28 things I learned in 2014.

2014 has been a big year. There's been a lot of change. There's been a lot of growth. Between my last semester at Cornerstone, my trip to South Africa & Zimbabwe, my summer, and my first semester at Cedarville University, I've learned a lot about myself.


I learned that I......


1. Don't hate every kind of tea. I like two kinds: African roiboos and peach green.

2. Am able to run more than two miles. (I see you laughing. Stop. This is an accomplishment for me.)

3. Am really bad at Greek grammar. I survived that class by memorizing vocab and making educated guesses.

4. Can survive hours out in the blazing sun in a line full of budging people trying to cross the border from South Africa to Zimbabwe.

5. Can survive sleeping on a floor covered with black beetles.

6. Can survive living in a tent, collecting our own water and firewood, and having no communication with the outer world.

7. Can survive an African red wasp sting (Seriously...I have never been stung by anything in my life and I had no clue if I was allergic. So of course the first time I get stung is in the middle of the wilderness of Zimbabwe.)

8. Can survive walking to a long-drop toilet -- also the popular hang-out place of several bats -- in the pitch black. (Obviously Africa taught me that I can survive a lot of things...)

9. Still hate fish. Especially when I'm eating them complete with their scales and eyeballs.

10. Don't like lamb intestine. No surprise there. (These things were also courtesy of Africa.)

11. Am very small. Laying on top of a mountain and seeing millions of stars complete with the Milky Way coloration will put you in your rightful place.

12. Can fake being confident while giving a speech to the Head of School, Director of Development, Upper School Principal, Lower School Principal, and Spiritual Life Director. And then come up with on-the-spot answers to their questions. (My heart still beats a little fast when I think about it.)

13. Know some generous people. Graduation was like Christmas on steroids. Times one hundred.

14. Am not very good at making face masks. There might have been an incident where oatmeal and honey ended up all over the floor...and it wasn't even my floor. This was supposed to be a "fun babysitting activity"...

15. Must be doomed to go to school out in the middle of cornfields. Out of the frying pan, into the fire.

16. Thought I lived in the windiest state. Until I moved to Ohio.

17. Can never seem to escape smelling like Chuck's. (No, I'm not talking about a person. That's what Cedarville's cafeteria is called.)

18. Can eat cereal for dinner and nobody actually cares. And regardless of whether they cared or not, I can do what I want.

19. Am able to live in a dorm room the size of a large closet. WHILE sharing it with someone else.

20. Need to set more than two alarms each morning. There might possibly have been times that I missed my 8 AM class.....buuuuut I still got an A, so how much does it really matter?

21. Never remember how long to cook Ramen or popcorn (that popcorn button is deceptive...I thought I could trust it, but of course it burnt my food). So sticky notes on the microwave are a necessary thing.

22. Got a really great education from my high school. Even though I'm going to a rigorous university, the classes have seemed pretty easy so far (although they take a LOT of time).

23. Can operate for 18 hours after having only 4 hours of sleep the night before. And those 18 hours can consist of taking a final and getting a 97% on it, moving all of my belongings from one dorm room to another, setting up all my stuff, and actually having coherent conversations with people.

24. Need Jesus. A lot. This year has definitely humbled me and made me aware of my brokenness at a much deeper level than any other year.

25. Still struggle with so much idolatry and self-centeredness. But God has been faithful not just to reveal my sin, but also to show me that his grace is sufficient and he is more beautiful than anything else my heart could desire.

26. Am secure. My identity is wrapped up in who God is and who he declares me to be -- his beloved daughter.

27. Can trust my Father. He is so much bigger and more sovereign than I could ever imagine, and yet he is so much more personal and loving than I could ever imagine.

28. Have a lot more learning and growing to do. 2015 is going to be another big year!