Welcome to midnight.

Twenty five. Twenty four. Twenty three.

Let the countdown begin.

When the ball drops at midnight, it will all sink in.

Thinking back on the year and the regrets that you've made.

Not a single thing matters, not a moment you would trade.

On to the next year, what new memories you shall see.

Twenty two. Twenty one. Twenty.

New Years resolutions.

You've come to some conclusions.

Are you all you said you would be?

Another chance to learn to be free. 

Chance for new beginnings, there are plenty.

Nineteen. Eighteen. Seventeen.

Breathe in.

Let it out to blow away the sin.

Embrace the change.

Close your eyes as your thoughts rearrange.

Hope in the things unseen.

Sixteen. Fifteen. Fourteen.

A fresh start you've been given.

The feeling of what it's like to be forgiven.

There's no more looking back.

He promises to you, "You're right on track."

Here's to you, what a beautiful scene.

Thirteen. Twelve. Eleven.

It's all in the past.

Here's to hoping the feeling will last.

Don't go away.

He says to You, "I'm here to stay."

When things are rough, turn your face towards Heaven.

Ten. Nine. Eight.

The cheers are getting louder.

As we come closer to the hour.

Dreams of a better tomorrow.

Wipe away the pain and the sorrow.

Stop, stare, this is the moment, sit and wait.

Seven. Six. Five.

Think of the plans He has in store.

Another year closer to ending this war.

A brighter future for the next day.

As you think back, you begin to pray.

This is what makes you feel alive.

Four. Three. Two.

Setting goals for the future.

He has made you into such a beautiful creature.

One with a story that has just begun.

This is your promise, it is far from done.

In Christ, you are set free and made new.

One.

Welcome to midnight.

Embrace the new you.

 

A year in review...

As I sit on the Port Authority bus making my way into town for class, I am left to think about how crazy this past year has been. Now I could say that this year was a difficult one, but that would indicate being selfish, unappreciative, and just plain ungrateful. This year, I was blessed. It started at Geneva College. A city on a hill. Now looking back, I am so thankful for the opportunity and all of the people I met during my freshman year of college. That sentence in itself is one that I never expected to say. Savannah in college...HA. But I'm doing it. Slowly but surely. I was able to learn so much from all of my classes there. Not only was I able to learn about the Bible, but I was able to learn from my professors by the joy they had for ministry and art. At Geneva, I most definitely took things for granted. Now being in a public school and when my teachers use the "f bomb" all the time, I realized I should have been so thankful that all my professors shared the same beliefs as me. I also learned I should've appreciated the fact I could leave my MacBook alone at a booth in the Brig while I went to get lunch. At a public school? Yeah right, that sucker would be stolen in a heartbeat. Another thing Geneva taught me was this. Love. When I got off of the road from tour, it was absolutely the most difficult transition I ever had to make. Because of that, it made me have such a terrible attitude towards college itself. It was nothing against Geneva, I just couldn't find contentment being in one place...especially when that place is known as Beaver Falls. Even with such a poor attitude, my new classmates loved me unconditionally and I was blessed to have such incredible people become my new friends. I would've hated me if I had met me my first year of college. Another blessing was the blessing of my beautiful roommate Christine. Christine and I had known each other for quite some time because of church and small group, but I can definitely say I did not KNOW Christine. She seemed so quiet and shy when I had hung out with her previously. Our first week of college came along and it was clear we were going to be great friends. She made me laugh like none other and kept me sane an endless number of times. We became so close as friends that my family took her on vacation with us. Like most adult kids, we chose to go to Disney World, where dreams really do come true. Not only that, but we literally took a train to Harry Potter world. We made sure we tried to pretend it was the train leaving to Hogwarts from platform 9 and 3/4. Unfortunately, we weren't able to walk through a wall to get to it. Oh well. Spending vacation at every single park and standing in line with every single 5 year old to meet the princesses, I wouldn't have wanted anyone else there with me besides Christine to enjoy it and appreciate our childish ways. After vacation ended, I was also blessed to get asked to go back on the road for a week with Silver Ring Thing. One of my best friends, Daniel Moore, was also asked to come with making it that much more fun. You may ask what importance this has to anything, but this one week on the road changed my life in so many ways. After being back on the road, I realized how much I truly missed it and that it may be time for me to get back doing what I love...seeing thousands of lives changed for the Kingdom of God. That one week on the road changed everything. Realizing that a 4 year college was not my cup of tea, I chose to transfer schools and enroll in the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for an Associates Degree in photography. And let me tell you, I love it. I discovered that I did not dislike college itself, but I disliked "college life." Commuting from home has been awesome. I get to be downtown everyday, adventure in the city, and go home to sleep in my own bed in my own bedroom. Before college started, I went to Ocean City, Maryland with some of my best friends as a way to celebrate my 21st birthday. Spending a weekend away from everything and just enjoying smiles and laughs with friends was a perfect start to my 21st. On my actual 21st, I enjoyed a night out with all my loved ones at the Cheesecake Factory where I ordered a Shirley Temple. It was a grand time. Another thing that happened is I grew up some and got a job. I got hired at a bridal shop where the owner had such a kind heart, but bridezillas, they are very much a real thing. And mother of the brides? Yeah, they're crazy too. So I chose to get a new job at a place that everyone knows and loves. If you're addicted to caffeine, yes. I got a job at Starbucks. I had no idea how great of a job opportunity it was until I started getting a ton of things in the mail about benefits and such that only my parents know what they mean. It's a great job and I am so thankful for the friends I have made with all the other baristas.
I love them all dearly and I am honored to be a part of another family. Well, as my year comes to a close, I've discovered how blessed I truly am. I have a roof over my head, a bed to keep me warm, a job to survive, and a loving family as well as incredible friends. When you learn to humble yourself and live selflessly, you are able to learn how blessed you truly are. I'm still learning, but I do know that blessed is the understatement of the year. Here's to 2014. LORD, send me.

Some late night poetry...

I chose to keep a lock on my heart.
Refusing to let You in.
What do You mean I can have a fresh start?
Have You not heard of my sin?

I was so afraid of what You might see.
The horror of it all was You finding out the real me.
And there was absolutely no way that I could ever let that be.

You tell me I'm forgiven.
You tell me that I'm still loved.
Even when You had to prove it by the spilling of Your blood.
God, but I don't deserve it!
I don't deserve to know Your love!

Why....me....?
Can't You see?
I can't be free!
This baggage I carry is too much for me!

I can't give You the key.
At least I thought I couldn't.
But that's when I realized...I just wouldn't.

You still desire for this shattered heart of mine.
Are You sure that it's fine?
I mean I know it's not divine.
I'm sorry for doubting You when You turned water into wine.
I know now that it was all Your design.

You created me perfectly.
And I apologize for living carelessly.
Forgive me Father for I now know what's best.
To follow Your path and to never forget that
I. Have. Been. Blessed.