2007 memories

wow, is it just me, or did this year go by fast? they tend to go by faster every year! it seems like yesterday was New Years Day, yet so many things happened between yesterday and today! Allow me to take a few minutes and remenisce...(is that how you even spell it??)

8 notable things that happened this year.

1. first and foremost, i am so thankful that i was baptized and made a member of Grace Fellowship Church. Baptism is such an awesome sacrament established by God - not only to be a sign to all believers that one more soul was adopted into God's kingdom, but also a sign and reminder to the believer being baptized that he/she is beginning a brand new life. His old life has gone to the ocean floor, never again to be seen, and his new life, a precious gift from God bought with Christ's blood, is just beginning. I look forward to growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ in this coming year. Also, as I said, i finally became a memeber of the church that i have attended for about 7 years already. It is so wonderful to be able to partake in the body and blood of Christ once a month as well as serve the Lord and my church family through music. I can finally call my wonderful friends there my brothers and sisters in Christ!! However, there are still some close friends there who are not beleivers and whose hearts i lift up to God every single day. please remember them in your prayers...i love them very much and one of my greatest desires is to be able to call them brothers and sisters as well.

2. i turned 16!! for most people, turning 16 is a big deal and they're already learning how to drive by their 16th birthday. however, God had different plans for me. I had an incredibly fun birthday party at Six Flags America...getting to ride the tallest and fastest roller coaster on earth...TWICE! man, was that fun...i gotta go there again someday. anyways, i am very thankful for 16 years of life...none of which i deserved in the least. no, i'm still not driving, and no, i haven't taken an SAT or even a PSAT, but i'm not in a big rush, and i hope to get those things done in 2008 anyways, if God wills.

3. my baby sister is GROWING!!! and i'm not kidding. in january of this year, she couldn't even lift her head by herself. now, she can WALK!! yes, WALK!! she took her first steps a few weeks ago, and now she can toddle all the way down the hallway by herself. we're all so proud of her. and we can tell she's proud of herself too. :) she has brought so much joy to me...more than i can describe. it is such a blessing to have another sister! she makes me smile every time i look at her and it's so exciting to see her grow up. yet all the while i want her to stay the size she is now and not grow any more! but i know that's impossible.

4. i got to visit my awesome friends in Texas this summer!! i couldn't ask for better friends. i got to see Faithy every single day i was there, and i got to meet her family too! i also got to see audrey and the hammond sisters...and we all went to six flags together and rode every single roller coaster there (except the texas giant). that has got to be the most fun day out of this whole year.

5. I actually got to see BETHY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! totally a dream come true and an answer to prayer. right when i thought i was never going to get to see her in my whole life, my dad said he was going to Massachusetts. WOW!!! i knew i HAD to go with him, so i did! i think bethy was literally jumping off of walls that night she called me once she heard i was coming. she is one of the biggest blessings in my life..the most faithful friend anyone could ever ask for.

6. i lost a friend. we grew so close in 2006, but this year, she just seemed to have disappeared into the world. this was the biggest trial in my life so far. i got to see her only a couple times this year. she has changed so much and has taken a different road, yet i still love her so much and i can't stop praying and hoping that the Lord will one day...one day in His timing, change her heart and bring her back to the truth.

7. i read the bible in a year!! well, almost. the year's not over yet, and i still have like 5 more days, but i'm going to make it. this was the first time i have ever done it and i read many books in the bible for the very first time! it has been a wonderful experience. oh yeah, and not only did i read the whole bible, but i also read the New Testament twice and Psalms twice! yay! i grow more and more in love with the sweet words of the God-breathed scriptures every time i open them.

8. God has not changed. He has not changed and he never will! He will always keep his promises and he will be with his children forever and ever. I learned that He will never leave me nor forsake me. ever. those words were a great comfort at times throughout this year. He is so faithful, and he ALONE is worthy of worship and glory and praise. I hope and pray that God will use my whole life to do just that.

~soli deo gloria~
Emily