Sunday, December 30, 2018

2018

If you told me at the start of 2018 where I'd be by the end of it, I would have laughed in your face. (See? THIS IS ME LAUGHING.) So much has happened this year, and not just in small ways, as in previous years. Nope, 2018 was the year of gargantuan life change, unexpected blessings and very close calls. It was a year of growing up, moving on, stepping into new seasons and being better than the Gap (maybe?!).

In keeping with tradition on Ye Olde Blog, I look back at the past year in bite-size form. I also have links to my old look-back posts for 2017, 2015, 2014 and 2013 in the archives. (How have I been blogging this long?!)

Personal Life




*Me just trying to navigate 2018 like...*

In so many ways, 2018 was a year of transformation and trial. And the Lord gently moving me to the next phase of life even when I was at times (very) resistant. 2018 was the year I cut my hair, the year I started working full-time in marketing, the year I took road trips and talked to new people and SERIOUSLY WROTE. So much has happened this year that I have yet to unpack: Leaving my home church and taking root at a new one, turning 25 and feeling genuinely renewed, weathering various trials and watching as the Lord wove it all together into something full of joy.


This year I also started a second (mini) blog to document my 25th year.

It's odd - when I look back on the year and see where I started and where I am now, I don't feel like quite the same person. Yet all of this growth took place days a time, little by little, so it happened almost without my even noticing it. WHICH IS SO STRANGE. Suffice it to say I've learned *A LOT* this year, from insights about friendship, the importance of driving out of town limits for sanity's sake, and yes, this was the year I discovered the glories of Starbucks iced coffee.

2018 in Music

Image result for tom odell jubilee road cover  Image result for death cab for cutie thank you for today

Earlier this month, I wrote an in-depth post about my favorite 2018 records, and let me just say, there were quite a lot of lovely albums released this year that I didn't even have space to talk about. Some of my favorites from this year included the new Tom Odell record and, of course, the much-anticipated LP from twenty one pilots. I could honestly talk about music for hours so if you have any recommendations from this year or #StrongOpinions about music or albums in general, TALK TO ME IN THE COMMENTS. *eagerly awaits musical conversation*

2018 in Books

 Image result for harry potter deathly hallows book cover Image result for hunger games cover Related image

This year, I re-read the Harry Potter series and got into reading personal essays, a first for me. Some of my favorite reads this year were the last two Harry Potter books, a re-read of the Hunger Games and Every Day by David Levithan. A complete list of my 2018 reads can be found here.

Random 2018 Favorites

Listening to podcasts
Reading in my spare time
Updating my wardrobe with quality clothes
Taking road trips alone or with my sister
Learning to embrace change and a new season
Shout-out to iced coffee for making my life possible

What about you?

What kinds of things were you crazy about in 2018? What did you learn this year?
I can't thank you enough for reading, you guys. I hope 2019 is good to you. I'm looking forward to sharing a new surprise coming to the blog real, real soon. 

8 comments:

  1. I'm glad to hear that your 2018 was a full year. I hope 2019 brings even more fullness where you need it and rest where you want it. <3

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    1. Oh dang was it ever full! It was bursting at the seams, yo. :) Thank you so much, Evangeline! I have high hopes for 2019. I hope your next year is peaceful and full of joy and lots of books and adventures!! <3

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  2. whoops i love this post. ALSO THE PICS OF YOU!!! gorgeous!!! i want greeen!!! winter just started except it's just freezing cold w/o the snow. @weather what are you doing????? ah! ALSO SAME. 2018 was full of new things??? i so relate what the heck. like yes. getting some quality clothes into the wardrobe. moving on. trying new things (1st time on an airplane and i also went to Mexico for a mission's trip!!! i loved it!!! ah!!!). definitely saw God's hand in all of it, even the hard things. AND EVEN JUST THE INDEPENDENCE FACTOR THAT CONTINUES TO GROW??? i'm like welp, looks like i'll just go to the theatre and watch this movie by myself like a Queen HAHA. but idk. it's just a bit new to me, this feeling of growing up. but it's good!! loved hearing about your 2018. :))) x

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    1. So glad you enjoyed it! :) <3 YOU ARE TOO SWEET! That's crazy because I *wish* I could enjoy more cold weather. It's just a lot of humid days here and then the random, sporadic cold ones that I basically live for. Love that you can relate to the life changes! That is SO COOL that you got to go to Mexico. I've never been out of the country. I bet that was a life-changing experience!! OH MY WORD YES the mood that is going to the theater by yourself is #TooReal. I've been there multiple times and you come out just feeling sort of like a boss? LOL! Still learnin' with ya. I feel no one really knows how to properly adult, we are all just learning. Thanks so much for commenting, Cally! Have an epic 2019!

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  3. Loved reading this little recap post! Also that fisrt pic = gorgeous.

    Nabila | Hot Town Cool Girl

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    1. Thanks so much, Nabila! :) You are too sweet!! <3 Have a super stellar 2019. :D

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  4. I’m so glad you had a great 2018! 2018 was a year of preparing for 2019, so I expect big things for this year!

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    1. Thanks, Victoria! :) I hope you have had the best 2019 ever so far. There is nothing like looking ahead and making fun plans. Thanks for reading! <3

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Go with grace.