What a year can do...

I probably sound like a broken record when I keep saying that this year has been the best year of my life! I cannot put into words how amazing it has been.  As I sit at home in my old room again, it feels like it never happened.  But no matter how far I am or for how long, I can never forget the year that blessed me so much.  The place, the friends, the memories, and the journey.  

It seems like just yesterday I was graduating from high school and worried out of my mind about the year ahead.  I would have never imagined the things that would happen and the way everything turned out.  I never knew that by taking a leap of faith and going out of my comfort zone that I would find so much more and find myself.  

APU is the greatest place on earth.  Not many people would say that they would rather be at school.  EVerything about the school is perfect for me.  The teachers and classes are amazing and the atmosphere is even better.  I am so blessed to go to a school that finds the experience just as important as the textbooks.  I have never been to a place where I feel most comfortable in my own skin.  They make it easy to live out your faith and to learn how you can grow in that relationship.  I have been so encouraged over this past year to get to know myself and where I stand with the Lord, and I couldn't be happier.  APU has helped my faith grow more than I expected and supports it in every aspect.  The campus gives me opportunity to grow and to help other grow closer to the kingdom of God, which I believe is the best quality of a school.

Not only is APU the greatest place on earth, but it holds the most wonderful people I have ever meet.  I have not met many people there that I do not like.  EVeryone is so kind and it's easy to see that it's from the heart.  I never expected to be thrown onto a campus where there are so many genuine hearts.  EVery acquaintance is a pleasure.  APU holds the people who I have formed the absolute best relationships with!  There are a select few who I have grown so close to that I can see us together the rest of our lives.  Our relationships are so pure and trustworthy.  We laugh and we cry together and we know deep down we are sisters for life.  It took me by surprise how quickly I developed these lasting relationships, but these are my girls for life.  

I know God brought me to California this year for a reason, and I saw it all play out in front of me.  He has blessed me with the most amazing freshman year I could have ever asked for.  He has taught me so much and I don't want any more than to follow in His plans for me.  I cannot put this year into words, so I will just end with a huge thank you!!!!

Goodbyes

People always say we only part to meet again. This may be true in this case, but I know that doesn't mean saying goodbye is any easier.  Things will be changing and there is nothing we can do to stop it.  It may not be for the worst, but it is bittersweet.  To say goodbye is always hard, especially when those people mean so much to you.

This week is the end of my freshman year, and without a doubt the end of the best year of my life.  I am saying goodbye to a dorm I can honestly call home and friends that I definitely consider my family.  I have survived one full year away from my home state and I don't regret it one bit.  But now as I'm heading back home, I remember how I never wanted to leave and now I see how foolish that was.  I took the biggest risk I have ever taken and it turned out to be the best thing I have ever done.  

I will miss this year so much. The days where all fifty-two of my friends were just down the hall,  the others right downstairs.  How close we all lived and could stay up for hours talking in our lobby.  I will miss this closeness and every memory we have made.  As excited as I am for next year, there will always be a part of me that will long for this freshman year.  

I have to keep reminding myself that I will see all my loves in four months, but that seems like a lifetime.  There is no doubt that I will shed tears as we say our goodbyes, two down and many more to go.  I know there will be times at home when I just want to be with my friends, but in time we will be reunited which I know will be the BEST feeling in the world.  God has so much more planned for us in these years ahead, and we've only just begun.  I pray that even as we are apart we will continue to grow in our friendships and make them last!  I love all my APU friends so much and could not see my life now without them.  They are amazing and God has blessed me so tremendously with these friendships.  

I will never forget the beginning of this year when we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into.  When we became to figure out that this could work. And now when we know that four months apart will kill.  This has been a wonderful year thanks to all of you!