This picture brings me a lot of peace because these were my best friends in high school. Being able to reconcile and just reconnect after years of anger stored up in my heart just showed me growth, but I also deeply missed these friends. This was just a random summer night and even though they hate pictures I managed to snag this one.
This is faithfulness in one picture. This is the community I prayed for, the community I didn’t know I needed and the community that saved me on this lonely campus. God has been so faithful to me and these people exemplify faith to me. It was a pleasure to walk with them.
September
This was in late September, really one of the last days that I could walk around with a short sleeve t-shirt. I’m so glad I was able to go out and enjoy the weather. Growing up in Colorado, I wasn’t that connected to the water, but going to Navy Yard and being able to see the water was really meditative. I got to spend a couple hours there with my friends and just talked about life and this school year.
January
This was my second time going to New York my sophomore year. It was planned so last minute, but I’m so thankful that I was able to go that weekend and see my church friends from back home.
I am so lucky to have found a roommate like Kira. I never once had to be worried about coming back to the room dirty or uncomfortable because she might be there. There aren’t a lot of people who have such a good experience with their roommates in college. To have met someone so kind and genuinely chill and loves films just made my college experience so much better. I can’t wait to see our European adventures and visit you in Prague!!!
March
This picture brings a lot of good memories but sour feelings in my heart. I miss my ROTC family a lot and wish things could have ended differently but I’m so glad to have gotten to know so many cool dedicated people. Running is by far my least favorite thing to do, but this was a special one.
This was, dare I say, the best sunset I had experienced all year. The sky just looked so wide in the DC sky. I could see everything from this rooftop: the US Capitol, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument. I felt like all hardships during the semester were lived for these moments.
I had never been one to have a lot of female friends before high school. God really switched the cards for me and gave me only ladies to look to in college and really I wouldn’t have it any other way. I haven’t laughed, cried, opened up, reflected, and lived more confidently than I have with these ladies. I am so encouraged by them and hope everyone can have a community like this.
This was the beginning of a friendship I had no plans for. This is one of the friendships in movies where you just start talking to someone in class and just become instant friends with. So thankful for easy going friends like Emily.
This was my sister’s first time travelling by herself. I was excited to show her around the city after she last visited like a year and a half before. This is when I realized how difficult I must have been for my parents and how confusing that age is for her. All in all, a trip that tested both our patience
This was one of the best concert experiences I’ve been to where everyone in the room knew every single lyric and I just had the most fun. I dropped everything to go with my close unnie and we were screaming and just having way too much fun that close to finals.
This was a trip I took with one of my first friends in college. We drove in the rainy weather to Annapolis which is about an hour (?) away and we just went around the city. It was a nice escape from the city and I’m really grateful to have a friend who was willing to do that with me.
This was a sunset taken from a plane on my way home for fall break. I never sit in the window seat, but with views like this I can’t imagine why I wouldn’t do it more.
Another concert that I went in with a lot of expectations. I saw this group earlier my freshman year and while I couldn’t see them again in DC, they came to my hometown. It was an energy I was so thankful to have experienced. It was my sister’s first concert and I hope it leads to a lot more.
This picture actually makes me really sad, but is just the biggest reminder of this year. These were bruises on my arms after Field Training. They were a lot worse during, but after coming home I was left with these overwhelming feelings of failure and every time I saw these bruises I was really…discouraged. I look back on this picture and remember all the feelings of this summer: failure, uncertainty, bitterness, misguided, betrayed, and disappointed. I hope one day I can look back on this picture and see growth, peace, and thanksgiving.
This was a new chapter in my college experience. It was a reminder to not be easily discouraged and to be flexible. Not everything is set in stone and that’s okay. To new friends and old.
God has opened my eyes to a lot of things this year. None of it was anticipated. He was, is, and will be good to me. I have a feeling 2020 is going to be a good year. Thank you to the support of everyone listed and to the many more that know you should be on this list. Thank you Lord for your love and I pray my efforts and struggles in 2020 are for you and your glory.
jleedoes.com 