It's a new year.

Well, it's officially 2014 and I still can't decide if I'm excited or in denial. I think more the former.

***

At the start of each year, we tend to make resolutions and lists. January 1st marks the beginning, and for many, the chance to start over, hit the refresh button, and be the person we wish we had been during the last year. This time it's for real. I'm serious this time. All things I have said before and honestly, I have been finding myself saying it again this year. 

Why do we say these things? 

Something about those words just doesn't sit right with me.

***

In light of the New Year, I have chosen to not only make a list of goals, but I am choosing to also celebrate 2013. It certainly was a BIG and exciting year, and rather than thinking about all I wish I had done, I want to remember it as a time of fullness and blessing. 

My life in 2013:

+ I landed a grown-up job!

+ I spent time with 3 kiddos who are more family than just another baby-sitting job.

+ I enjoyed spring break with my closest friends.

+ I ran a half-marathon.

+ I graduated from college.

+ I bought a car.

+ I moved to a new city.

+ I made new friends.

+ I visited 3 new cities (Tulsa, St. Louis, Indianapolis).
+ I started graduate school.

+ I taught high schoolers for a whole semester. (Whew!)

More importantly:

+ I learned to really value friends & family.

+ I learned how to say goodbye. 

+ I learned to understand the importance of keeping in touch.

+ I started learning how to ask questions and how important it is to really understand/value grace.

+ I learned more and more about relying on God's purpose and plans: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand." Proverbs 19:21

+ I realized (for the 100th time) that I am not perfect - but my God is perfect.

2013, you were too good to me.

Friendship

Maybe I'm sad about graduating - or getting there, anyway.

Maybe I'm just on one of those emotional roller coaster rides that comes around every so often and isn't really justified. (Or I'm just a girl and, let's be real, I'm always emotional.)

Maybe I have just suddenly become "older" and "wiser" and now see the value in things I once took for granted.

Regardless of my current situation and state of mind (or the fact that it's almost midnight and way past my bedtime), I am feeling overwhelmed by my friendships.

Not in a bad way. No, in a very good way.

+ + +

Friendships have always been something on which I have placed a lot of weight, and at times, have relied on too much, regardless of being the independent person that I am. (Let's be honest; it's nice to be surrounded by people who want to be around you!) It has only been within the last few years, I think, that I have seen a clearer picture of what real, genuine friendships are like.

+ + +

Friends have come and gone in my life. Some friendships last a month, others last a year, and still others last years and years and years.

I don't really know what it is about friendship that makes it so meaningful. Scratch that; I know why friendships mean so much to me, but putting these thoughts and feelings into words is way too difficult.

Maybe that's why friendship is so special -- It's one of those largely inexplicable things in life. A thing that makes life so sweet; worthwhile; fun; joyful; emotional. It is a way to genuinely share life with other people. It is community at its finest; fellowship with another being - a living, moving, breathing, soulful being.

It is encompassed in those late night conversations about anything and everything, silly and serious. It is sharing your struggles, fears, joys, and daily happenings. It is speaking truth in love. It is telling a friend that one small thing you found funny about your day that only they would understand. It is unexplained laughter that you just can't seem to stifle. It is sharing tears and prayers, meals and celebrations, chaos and stillness.

+ + +

I am overwhelmed in this moment as I reflect on my friendships of long ago. And the sweetness of knowing that some of them have lasted through the years (despite miles, schedules, and life paths in general) - that brings joy to my heart.

And the deep bond I experience with friends who are close by; who surround me literally everyday with love and encouragement; who I can interact with like sisters and speak openly and honestly in their presence.....

It is so, so obvious to me that this is one of the things we were created for. And I am incredibly thankful for that.

+ + +

"The friendship is not a reward for our discriminating and good taste in finding one another out. It is the instrument by which God reveals to each of us the beauties of others."

C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Life Lately

[snippets of life & a few favorite finds]

1. My Utmost for His Highest | Oswald Chambers | "Our lives should be an absolute hymn of praise resulting from perfect, irrepressible, triumphant belief."

2. Forever Like That | Ben Rector



3. Beautiful old & new friends. Who introduced me to the above song when we (unashamedly) went to see Breaking Dawn Part 2 on opening night.

4. DC visit with these girls...

...and this guy.





















5. Family time.

6. Thanksgiving at The Slant with the roomies + friends (aka "Slantsgiving")

7. A new city post graduation: Indianapolis, IN



8. Next on the list to read: Counsel from the Cross | Elyse Fitzpatrick | (psychology AND the gospel!)

9. Favorite drink of the season. (probs shouldn't actually read the nutrition facts)

10. Only 3 more days!

The "Mem Jar"

In my previous post, I included a picture with the caption "The Trip ate lots of Yopo and cracked open the Mem Jar." If you are not one of the people who were specifically involved in this occasion, the chances that you know what the heck I am talking about are slim to none. I have wanted to explain this for a while (because it's so awesome), so now's my chance!

The Trip

"The Trip" is the name that my roommates from junior year (Amy and Dana) and I gave to the room where we lived. It was a triple - made for 3 people - in Old West, right next to the Old Well, and is arguably the BEST place to live if you choose to remain on campus. Over the course of the year, "the Trip" came to mean much more than just the physical location in which we lived, but it essentially became a label for the 3 of us. Our friends would invite "the Trip" to go watch a movie or to go get ice cream, etc. and we still tend to refer of our outings together as "Trip dates."

A perk of living in Old West was that we were SO CLOSE to Franklin St. And what better way to take advantage of this closeness than to visit Yopo a lot. And by "a lot" I mean all the time. We pretty much became regulars. (It's yogurt so it's healthy, right?) I have no regrets of the fact that my junior year was defined by lots of Yopo outings.

Our view from Old West

So now for the "Mem Jar." Over the summer before junior year began, I came across this on Pinterest. Thinking it was a neat (and yes, cheesy) idea, I decided that my roommates and I should do it throughout the school year. I had no idea whether or not it would really catch on and happen, but it did! We deemed it the "Mem Jar" and throughout the year we filled it with fun things that happened, sweet things that friends did for us, notes to each other, exciting occasions, hilarious quotes, pictures, newspaper articles, and even a few embarrassing things that the public will (hopefully) never see. Everything in the jar related to one or all three of us. We promised to open the Mem Jar together one day at the end of the year and celebrate with Yopo (obviously).

The Mem Jar explosion

Unfortunately, the Mem Jar Date day had to wait until we returned to school as seniors, but it did eventually happen and we were able to go purchase the long-awaited pints of Yopo. (We also played Friends in the background while we were opening the jar, because that also was a staple of our junior year.) That night was so fun and full of many, many laughs (and maybe a few happy tears?) as we reminisced about our time together in Old West - when we grew so close through the happy, fun, memorable times, as well as the hard and stressful times. I am forever grateful for the time Amy, Dana, and I spent living together in the Trip, and love that "the Trip" has lived on, even past our time when we were crammed together in a dorm room.

Mem Jar + Yopo pints

Here's to a senior year full of as many memories as junior year - maybe even more than the Mem Jar can contain :)

Love, Kayla

Snapshots of Senior Year

Senior year is well underway. In fact, there are only 7ish weeks left until the fall semester is OVER. What?!?? My last year as a Tar Heel undergrad is proving to be much busier than anticipated, but of course, I'm still loving it! (Minus the actual school work - senioritis? I refuse.)

Here are some snippits of senior year at the Hill so far:

Cornerstone Hoedown (freshmen year friends!)

dear friends celebrating a 21st bday!

Senior ladies at Fall Retreat

Memphis reunion

football season!

Roommates of The Slant!

The Trip ate lots of Yopo and cracked open the Mem Jar!

Bible Study sleepover & Pizooki night

I played "mom" for a weekend with this cutie and 2 others

we went to the State Fair...and covered ourselves in obnoxious stickers

Fall Break in DC!!

Private tour of the Capitol :)

And then we beat State. Happy happy day!