November 5th

today is one month until my birthday, and i have no idea how we got here. i have no idea where this year has gone and ever since i realized that we're in November, and that next month is not just my birthday but it's Christmas and New Years. and the years disappeared and we're starting again in 2009, i've been in a constant state of freak-out (i know that's not a word but i can't think of anything to describe how stumped this has made me). i swear i looked at the calendar in July and all it took was a blink to get to November. now i have 4 days of school left and three exams to go until summer.

maybe i was freaking out because i thought i've wasted this year, but thinking back on it this has been the busiest and best year of my life. me and frances spent class yesterday reflecting on all the good and fun things that have happened to us this year. i will elaborate:

- firstly, starting the year at camp, with worship bang on the changing of the years

- parachute

- summer's DREAM TEAM and trips to the batch and the lake house

- becoming a leader at Primal

- going overseas! (the definite highlight of the whole year) getting to go to England, Wales, France, Australia and Thailand.

- seeing my Grandma for the first time since i was about 10 and my dad for the first time in a year

- preaching for the first time at Primal and taking Underground for the first time

- getting to see Rachel get married (your turn soon Amanda!)

- entering fashion shows and winning and overlocker  from it!!

- being involved with Invisible Children, putting on successful events

- going to my first ball!

- going to WOW awards in Wellington (funest school trip of my life!)

- got my first tattoo (it's true that nothing can separate me from the love of God- i have it written on me for life! haha)

- passing Level 2 NCEA before the year has even finished

- and i can say safely that there has been road trips for at least every third weekend for this year.  it has been so much fun, and there are still more to come before the year is out. 

this year has been the first year when i have been completely solid and sold out for God. the places he has taken me have already been beyond what i would have thought. through ups and downs his love really has sustained me. at the beginning of the year this was the scripture God gave me for 08:

Exodus 34:10-11: The Lord replied, "All right, this is the covenant I am going to make with you. I will perform wonders that have never been done before anywhere in all the earth  or in any nation. And all the people around you will see the power of the Lord- the awesome power I will display through you. Your responsibility is to obey all the commands I am giving you today. Then I will surely drive out all those who stand in your way"

this has been fulfilled in some ways, but i don't believe it has been to any extent of which it was first meant. i'm really craving that fire which i had for the first half of the year, i'm really longing to be head over heels again. i just don't know how to do it.

and although i lost the girl who was my best friend this year, i have grown from this and not only restored old friendships but built new ones and now i have to say i am so blessed to know the people i do and the people who i am privileged enough to spend my time and share lives ups and downs with are hands down the most amazing people i have ever met. i couldn't see my self without J in my life- our friendship is so special and the way the puzzle pieces of our lives and characteristic fit together is beyond my understanding.

and although i spent at least 6 months of this year holding on to the idea of a certain boy and trying to make things work(which in no way do i regret, the things i learnt from this are priceless), i finally let go and now i have the most amazing  boyfriend, who is my friend and my boy. that's the way i always wanted it to be. this came so unexpectedly and it truly does rest on the advice i've so often given others, that you only find someone when you stop looking. i'm so lucky to have Tim.

and mention should also go to Mike. he has officially been my longest friend and has stuck by me through all the ups and all the downs and supported me in everything even when he has disagreed with my choices, stuck with me in every silly phase i've been through. and without being cheesy, i actually don't know where we'd be without each other.

everything in this year has been amazing. i still don't know where it's gone, and i'm not even going to say i'm looking forward to 09, i'd prefer to stay where we are thanks.