All throughout today I spent time considering the events of the past year as well as how my life has changed just in the last 12 months. Since I don't have a journal that covers the entire year (this blog was begun in June), I looked at the next best thing for documenting my year: My digital picture albums. Just looking at all the albums I have (only a tiny fraction of them are posted online) I realized how much had happened for me in 2005.

Existing friendships grew deeper for me over the last year, and new ones were made because of school and other events. A lot of friendships were deepened because of times of sadness for people, but also out of times of joy and celebration. I realize that this year was the year that my friends were spread out the farthest away from me and from each other than in any other year. I counted that I visited no less than 8 states throughout the year to see friends. In 2006, I predict that that number will increase not just because people will be moving, but also because of new friendships developed.



This was also the year of the Projects. Sure, in school I had to do a lot of final projects every semester for almost every class, but in my free time I also surrounded myself with projects and hobbies ranging from 4 different project cars (3 Integras and a Corolla), to photography, to helping to remodel a building at ACC, to even trying to work on a macquarium (I lost interest on that one). Cars and photography will continue forward in 2006, but I think that macquarium is just gonna sit untouched in the garage.



Ultimately though, the biggest event in 2005 was the reminder and revelation that I need God. I realized that towards the end of 2004 and in the first half of 2005 I thought that I could do life all by myself without Him. Hardships and trials were done on my own. But God in His infinite grace rescued me from my pride and arrogance, reminding me of humility that is seen first and foremost in the Savior. I still struggle with it, of course, in fact, I probably have the worst problem with pride out of anyone I know. But through grace, I hope that I can continue to trust God in my life not just for 2006 but for years to come.

I don't know what this year will bring. To be honest, it is a little bit overwhelming. I should be graduating in only 5 months. After that, who knows where I will be. Even tonight I caught myself worrying about the future and trying to plan for every contingency that might occur. But God has already gone ahead of me and is paving the way.

 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

-Matthew 6:25-34