CLOSING THE DOOR ON 2016

So I had a dream, it was the end of September and I had just posted my final blog about the Code Orange Revival.  I was a little exhausted, but over-energized. It was the early days of Fall and I was looking forward to my upcoming vacation with my husband.  The sun was bright, the colors vibrant, the days still semi long... 

     ... Oh hello frosty morning, it's December 31st you say... huh?  I cannot believe how fast this year has flown by!  I keep asking myself, where did all the days and weeks and months run off to?  Do you ever feel like that?  

As I look back over 2016, I wanted it to be a year of change, of new beginnings.  And it was, a little. I wanted to invite in change, so I shaved my head - Ok, so that was a pretty big change, but I also wanted to do other things.  I wanted to start going back to church, which I did.  I have found myself an amazing church and have made some wonderful new friends.  I wanted to spend more time catching up with family and friends, and because of the internet that has made life so much easier (my family all live overseas).  I wanted to spend more time pursuing my creative side and that has been a blast.  I have been teaching myself to paint, which has been so cathartic and relaxing.  I wanted to explore my faith more and go deeper, which I started to do, but haven't done it nearly as much as I would have liked!!

So now as I look forward to 2017, what are some of the things I'm looking forward to?  

• I want to definitely delve deeper into my faith, and study more.  I'm still toying with the idea of Bible college, but that is not a definite for this coming year.  
• Get back to cooking.  I love to cook and try new recipes and foods
• I am looking forward to my parents coming to visit this summer!!  
• I want to go camping/travel more in 2017
• I am going to continue to paint and develop those skills
• I want to make more videos - If I had a mountain of footage I would spend all day editing, that is my favorite part of the process so far.
• I am going to continue to write.  I have enjoyed it when I have done it, I just need to make the commitment to it more often
• I want to sing a little louder, and care a little less about what others think - What's the saying? Dance like nobody's watching!

I could probably keep going on forever, but I wont.  I will just close out this last entry of 2016 by saying, thank you.  Thank you to anyone who has taken some time out of their day to read these posts.  I hope you all have an amazing day/night, however you decide to ring in the new year and I pray that your 2017 is an incredible year to remember!