questions about who I am in God, who He is calling me to be, and what things (and people) in my life were assets and what things (and people) were not. My heart broke into a million pieces as a walked away from youth ministry -from teens I have spent much time loving. I tried to find purpose, meaning, and direction in the things that remained. In those months I tried to hold the pieces that were left together. I learned hard lessons in trust and surrender. I allowed God to slowly and painfully show me more and more of Himself as I gave Him more and more of my life. So much good has come from those moments. But it sucked like no other to live them. :-)
BEST HOLIDAY
Christmas. But only because it was (is) the culmination of Advent, which is not a holiday, but was, by far, the most peaceful season.
BEST SONG FOR 2011
The Saint that is Just Me by Danielle Rose taught me that holiness does not come from mimicking the lives of others. Rather it comes from living the individual journey towards God with grace.
BEST MOVIE WATCHED
Courageous. It was a good movie. For a Christian Film, it was amazing. And it challenged me to view my life differently. It also changed my standards for the people I allow to be closest to me.
BEST BOOK READ
Searching for and Maintaining Peace. I'd read this one before, but reading it again this year reminded me of just how important peace is.
...OR...
The End of Molasses Classes by Ron Clark. This book inspired me to make things happen in life. It is the original source of my New Year's Resolution for the year.
ALL AROUND GREAT FRIEND TO HAVE
Amanda. Without you so much of 2011 would have been less holy. I am so grateful for your selfless, life-giving friendship. Your holiness calls me to be holy. Your insights, wisdom, and general understanding of my heart and spiritual journey are an invaluable blessing to me. Thank you.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
Applebee's. It has to be Applebee's.
BEST PROFESSOR
"Dr. Blosser. Always. And still." That's what I wrote last year. For this first time in 19 years I had no formal teacher this year. However, Dr. Blosser responded to every email and patiently answered every heavy theology question I posed. He gets the award. Again.
BEST DECISION MADE THIS YEAR
To just keep moving. No matter how hard it got, I never stopped going. I never gave in to that part of me that wanted to just curl up in a ball and stay there forever. I never stopped going to God. I continued to meet Him in the Sacraments.
MOST STUPID IDEA
Texting the most serious things because saying them out loud was too scary. Or maybe it was all of those things I didn't say or text... Either way, I wouldn't call it "stupid." I'd just call it the opposite of courageous.
BIGGEST CHANGE
Leaving my involvement in AYM behind me.
NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTION
To not make excuses so that I can make things happen.
WORD FOR 2012
Courageous
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