2012- A Look Back

2012 was a great year.  It wasn't filled with major life transitions or monumental events, but it was filled with the people I love.  

January: We went to 12 straight nights of Code Orange Revival at church and it was an amazing way to start the new year.

February: We celebrated Love Week at church.

March: We went to the NeedtoBreathe concert.

April: We traveled to Atlanta for a few days during Spring Break.

May: We traveled a lot.  We went to Wilmington for my sister's graduation and then to Edisto for Brandon's cousin's wedding.

June: We went to San Diego and I volunteered at Camp 658 with some amazing kids.  Oh yeah, and Brandon broke his ankle.

July: I watched one of my closest friends get married. We celebrated the Olympics and were glued to the t.v. for the next month.

August: We celebrated our second wedding anniversary!  Oh and school started back.

September: We went to Myrtle Beach for Labor Day and my cousin got married.

October: We went to Raleigh for our annual Wolfpack football game and we got tickets to the Panthers game that same weekend.  Brandon began traveling for work and was in Florida for two weeks, so I went to visit!

November: We ran the Color Run!

December:  We went to the Panthers game, celebrated Christmas, and prepared to ring in the new year.  

                           Bring it on 2013!!  I know it will be great!!!

Color Me Happy

On Saturday, I participated in my first 5k, the Color Run!!  It was so amazingly fun!  If you haven't heard of the Color Run, it is a 5k run that has color stations along the route.  At every station volunteers douse you in colored powder.  By the end of the race you look like a rainbow!  Brandon and I got to run it with another couple from our small group from church and one of their family members.  We are so blessed to have amazing friends who made this so much fun.  

I got my colorful socks ready, my sweatband, and my clean white shirt just waiting to be colorified.  The start line is a huge dance party and the run was also a lot of fun.  There were a lot of hills along the route, but hey it was a great workout.  At the finish line we headed to the color party, which is essentially a huge dance party.  Every 10 minutes or so they do a color throw.  Each runner got a packet of colored powder.  On the signal everyone throws their color in the air to create a huge colorful cloud that rains down on you.  In one word- Fantastic!!!  This was the most fun I have had in a long time.  Next on our list of runs, the Electric Run in April.  So pumped!! 

Before

During

After

 It really is the happiest 5k on the planet!!!

My How Things Have Changed

I've been thinking a lot lately about how much my life has changed over the last few years.  I am 24 years old and looking back even three years ago, my life is drastically different now.  It's neither better nor worse, just different.  

I used to be a night owl, staying up until 2 AM on a normal night and not getting up until at least 10.  Now I go to bed at 10.

My Saturday night used to be filled with friends and fun events.  Now, a normal Saturday night consists of dinner with the hubs, pajamas by 8:00, movie on the couch and I typically don't complain about it.

 

I used to have lots of girlfriends and girl's night was a common occurrence, which I sometimes miss.  Now, I cherish the time I have with just my husband and we rarely have company.

I used to be able to eat whatever I want and not have to worry about it.  Now, I am counting calories and painstakingly working out 4 times a week.  I quiver at the thought of summer and bikinis.

 

My only responsibilities were schoolwork and having fun.  Now, I own a house, have a job, have pets, etc.etc.

Even though life is different, life is still beautiful.  Yes, it may not be a wild and crazy weekend, but it's spent with the ones I love.  It may be stressful at times and adulthood is daunting, but it grows you as a person.  The journey is still exciting and what lies ahead we don't always know or expect, but we are always changing.  Embracing the change makes the difference.  Will it be beautiful or will it be unwelcomed?  I choose to welcome it.