A Heart Abandoned: 2010: a year in review

2010 held a lot of ups & downs for me...a lot of firsts & even more lasts, as well as several milestones. let's review, shall we?

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one. Passion 2010. still one of the best few days of ~~the year~~ life. that favorite sermon that I told you about way back when & said I just couldn't get it out of my head? yep...still think about it all the time. just ask my Bible study girls...pretty sure I reference it quite frequently. [1 & 3] got to spend the few days of Passion with these lovelies. [2] my favorite part of worship. my calf muscles may have paid for days after dancing/singing to this song.

two. my last recruitment (as a collegian, that is). [1] Marie Ford Palmer (who, in our minds, is basically famous) came to our recruitment! what a surprise! [2] my favorite family picture from that weekend...too bad Cait was pi chi-ing. [3] for some reason, we take great pictures like this. [4] 1st family picture with new family members! welcomed Rachel & Katie!

three. my 23rd birthday. we won't talk about a certain unfortunate incident that took place on that day, or where the day was spent...we'll just say that I got to spend all day long with one of my favorite people on earth & wouldn't have had it any other way. [pic] came home past midnight on my birthday after getting ready for the last night of recruitment. & found this wonderful little surprise. oh, how I love these girls & that it was important to them to make my birthday special, even during one of the busiest weekends of our year. p.s. see how Brandi's knitting even during the picture? she fell asleep that night, needles in hand. I just took her picture & covered her up :)

four. snow! probably the best snow we had during my college years. enough that we got several days out of school & went sledding on the drill field...marked that off my bucket list. that was such a fun day with some of my favorites.

five. my last initiation. I love Alpha Gam's initiation. it is such a sweet service that reminds me of so many reasons why I love Alpha Gam & why I know without a doubt that God placed me among those girls. alpha gam was a huge part of my college experience, but gave me friends that are still a major part of my life. sisters that I know I can count on for anything. sisters that have challenged me & made me want to be better in every aspect of my life. joining Alpha Gam on March 4, 2006 was one of the best decisions I ever made. [pic] my little branch of the family tree on Rachel's initiation day. those girls have such a big piece of my heart.

six. some random last college days. [1] AGD family. [2] Ruby Hollow friends. [3] family at IRD.

seven. last Alpha Gam formal. we had so much fun that day getting ready. we set up big mirrors in front of the tv downstairs so we could watch Bones the whole time we were getting ready. this is when Cait & I were catching up with the seasons on dvd. then we went to formal, ate great food, & I'm pretty sure left around 9 & went to Sara & Melea's for a fun game night.

eight. my senior spotlight - the night I'd both looked forward to & dreaded since my freshman year. this is when your family makes a slideshow of your college years, talks about you, tells stories, etc. and if you're like me my whole family, that night involves some tears. my big, Jessi came up to surprise me that night, but other than that, I didn't know any of those girls on stage when I first joined Alpha Gam. or even during "take 1" of my time at North Georgia (long story). I met all of them during take 2...& had no idea they would become such important parts of my life.

nine. graduation. sigh. the day I'd worked toward for five years finally came! the actual ceremony was pretty awful. pretty sure Charlie Brown's teacher could've given a better commencement speech. but it was quick & we got out of there & had my entire family & quite a few friends crammed into my little apartment for coffee & desserts. I loved having my whole family see where I'd spent the majority of my college years & get to know that little piece of my life. and then began the never-ending job search...

ten. 2nd annual tsf beach trip! in 2009, we were able to get away for a few days right before Em's wedding, & were so excited to do the same before Case's. I love any time I get to spend with these girls, but especially a few days in a row, off by ourselves with no schedules to worry about. these three women are a huge part of why I am who I am.

eleven. going to the chapel. again. June 12, 2010 we married off another one of "us." so glad to see Case & Ryan finally become husband & wife...these two truly enjoy living life together & it's such a beautiful thing to see. glad for "that Shostak boy" to officially be a part of our "family."

twelve. ASP. my first mission trip with my "new" church (new when you consider that I went to my other church for almost 23 years). [pic] this is our little team with Veronica (in the Edward shirt) on the back porch that we built her. we were able to make tons of changes that week to make Veronica's life a little easier & hopefully show her the love of Jesus.

thirteen. ASP is where McKinlie & I became friends. and then were rarely seen apart of the rest of the summer. this girl is my heart put into a 15-year-old's body. you know that song that says "I see a generation rising up to take it's place"? well...that's her. what we have is such an unlikely friendship, but is exactly what I needed & am blessed to have every single day.

fourteen. toward the end of the summer, I started my Bible study with these girls. they are why I look forward to Wednesdays. they challenge me & make me search for answers & also make me laugh til I cry.

fifteen. this picture was taken the day Cait stopped in Madison on her way through town. we hadn't seen each other in awhile, so it was great to be able to catch up in person...but she was really there to tell me what I'd known since May: that she was going to marry Cosbie Hollenbeck. I'm always happy when my friends find the ones they're going to spend their lives with...but Cait & I have some special connection. I feel like she understands my heart better than probably anyone. we've had a lot of the same struggles, but also the same triumphs. so you can see why it's going to be such a joyful celebration on May 21, 2011 when she becomes Mrs. Caitlin Hollenbeck.

sixteen. oh yeah &...this year, I decided (on a whim) to become a runner. wouldn't call myself one, but I'm working on it... [pic] Jessie, Michelle, Mama, & me after ~~our~~ my first 5k. have run another (with much great success) since then & plan on running many more.

seventeen. my first Gold Rush as an alum! this may not seem like a big deal, but Gold Rush is one of my absolute favorite times of year in Dahlonega & it was such a treat to be able to go up for it this year & see some of my favorite girls. [1] pledge class '06! [2] Ruby Hollow 214 residents :)