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Reflections

The end of the year generally brings a reflection of it. What did I do that was noteworthy? Who did I meet? How did my life change? Who helped change my life? So many questions, answered now on December 31.

I rode a train across the continent.
I went to the lowest point in this hemisphere.
I walked on a glacier.
I made lots of new friends.
I saw a glacier calve into a lake.
I was an EFY counselor and loved every second of it.
I received my mission call.
I danced in the rain at midnight with people I'd never met.
I pulled my first all-nighter.
I made a few movies.
I made decisions not knowing what the future held for me.
I said goodbyes and seeya-laters...too many for my liking.
And so much more.

I met so many people who have touched and affected my life. My amazing co-counselors each taught me something. My EFY youth were amazing examples of strength. Some of my HP friends have taught me to love people in a new way. I met people on the way to Alaska with whom I'll probably never speak again, but they have a special place in my heart. All the people around me have touched me and will not be forgotten. For they are the ones who have made life as it is for me.

With the end of the year comes the review of New Years Resolutions. The point of them is to change your life for the better. One of mine was to write in my journal every day, and write about something I was grateful for or a tender mercy I noticed during the day. It has gotten to the point where I pull out my journal at night, and I can rarely limit it to just one tender mercy. The Lord blesses each of us so much. If we look around daily, we see this so much. It has truly changed my life, and is something I plan to continue to do. I never repeated anything, so looking back in my journal, you'll find 365 different tender mercies from 2009. Some have stories to go along with them, others are as simple as the first snow. My life is such a blessing. In the words of Nickelback, "each day's a gift and not a given right."

Bring on 2010!

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