2010 in review – A year of change, growth, and happiness (Part 2)

August:

No special event really happened in August, it was more of a somber and difficult month for me. I was seeking direction from God and I was pretty confused as to why my plans were falling down around me. Late July was hard and I was still recovering from it, and then August hit and I was down for the count. I had no dreams, no plans, and no desire for anything other than just to feel okay again. I felt empty and lonely; it was a very hard time. But, the thing I didn’t know at the time was that sometimes God has to empty your dreams out of your heart so He can have room for His to come in like a beautiful rescuing rain and restore your ground again. I was only empty so He could fill me. But before we get to how he did that, let’s go through the things that did happen in August..

1. I dyed my hair purple for the first time. I’ve been pink on and off for going on three years, and always wanted to try other colors but didn’t want to really mess with what was working lol, but I needed change and so I went for the purple…and guess what? It rocks, baby! lol ;)

2. I got my nose pierced! Hells yeah! I had wanted my nose pierced for years but had been stalling, so when Crystal and i went to stay with Pam in Victoria for some hang out time I decided it was the perfect moment! It was the piercing that hurt the worst so far, it wasn’t that bad, but it did hurt and made my eyes water lol. I went In the Skin in Victoria like I always have; they’ve never let me down, they have a top notch staff that makes you feel comfortable and know what they are doing! Plus they are clean! I love getting pierced! Seriously its right up there with going to concerts and playing with kittens lol, it’s just so freeing to put a pretty hole in your body whenever the heck you want to, and just the whole experience is just excited and relaxing at the same time lol. I love my nose piercing so much! I used to be very, very, self-conscious when it came to my nose…thanks to some crappy people; I hated it so much I wanted surgery. But, over the years I came to better love myself for who I am and how I look. God as shown me that He thinks I am beautiful and I feel it. I love myself the way I am. I am happy with the way I look, so I decided to get a pretty little nose stud to accentuate my beauty :)

 (me with my new purple and pink hair, and nose piercing )

3. I time traveled and left lost love behind, never to look back :)

September:

On September 21^st I started Destiny Bible Institute at Faith Family Church in Victoria.

Oh, wow, what a new experience! Ha, my first time in a class room setting since 1^st grade (I was homeschooled from then on, don’t ya know), freaked the cats out of me! But, thankfully, I was met by some awesomely sweet people, who were gracious enough to answer my questions and give me copies of their notes since I enrolled late. I’ve grown to love Studio 45, the room we have class in, and I love my chair at the end of the table. It’s funny because we all have our specific seats we sit in…I like the people I sit next to :)

The first day I was met by Miss Beth, the woman who handles the DBI stuff, she hugged me and let me tell you, I needed that hug right then! Lol. She’s a sweetheart, and if it wasn’t for her I wouldn’t be in the DBI day classes like I am now, see because It was so late into the trimester she was only going to be able to enroll me in the night classes, which are once a week and an older crowd. I prayed about it, and the next morning Miss Beth calls me and tells me she was thinking about it and felt that I would do really well in the day classes and she would work it out to where I could enroll. Praise God for women like her!

I am so fond of the students I go to class with, such incredible people…all so dedicated to learning and growing in God, so encouraging to see! I love it!! The first person I met was a sweet guy wearing some awesome “hipster glasses” ha, and right then I knew I could hang with this crowd ;) I have had such a great time getting to know these people little by little, getting to hear their thoughts and stories…the random ones, as well as the deeper ones, and chatting during breaks, in the hall after class, and having lunch :) I sincerely hope to get to know them better as time goes on :)

As for the teachers, can we say anointed?! God has seriously used each of the teachers in my life, each with their own unique way of teaching; they have blessed me so much. I have learned so much through these classes so far that it is hard to put it into words, it has been the most eye opening, challenging, healing, growing, tough, experience in my life…and there is so much more to come (kind of scares me! lol). One day soon I’ll go back over all I have learned in my classes here in my blog, but for now, I will just say that I am so much better off for DBI, and I know that God has placed me here for a reason…not too sure what the reason is yet, but in His time I’m sure I will find out :) I graduate June 8^th 2011 :)

(the place at the table i always sit at in class)

November:

In November I “preached” my first “sermon’” in class lol. We had a Communication Class and had to prepare and give a 15 minute sermon in front of the class and our teacher…I was so freaking nervous! lol. Public speaking has never freaked me out, I don’t mind getting up and speaking, just as long as I know what I am speaking about and feel comfortable. Preaching and bible related speaking has never been my area of comfort though; I tend to feel like a square peg trying to fit in a round hole. But, God was truly with me that day and I got up there and spoke the words God put on my heart, and guess what?! My teacher said I didn’t even seem nervous! Lol Fun! My sermon was on Hebrews 3:18-19, and was titled “A heart of unbelief”, I had so much help from my dad and really my whole family on this lol. It may seem funny, but that class really tried me, it stretched the boundaries of who I thought I was and who God wants me to be…I really had to rely on God’s strength. Through that class God brought a lot things into my heart, like speaking in public forums someday about relationships, dating, and emotional issues, I really feel like that’s somewhere God wants to put me in the future, and I hope to be ready for it when it comes. Also, the “sermon” gave me a little way to express myself in class, I’m normally pretty quiet in a class setting and it takes me a long time to open up; the sermon kind of helped me to show my heart a little better.

Random note: I wore my Nirvana top to preach in…it helped me feel like me :)

December:

December I got to have my wonderful friends Amanda and Amber come stay at my house for the first time! I loved, loved, loved, and having those girls in my home and showing them my church and my small town! They came on Friday the 17, and Crys and I had the pleasure of cooking them a meal, I love cooking for my friends, it makes my heart so happy! We chatted around the table and ate; we took a walk at the bay and took some pictures. Later that night we decorated some sugar cookies that I had made the batter for earlier, it was so fun being in the kitchen together! We then exchanged presents while sitting by the Christmas tree, and then relaxed and watched Inception (The Oliver girls brought it lol :). The next morning we all had lunch together before the girls had to leave; we went to the Firehouse Grill in El Campo and ate on their rooftop patio, it was so cold and sunny lol, and the waiter took forever with the food, but we still had a lovely lunch together…I seriously wish we could have lunch dates more often…I love my friends so much! After the meal, which actually was really good (except for the side salad and garlic toast lol), we took pictures in front of Wal-Mart before the girls went on their way lol…Wal-Mart is the store of friends! Ha ;p

(Crystal, Amanda and I standing in the bay pavilion)

(The pretty cookies we decorated! Yum!)

(Amanda, me, and Amber standing outside of Wal-Mart before the girls left, ha! Random!)

It was a great time for us all, and it definitely made my Christmas season! I’m not really a holiday kind of girl, so having my favorite people around me during the “joyful season”, makes it so much better! Can’t wait to do it again :)

~So, wow, ha, that’s my 2010 in review! It was a year so filled with pain and joy and change, and it was so hard and trying, but God was with me through it all…and I mean through it ALL! I had to confront a lot of things last year, and I had to come clean, God’s grace was truly sufficient! Praise God! Thank you my sweet and loving, ever strong God for getting me through 2010 and making it beautiful! I can’t wait to see what You have in store for me this year, 2011! Let’s go on this journey together, I am Yours my Savoir! This year is dedicated to You; use me for Your glory! I am Your servant. When I’m walking with You, only lovely possibilities await me…:)

~Cecily Priscilla