2014

2014

I have been so blessed in this past year, I can honestly say that this has been the best year of my life. I want to share it with you, and I want to be able to look back and see all the amazing places God took me in 2014. While I was looking back on all of these pictures, I have realized that my life is not perfect, but it is absolutely amazing and I love every part of it. I love these people, I am so blessed to have them in my life. Let's look back on 2014 together. Thank you Lord.

Our church started a program called Second Saturday Serve, where on the second saturday of every month we just all get together to serve people in our community. Let me tell you I have never had so much fun raking leaves on a January morning.

Also in January I gave blood for the first time in my life, I felt so calm with this sweet nurse who comforted me through the whole process. One day I would love to comfort people the way she comforted me in that moment.

I have done a lot of stupid things that are not exactly beneficial to me, but jumping into a freezing pool on a January morning with Taylor is something that I do not regret one bit. That is a memory that I will have forever and cherish.

I was so thankful for Kelsey during soccer season, she was that person who would listen to me, sit with me on the bus, and run with me. I loved how it was just understood that when we pack our snack for pre-game, we both just knew to put two of everything. I loved braiding her hair before every game, Kelsey is such an awesome person and I love her!

Wow, it was fun to sew some dresses up for second saturday serve, some tasks seem monotonous but when you have awesome friends to do it with you, it is just pure joy man.

In February we went on our annual youth ski trip, and let me tell you we had a blast.

You can't really tell, but this is Benjamin, AKA one of the most important people in my life. He inspires me, he challenges me, and I think he loves me ;)

I took this picture on the way back from our trip, but nature this year really touched my heart, I enjoy the view of the mountains more than I enjoy the cold. I mean is that not totally amazing? I really can't get over it.

If you every want to meet a wonderful, caring, compassionate person, I have your girl. My mom is actually the most amazing person I know. She loves me, but this girl LOVES THE LORD. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am to be her daughter, she truly points me to the Lord. And when I tell you I have never heard her yell, I really haven't! Isn't that crazy? Somehow she is so quiet, yet so powerful. She has worked so hard,  and I know the Lord has AMAZING things for her this year. I love her!

February 22nd I had my first date with Kyle Fabacher, and you will see throughout the year, he is my best friend. The Lord has blessed me more than I will ever be able to comprehend, half the time I feel totally unworthy of such a godly man. He amazes me with the love he has for his brothers in his fraternity, his passion for the least of these, and heart for the Lord. The Lord is using Kyle in huge ways, and I am so happy I get to watch it unfold!

Here is another soccer picture. Soccer has been a part of my life for a very long time, but this year was so much fun. It was so cool to see two teams come together after a hard fought game and pray together as sisters in Christ. 

It was such an honor to sing with these two ladies for literary trio, and winning region was pretty fun too. 

Many nights this year I would hangout with this cool little girl, Zoe is one of the funniest people I have ever met, she makes me laugh so hard. Zoe is such a joy to be around and she was a major part of my life in 2014, her family is truly amazing, some of my favorite memories were spent at their house, playing Taboo, Jeopardy, and having late night talks. Zoe's parents, Julie and Jose are two the coolest people in this world and they show their love for the Lord in everything that they do. Their family is so precious to me and I am so thankful for them

Emily Combs. Wow, I am so proud of her, this picture was taken before prom. I know that whatever she does, her love for the lord will show through. She is a joy to be around, and a blessing to talk to. Whatever lies ahead for you Emily, UGA, Washington State, Photography, Music, ANYTHING. You will always have me!

My very sweet dad took me to Macon one weekend in March to meet with Kyle. Let me tell you, Kyle is so funny, I have never had so much fun goofing off. 

I think this is my favorite picture I have ever taken, I HAVE NO IDEA WHY. But Kelsey just looks so adorable, and Benjamin's cute little dimple is just shining through like the sun!!! I mean, ADORABLE, right? This was the start of a very fun beach trip.

Look how cute she is!

I've said it before and I will say it again, "We put the US in TRUST baby." It makes me so happy when Benjamin takes pictures with me!

One of the many fun bus rides we had together.

On April 7th, we celebrated Josephs 27th birthday! I have had a long road with Joseph, but I am so thankful for the heart change that the Lord gave me towards him. He is one of the most important people in my life, and definitely the coolest. I am thankful for our late night meetings in the kitchen, the awesome talks we have had and his love for music. Joseph IS the most talented person I have every heard play guitar, it is so amazing. And I love him very much!

Thank you God for laughter, thank you for happiness, thank for for all your gifts. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like the shifting shadow."

In April, we had a blast at the Vidalia Onion Festival!

I had all of my awesome siblings home with me, I mean look at us! This is just so cool, we are all so different, but we are such a great team, and we love each other so much.

Andrew won this race, I tried but he was just too fast, Andrew is so awesome, so quiet and definitely much more calm than me, but to see the way he loves, and how sweet he is, that is a blessing. I love him!

This was our last show choir concert of senior year for Kelsey. We share the love of show choir which is pretty cool man.

This was a very special night for me, I'm not exactly sure why. The picture is Kyle, John Victor, Benjamin, Mr. Brian, and my dad trying to change a flat tire. But this night restored my hope.

OKAY this picture might be tied with the one of Benjamin and Kelsey, but just look at it!!! That is ADORABLE! These two are some of the coolest brothers I have ever met.

 I went to my first Braves game ever in 2014! AND it was so fun! We had the funniest girl sit in front of us, she kept telling me to be quiet the whole game, but I wasn't even offended because it was so funny!

and I got to sit with my two favorite boys.

This just makes me laugh so hard, this is a picture of Ashley's parking skills, I don't know why I like this picture so much I just think it is funny.

This was that time that Cassidy, Kennedy and I decided we were going to go over to Jose and Julie's but they were not even home, so we played in their yard, and I almost got stranded in a boat.

I just wanted to share how cool it is to me that God meets us wherever we are, even my little desk in my room. Isn't that so cool?!

Together we are the sassy six, we missed Emily and Sam on this church trip, but we had such a great time at Fuge this year. I mean Matt Papa was awesome, the worship was amazing, the food was good. BUT the heart I saw these girls show for the Lord was so beautiful.

BLESSED. That is all I can say.

They have seen me at my best, they have seen me at my worst. But let me tell you something, they have loved me through and through. These two people are so passionate about the Lord. I have learned so much through them, trial after trial they continually love God more and more. That is inspiring. They are two people that consistently remind me what is important in this life and encourage me to look to the Lord in everything I do.

These were just WAY to cute to leave out!

What a community of love, and support.

Back to my whole nature thing, but check this out! I mean is that not gorgeous?!?! 

This was the day that Kyle came home from his trip to Wyoming at the end of June, Benjamin and Kyle are such good friends and it is a joy to me to see them laugh together, play games, and grow together.

Basically as soon as Kyle came home we went to the beach with my family, and I had so much fun! This was one of my favorite things I did this whole year!

This was the church World Cup party, but I don't even remember watching the game, I just had too much fun playing dodgeball! 

CHAD!!!! This dude was saved and baptized this year! I have watched him grow so much, he is an awesome friend to Benjamin and so fun to be around, I can't wait to see where the Lord takes him!

The second time I gave blood, interesting story, you remember that cool nurse that was so comforting to me? She was there again! She didn't remember me, but boy did I remember her!!

We had so much fun at M25, I must say this slip and slide was super fun, until Emma got hurt. But this is one of the brightest memories I have of 2014.

It is not easy to get out of your comfort zone, but these people are so loving and took that to Atlanta in such a beautiful way. I was honored to be a part of this trip for the 4th year in a row, it's so cool to see how you can go back to the same place, yet learn something totally different. It was truly a blessing to be apart of this group.

In August, Kyle came with my family to the North Carolina mountains and we had so much fun, walking around, exploring the little waterfalls, a huge puzzle and even being terrified of bears. Probably the most monumental moment of this trip comes in the next picture.

As a group we discovered PARCHEESI, wow this game is awesome, and I was crowned the queen that night. 

This was the first day of my senior year, and wow look at that cute boy beside me.

Benjamin and John Victor both got their referee licenses this year and this sassy picture of Benjamin is Gold. Literally.

Seeing Benjamin holding little Levi Thomas just warms my heart, I mean he really is great with him, and they are both pretty adorable.

 Continued on 2014 Part Two!!!!