Well it’s one of those times where I can’t help but look back and go “What a year it’s been.” Even though NCCG is this weekend – like it was last year – it’s quite a different story this time around. At this time last year ….
* After NCCG I went to the “new” church building and helped move in our new chairs for the first time. Since then newhope has almost doubled in attendance and it’s been carpeted, a stage built, and the sound and light systems set up.
* I had just swam in the UNC intramural swim meet. I won 2 individual events and helped a relay to a win. I got a “Carolina Intramural Champion” t-shirt. This year I haven’t been in a pool in almost 3 weeks and can barely run 2 miles without being exhausted. There are also 10 more pounds of me to love. What a difference a year makes.
* I was working weird hours into wee hours of the night some days and for no payoff. This year I have an awesome advisor, am getting ready to present our research in a public forum for the first time, and work roughly 50 hours a week (the last couple have been maybe 60 but not more than that for more than a week at a time).
* Was in a small group that was great. Now I help co-lead a small group that is great.
* Hardly knew Jamie and hadn’t met Scott yet. 2 of the most influential people in my life now and I didn’t even know them a year ago.
* Thought Sabrina was scary. No, really. I did. Like I was afraid to talk to her scary. She, being the only girl at the time on the tech team, was very not shy about telling anyone working on that team if something should be done differently (and usually better if she’s suggesting it) and I thought she was scary. Now Sabrina is going to be the matron of honor in my wedding. She can go be scary somewhere else, we’re all used up here. 
* Knew that JJ was single but hardly knew him well enough to call him a friend. And in the last year I figured out why he was single: we were waiting to find each other. And now we’re getting married to our perfect soulmate.
So there you go … 22 in a nutshell.
In 23 I will be …
* Watching my brother graduate from college
* Getting married
* Buying a house with my husband
* Getting my master’s in cognitive psychology
… and all that other stuff that I can’t even think of or see right now. It’s the years gone by that shape me, but it’s the years coming up that make me want to get up in the morning.
