Keeping The Faith: Auld Lang Syne

Auld Lang Syne

I check the blogs I like to read pretty regularly, but the past few months I haven't posted on my own. I don't know if I was being lazy or just didn't feel like I had anything interesting enough to talk about. It is only a few days until 2012 and this year more than any other, I feel excited to start a new year. 2011 was a rough year for me and lots of huge transitions. I looked up the translation of "Auld Lang Syne", the New Years song of choice, and it means roughly "for (the sake of) old times." I kind of take this to mean remembering the past with fondness while looking forward to the future eagerly. In 2011 I started my last semester of college, I made new friends at CNU that are some of my best friends now, I got a new little (and grandlittle!) in my Phi Mu family, I went to Costa Rica for a fun/relaxing spring break, I graduated from CNU, moved back to Roanoke, served as a nanny at Sharp Top for a month, became a substitute teacher, started leading Young Life at my high school and got accepted into grad school.

Leaving CNU was the hardest thing I had to do all year. It is still hard being away from my friends there and missing being in that environment. I cherish my visits up there more than anything.

I look forward to 2012 to start anew and set some goals to strive toward. I wrote a letter of sorts kind of describing my hopes for next year. Here is my main goal:
"I will live for the Lord and do all things to glorify him. I will use self control and discipline to prevent myself from doing things that displease the Lord. I will stop doing things I know I shouldn’t just because I feel satisfaction. I will stop living in the past. I will live in the moment and know that my future is in the hands of the Lord and that he has a master plan for my life."

Some other goals I have set for myself:
* Read my 1 year Bible
* Become a member of my church (I'm starting the new member class mid January)
* Run DC Half Marathon (March) or Charlottesville Half Marathon (April)
* Run Va Beach Half Marathon (September) in memory of my friend Erik who passed away after running it in 2009.
* All A's in Grad classes

Have you set any goals for yourself? Happy New Year!

2011 in pictures