Less than Two Weeks Left...Say What?

So it is 12:51 PM and I finally am able to take a moment to just breathe and blog. Ever since coming back from Easter Break, I knew this week was going to be crazy, but I never thought the work could pile up so fast. I am an avid list maker, and as such, my obsessive need to write things down is out of control. There are post-it notes all over my planner, and I've tried to sync those with the calendar on my computer so I won't forget ANYTHING. I can only imagine what the next week and a half are going to be like if exams have not even started yet. It is so weird to think that two weeks from today, I will be home for the summer. Which means...Freshman year is over. Whew. Now I see what people mean when they say time flies. Follow my thought process(not an easy task to do, I know), and the next thing that comes to mind is how quickly I wished for this year to be here, and now it's nearly gone. My entire Senior year was spent stressing over college applications, high school transcripts, recommendation letters, and all of the other fun, tedious things that college brings. I remember thinking that move in day would never come-and now it's move out. Gosh, this is so strange! Even writing this now, I have to stop and think-really think-where this year went. Am I happy with the person I became this past year? Am I able to really pinpoint areas where I improved as a person, and could see God working in my life? Stay with me, next I started to think of where I was last year.

It was Aprilish, not exactly one year ago, but still..you get the general idea. I was counting down the days until graduation, one of the biggest days in a teenager's life. However, my family's world was rocked when my wonderful Daddy was diagnosed with cancer and scheduled for surgery in the less than a two week time period. Every day after his surgery was painful, but he managed to remain the strong Christian role model and Father figure that I have always viewed him as. The doctors told him one in a million people were diagnosed with the type cancer he had. One in a MILLION. We had no idea what the future held for him or the rest of us, and it made us all appreciate the time we're given on this earth, because goodness knows that nobody is guaranteed tomorrow. (I'm not trying to be morbid though, so let's move forward to the good stuff). As of his last doctors appointment, he is CANCER FREE! Looking back, I was able to weed out the people who really cared about our family, and who continually asked and prayed for Dad. Not only that, but we had meals for months thanks to our precious neighbors and sweet church family. I honestly do not think I could love my Daddy more than I do now, and it serves as a great reminder than God continues to work miracles in our every day lives.

Those turn of events definitely had the greatest impact on my year, and it was an adjustment for our whole family, but we are definitely stronger because of it.

Now, a year later, I am wondering how life could get any better. I love my life, even if it is stressful at (most) times.

Alright, alright, I'm done being sappy. It's been a looonnggg week, and this is the way I'm choosing to relieve my stress. Don't judge.

{Mom, Dad, Lauren and I at my graduation, May 2010}