Thankfulness.

Well, Thanksgiving break is done and I have a feeling I'm not going to easily find peace, tranquility and harmony. What with only 3 weeks left of my first semester of college, I need to start studying for finals... and that's just crazy.

I'm not entirely sure where the time has gone, and sadly to say, I haven't recorded it much through this ole' blog like I should have. I'm hoping {still} to get back into the routine of blogging regularly... about what, I'm not entirely sure. But I'll get there. I'm sure of that much. 

Anyways, even though Thanksgiving is over with and all the Christmas festivities are beginning I'll share a little of what I'm thankful for:

• Bethel College. I always knew I wanted to come here, and was worried that my exceedingly high expectations would not be met... Well, I'm excited to say that they were definitely met. I've had the most amazing time learning, and not only learning about my faith and my music. But learning who I am, and how to interact and love people better than I ever have before. 
• One the same note as before: My suite mates. Rebecca and Brittany. I'm so thankful to have them in my life, to be able to share so many firsts with them. I'm so grateful that they accept me for who I am, and push me on towards being the best I can be. For allowing me to open up without feeling like a complete squirrel, and for just being two of the best friends I've ever had. 
• Home. As much as I love being at Bethel, I'm so thankful that I have a home to go back to when I'm tired and ready to be around familiar faces. And not just any home, but my home. Where I can be me, and know that everyone loves me even when I go to see Breaking Dawn without them. 
• And where would a post of thankfulness be without Hunter? I'm so thankful that this boy has been willing to stick by me, even when I'm far away and hard to stick by. When I have my crazy breakdowns, and when I'm really mad at him for not talking to me enough. He loves me anyways. I love him. And that's something to be thankful for. 
• My God. I don't think I've always been someone to be thankful for God, and sometimes I'm still one of the most awful people in the world and go days without thinking Godly things. But I'm learning, and I'm thankful that He allows me to learn, and doesn't expect me to be perfect all the time. Because I'd definitely fail that exam. 

havin' a hallelujah good time

Sunday's are hard days for me. 
If you know anything about my life story (Yes. I am aware that I've barely began my life.) you may understand why. Then again, you may not. 
I've went to church since before I was born. I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior at the ripe old age of three. At Mancelona Youth Camp I rededicated my life to him when I was around 13 (14?). So you could probably be safe in saying that I've spent the majority of my Sundays in a church. With my family. 
Church was my safe house. When my Daddy lost his job my freshman year of high school things got a little hard, but church was where everything was always normal. Church was where I had people who anonymously left Christmas gifts on our doorstep. Church was where I'd sit next to my Daddy and he'd lean down and whisper how pretty I looked. Church was a good, safe, beautiful place. 
Then a day came when even church wasn't so normal anymore. My sixteenth birthday. The day my Daddy died. It was unexpected. It was brutal. And even church became hard to go to. Not because I hated God. Not because I blamed God. But, simply, because Daddy wasn't there. It ended up that I had big shoes to fill, being his daughter and all. 
Even now that I go to a whole different church than the one I was raised in, it's weird. It's weird walking into a church without a Daddy there. It's weird. But, you know, that's okay. It's how my life is now, and I refuse to be bitter. I refuse to let what has happened to me define who I am as a person. I refuse to be sad all the time, because I deserve to be happy. Maybe your circumstances are out of your control. Maybe you're not able to work at your dream job. Maybe you've lost your best friend, be it by death or by a falling out. I only have one thing to say to you: Be joyful. Do not let what's happening define who you are as a person. I'm not going to say it's easy, but it is possible. Optimism is a lifestyle choice, choose it. Nobody is bring you down but yourself. 


On a lighter note: If you know what the title is from (without google) we will surely be best friends for life, guurl.