Well, well, well. We meet again, blogyear blog.Â
I stopped posting on this blog a while ago for reasons that most of you probably know, but seeing you guys's lovely midway-through-the-year posts made me happy and I thought I'd contribute.
So. These past six months have been a doozy. I've learned so much about myself and the people around me. I've lost friends and realized my life is better for it and I've met new people who I've learned a lot about life from. Through it all, you guys have been there for me, and I can't begin to tell you how much that means to me. Even though we're scattered around the globe, none of you have ever been too busy to encourage me or offer me advice when I needed it. And I'll never forget that.
This year started pretty fabulously, since I spent the first few days of it chilling with Laura at my house giving and receiving amazing presents and watching cool artsy movies. Throughout the year, I've gotten to travel all over the place and, in all, meet seven of you. SEVEN. That's insane. I got to see the best concert of my life with Liza, Caroline and Emily ( I don't think my excitement levels have EVER been that high as they were in the Ryman that night). I got to spend afternoons with Salma, Manar, and Angela, doing things from touring my future college campus to hanging out in a coffeeshop to watching a silly movie about Legos. Those experiences, whether they were low-key or, y'know, NICKEL CREEK, were all incredibly special in their own way. They're memories that I've held really close to my heart.Â
So besides that, I graduated high school this year. And got accepted to college. And got a full tuition scholarship. I still can't quite believe that everything fell into place the way it did. This time last year I thought I'd be at some expensive art school in NYC or California, racking up debt but living the dream. It hasn't quite worked out that way. I've realized that sometimes you have to give up some of your crazier dreams for what's actually going to work for you. While I resented it for a while, I've come to learn that God's shaped my path in a way that's much, much better than the plan I had in store. And it doesn't feel like a compromise anymore. I'm going to get study what I'm passionate about without ending up in a horrible financial situation in a city that, while it isn't New York, is still pretty fantastic. Best of all, I'm staying relatively close to home. Just a few hours away from my family, which both they and I are happy about (even if it took a while for me to stop immaturely wanting to get as far away from them as possible.)
The other reason I'm excited about choosing Nashville is because I'm going to be living very close to my sister Kelly. Kelly and I have had a pretty rough relationship for the past five years. And it's been super, super hard feeling like I had a sister.... but not really (another reason I've been so grateful for you guys over the past year and a half). However, the past month has changed that so much. I spent a week in June at a lodge with my sister and 30 other people- students, families, teachers- from her community. It opened my eyes so much to who she really is, what she stands for, and what she's devoted her life to. And it was truly amazing. Through a lot of talking, crying, laughing, and praying, Kelly and I finally started to bridge the gap that's formed over the past five years. Our relationship is far from whole, but we're getting there. And by the grace of God, we get to /keep/ getting there, because when I move, I'll get to see her MUCH MUCH more often. And continue getting to know the person she's become.
Alright hopefully that's all of the heavy stuff. Other cool things that have happened to me this year: I got a illustration commission from TivaWater (http://www.ordertivawater.com/) which has been immensely gratifying and challenging to complete. It's been an actual, real-life business experience, and it's been fantastic. I had the crazy experience of writing, producing, and starring in a musical- all within 48 hours. I attempted VEDA, which, while I didn't end up finishing it, was still a super fun and instructive experience (still haven't forgiven myself for losing the nashville footage). I went to prom and felt prettier than I have in my entire life (lbr i felt hot. like did u see those side cutouts). I've gotten to hang out with my stupidly amazing friends and watch way too much tv and look at the stars and make art and walk on the beach at night and learn new music and basically just have a really kickass senior spring and summer so far.Â
These next few months are going to be SO eventful and I'm so excited to start the next chapter of my life. I look forward to sharing it with you guys. Just, you know, probably on twitter most of the time rather than this blog ;)Â
Love you guys so so so much.Â
