2009 in a nutshell

January:

My 19th birthday (and getting stranded on the side of interstate 40)
Trips to Wilmington
second semester at Meredith
SNOW!!!!
Jamie found out she was pregnant with Charlie. :)

February:
Nana and PawPaw's 50th wedding anniversary party
Spring Break spent in bed with a bad case of the flu
Jeff Corwin came to Meredith

March:
Naam's birthday and movie party
Still taking trips to Wilmington.
The month in which I THINK Ally and John started dating....could have been February
Josh Gracin concert

April:
Fire and Water Dinner
Music Man
I went on Crutches for my knee
Shopping Trip and photoshoot with Lizzie, Sarah, and Jess

May:
Matthew's race
The Smothers Brothers
Semester ended
Figured out what I did to my knee and started treatment
Sarah's wedding

June:
Field of Dreams weekend
Summer swim meets start
Shopping trips with Lizzie and Sarah
Week in Richmond helping grandma Barbara move

July:
Seahawks have another undefeated season!!!!!
Sound of Music at Memorial Auditorium
Fun Meet and swim team banquet
Tales of the Kingdom summer theatre camp

August:
William and Jamie's baby shower
End of season water polo and swimming 2 week session
Father/Daughter Dance
School Starts up again
The Getty's show

September:
Contra dancing!!!!
William and Jenn's wedding
Declared my major
Sleepover with Jess
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus show

October:
Mary Katherine's 14th Birthday
Charlie is born!
A Day at Abigail's. :)
BA homecoming
NC State Fair with the best friends.

November:
Village Night
Cornhuskin' in which the sophomore class beat out the juniors!!!!! :)
Blind Side movie with Katrina and Jennifer
Hokies win the UVA/VT game....again. :)
Barn Dance

December:
TSO concert
Phantom of the Opera
Christmas with the family
Emily's 16th birthday celebration extraveganza

It's been an amazing year!!!!!! I can only hope 2010 is as awesome!
New Years Eve at Lizzie's. :)

Psalm 104

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
O LORD my God, you are very great;
you are clothed with splendor and majesty.

He wraps himself in light as with a garment;
he stretches out the heavens like a tent
and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters.
He makes the clouds his chariot
and rides on the wings of the wind.

He makes winds his messengers,
flames of fire his servants.
He set the earth on its foundations;
it can never be moved.

You covered it with the deep as with a garment;
the waters stood above the mountains.
But at your rebuke the waters fled,
at the sound of your thunder they took to flight;
they flowed over the mountains,
they went down into the valleys,
to the place you assigned for them.

You set a boundary they cannot cross;
never again will they cover the earth.

He makes springs pour water into the ravines;
it flows between the mountains.
They give water to all the beasts of the field;
the wild donkeys quench their thirst.
The birds of the air nest by the waters;
they sing among the branches.

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
and plants for man to cultivate—
bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens the heart of man,
oil to make his face shine,
and bread that sustains his heart.

The trees of the LORD are well watered,
the cedars of Lebanon that he planted.
There the birds make their nests;
the stork has its home in the pine trees.

The high mountains belong to the wild goats;
the crags are a refuge for the coneys.
The moon marks off the seasons,
and the sun knows when to go down.

You bring darkness, it becomes night,
and all the beasts of the forest prowl.
The lions roar for their prey
and seek their food from God.

The sun rises, and they steal away;
they return and lie down in their dens.
Then man goes out to his work,
to his labor until evening.

How many are your works, O LORD!
In wisdom you made them all;
the earth is full of your creatures.

There is the sea, vast and spacious,
teeming with creatures beyond number—
living things both large and small.
There the ships go to and fro,
and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there.

These all look to you
to give them their food at the proper time.

When you give it to them,
they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
they are satisfied with good things.

When you hide your face,
they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
they die and return to the dust.

When you send your Spirit,
they are created,
and you renew the face of the earth.

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;
may the LORD rejoice in his works-
he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

I will sing to the LORD all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the LORD.
But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.

Praise the LORD, O my soul.
Praise the LORD.

Learning to be content

One thing most people should know about me is that I am NOT a person who enjoys change. This week was no exception. I love snow, but unfortunately Raleigh didn't get more than an inch. This meant, however, that Virginia got a TON. Particularly where my cousins live in Manakin-Sabot. As of last night, they had 2 feet. Because of this little snow problem, it meant a change of plans. Our annual family Christmas party was last night. Because we don't have a four-wheel drive vehicle, like my Aunt Betsy, and we're not going to rent one like my Aunt Martha did, Daddy decided we would not be attending this years party.

For a few hours, I struggled with a lot of emotions. I finally realized that I could either let this setback ruin my weekend, or I could try and make it a fun weekend despite the setback. So I convinced my parents (who hate ballet) to go to Field of Dream's production of The Nutcracker. It was a VERY fun night. The ballet was fantastic. One of my friends, Matt, played piano during intermission, and was amazing as usual. Afterwards, we all stood around talking, and Lizzie and I decided to start singing since they do it in musicals all the time, and we thought it was time we were part of a real life musical. :)

Jessica rode with me from my house, so when we drove back we sat outside in the bed of my truck (in the cold) and had lots of deep conversations. And of course, one prank call (sorry, Neil!!!!). I love deep conversations. Somehow, I think they're a necessary part of life. All that to say is that this weekend wasn't entirely ruined... in fact, I think it might have been better than going to Virginia. I have the best friends in the entire world. I don't know what I would do without Lizzie, Sarah, Kara, Matt, Nathan, Jess....and everyone else that I'm leaving out. :P