Farewell 2013

2013 was the year:

• I student taught
• I graduated from college
• I received my first full-time job offer
• I accepted my first full-time job
• I moved out of my childhood home
• I relocated 3.5 hours away from my relatives
• I lived in my first apartment by myself
• I became a teacher
• I finally became an aunt
• I started my life as an adult

I think on the past year fondly remembering how I was directed and guided by God through major life steps and decisions. All good things must come to a close, so I bid this year farewell, and I anxiously anticipate the coming year of 2014 to see how the Lord will continue to lead and direct me.

Climb Every Mountain

If you haven't heard about The Sound of Music, Live!, then you've been living under a rock for the past month. I was unable to watch the premier performance as it was a Thursday night, and my cable hadn't been set-up yet.

After I finished my four-hour present wrapping this afternoon, I switched from Neflix to cable to see what I could have on as I cleaned my apartment. Lone behold, NBC was replaying The Sound of Music, Live! I could not pass up this opportunity. I've now been watching it for almost three hours, and, of course, singing along to all the songs. It's not horrible. In fact, I'm enjoying it, but, I am a complete and utter romantic at heart. As I love The Sound of Music deeply, I'm desperately trying to ignore the poor acting, the stilted speech, and Carrie Underwood's strained singing while not comparing it every second to the original. My mind, however, has been running a comparison the whole time.

I've found a part which is just as good if not better than the original movie--when Audra McDonald sings Climb Every Mountain. I had watched the clip earlier, and it completely stole my breath. As I was listening this stanza would not stop repeating in my brain, and it brought tears to my eyes as I watched it again:

A dream that will need 
All the love you can give, 
Every day of your life 
For as long as you live. 

I like to think I'm not the person who pulls random connections from all over, but do it, and one sprang to mind as I watched the clip--my job. This dream, that I'm living, needs all the love and patience I have in me. Whatever I do in life, I want it to be a dream that needs all the love I can give. Love is a precious, and I want to be able to give all the love I've been given to those who are put into my life.

Grandma and Pappy

I spent this morning at a nursing home where we served tea, coffee, and hor d'oeuvres to 20 or so elderly ladies. I always enjoy spending time with the elderly as they have so much to share and usually they can't wait to share it.

As I was listening to one lady, my eyes started to fill as memories of Grandma and Pappy popped into my mind, and I realized how life has changed since they died. No more trips to St. Anne's over Christmas break to spend time with them. No more cheating Uno games. No more seeing their eyes light up as their grandchildren played for them. No more reminiscing about "the old days." I struggled with thoughts and tears as I spent time with those dear elderly ladies. I loved hearing about their lives, but for some reason it only reminded me of my dear grandparents. I wanted to see my Grandma and hear her laugh. I wanted to walk with my Pappy and hear him sing and scat.

As I type, I'm becoming choked up again as even more thoughts and memories flood my mind. The tears and memories don't upset me because it is sweet to recall and reflect on the dear years I had with them. As I sit hear remembering, I cling to the precious thought that I will see them again, one day soon.