back on tumblr sorry

http://waitingtoland.tumblr.com

2011 #3 - Overall

sorry, that was a lame joke.

well, 2011 definitely exceeded my expectations. I was very hesitant about letting go of 2010 because it was such a great year. But 2011 ended up being just as good, and better in some respects. I did a lot of growing this year, and God took me to new places I never thought I'd be. 2011 brought a lot of changes, some good, and some bad. After this year, some things will never be the same. People change, situations change, and you have to learn not to hold them back, or to even want to. it's part of life; you'll never move forward if you don't change. That's a big thing I've learned. I used to be dead set against change, but it really is healthy.

I am ready for 2012, because I just like the idea of a fresh start, even though a fresh start can happen this very second. A new year just makes a seemingly thicker wall between the present and the past, if you ask me. It's all in my head, I know. Anyway, here's to a great year. I hope everyone knows that even if you blew it in 2011, which I did, many times, you can always start over. There's always a new day, there's always forgiveness. But don't wait.

JGL JGL JGL

some of you may remember my Joseph Gordon-Levitt post from last year, although I don't know why I think anyone's reading. I've mostly been blogging to amuse myself anyway.

ANYWAY. A couple good friends on facebook have posted this video of him and zooey singing a song, I'm guessing they wrote? I DIDN'T KNOW HE SANG AND PLAYED GUITAR TOO. That makes him even more perfect. 

*ahem*

oh and zooey's lovely, too, as always!

2011 #2 - top 10

Top 10 moments/events of 2011!

Wow, this ain't gonna be easy. I'll probably be working on this post for a while and changing/rearranging. I'm excited to see what the final product's gonna be!

10. the first "the dwelling" service! great day. eating at fuji with the band, then getting to play on stage, and everyone being so welcoming--it was fun. I think all the dwelling services can go in the number 10 slot.

9. when a couple guys from our youth band and a few of us from our school band went and played at a church and ate at an awesome japanese place after--it was a fun trip!

8. visiting my cousins, they love us, and we love them! saying goodbye was so sad, though.

7. the worship team christmas party when jordan was dressed up as santa, he was hilarious, and I realized I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time. it was a fun night, and I forgot about school for awhile, which was nice.

6. when I went snow tubing with the youth! it was very fun, I got to hang out with dalton, reagan, and madi! I still remember some funny stuff from mcdonalds! "is she NAKED??" madi freaked out but the lady was just wearing an orange shirt that looked like skin color. hahaha. 

5. that one day where our church had a cookout and we played soccer…it was just a good day :)

4. here's a combination one -- the first band practices of the 5th/6th grade ministry band, the youth band, and the sunday morning band. they were all great!

3. the day I went rock climbing and swimming with the youth--the rock climbing was strenuous and it was burning hot in there, so naturally we couldn't wait until we could go swimming. once we did, my friend jon-jon and I were having a water treading contest, and I'm pretty sure we didn't stop for about 45 minutes. so much pain. we called a truce. then, I got to partake in a fun jam session with some friends from the band. I played an organ for the first time, but it was one of those electric ones so it was basically like a piano.

2. the day at high school retreat when I played piano and sang worship songs for 2 hours and lost my voice--pretty self-explanatory. I was on that piano for probably half of the trip, if not more.

1. the night God rocked my world--we were in the "small room" and during worship, the band was playing "How He Loves" and I was just worshiping, then our (former) worship leader and a lady named julie both were talking about God's amazing love, and I just started crying. it was awesome because I caught just the smallest glimpse of His love for us. 

Alright, tomorrow will be the last!

2011 #1 - month by month

WOW. I can't believe this year is already OVER! I can still remember with all five senses this time last year. I mean wow. I'm amazed at how fast this year went by. I could say 'wow' a few more times, but I'll spare you.

I did 4 end-of-year posts last year [changes/month by month/top 10 moments/recap], and I'm not really sure how many I'll do this year. I'm thinking 3 or 4.

Here's a month by month recap of 2011--the best and worst of each month:

January

• that evil book project for comp & research that kept me feeling stressed for weeks until it's over. it feels so good to talk about it now that it's over! muahaha.
• I got my restricted license! I was SO worried about it, but I passed the driver's test and I'm so glad I did, because this year would've been a lot different if I wouldn't have been able to drive myself places!
• ah yes, this was the month of what I called Christmas Break Part Deux--when it snowed one night and we were out for a week. it was GREAT. I loved it and barked at all the kids who were complaining about being home.
• oh. the month where I found out some bad news that made me hate a state (even more than I already did) and be sad a lot.
• the month where I wrote one of my favorite songs "Out of My Hands" where I did the best job I've ever done of expressing my feelings in a song.
• this was also when we played Jeopardy in youth and when the sound booth became my second home!

February 

• this was the month when I started leading the 5th-6th grade ministry praise band, which ironically doesn't have any 5th or 6th graders in it. but it's really fun, although frustrating when the sound system decides to somehow mess up every time we play.
• apparently I went to winter jam in february! I remember it vaguely. I loved getting to see david crowder band live.
• one of the coolest nights ever happened in february--during worship in youth God showed me just a glimpse of how amazing His love is and I was crying like a baby. it was amazing.

March

• my birthday! it was simple, as usual, but it was really awesome because one of my favorite families in the world surprised me by coming to my family get-together. it was so special.
• I participated in the Tomorrow Song project. it ended up being another of my favorite songs I've written.
• the Forget You chemistry project! (you can watch here)

April (apparently a jam-packed month)

• ugh I'll never forget that one video I watched that made me wanna puke.
• the sophomore sleepover! it was really fun, and I hope we do a junior sleepover.
• ooh the week I named Freak Week was in april. I remember walking into Ms. K's class for study hall on that Tuesday and she was like "Lee, are you ok?" I lied and said yeah, but I was about to lose it. it was just a stressful week, but obviously it was all ok eventually!
• oh and I got my braces off this month--BIG deal haha
• this was the month the youth moved from the small room back to the big room. I was very upset about this because I loved the small room and how it brought us all together. I got over it, but I still have hopes of going back in there :)
• this was also the month I finally started playing in the youth band! I'm so glad I did. I love it.
• and last, but not least, this was the first time our school praise band played at my church. it went amazing, and no one messed up except me when I started playing the 4th song instead of the 3rd. it was bad. and I hate thinking about it, so I'll stop.

May

• I believe this was the month of the royal wedding? I don't know. I watched some of it, but I don't understand all the hype.
• Just a side note, just looking at my journal from May, I was so in tune with the Lord. I need to get back on that.
• The first time I ever witnessed a wedding proposal in person. it was SO sweet. the sweetest thing I've ever seen.

June

• ooh this month was a roller coaster, I do recall.
• the first "the dwelling" service!
• our night of worship in the youth
• when I got my mac!!!
• when I started my first babysitting job that lasted all summer

July

• when I started the handful of sporadic voice lessons I've taken
• included a few sad days I remember well
• the first time I led a worship song!

August

• refuge beach retreat!
• probably the most awful thing that's ever happened to me, a fire ant attack that made my foot swell up for like 3 days
• cross country camp where I ran the most and hardest of my life
• when I had a Job moment with God haha, something I'm not likely to forget
• when I got a tumblr for a little while
• the beginning of a new season that ended up being very healthy

September

• highschool retreat!!! best one yet in my opinion! (I'll elaborate on it in my next post)
• the first time I watched the Notebook. I used to make fun of girls who went on and on about it, but it really is freaking sad.
• PR'd in cross country and won a race!
• the first time I led a song at school (see you at the pole)

October

• when I regrettably started playing words with friends
• the annual halloween party!
• when I got hit in the face really hard with a stick! I'll probably never forget that.
• when I started using spotify!

November

• that really fun shopping day with alex and kaitlyn!
• when I joined the "big" worship team at my church--soooo awesome, I love it!
• when our combination school and church band played at that random baptist church, such a fun time.

December

• the worship team christmas parties! fun times.
• our youth christmas party
• our church christmas production
• the end of a season and beginning of another short one
• our trailer park christmas party for the kids!
• well tomorrow will be the first time I played bass on stage...I'm excited for that!

Yep, so this year was quite eventful! Next post will be top 10 moments of the year, which will be difficult.

christmas cookies!!!!

^want!
no, I didn't make these. but I wish I did because I'd be eating them now.

:[