Reflections

As I'm sure everyone is aware, today is the last day of 2012

(duh).

Like everyone else, I can't help reflect about this year that is passing.

2012 was a rough year for me, and actually cannot wait for it to end.

You see, 

I try to keep this blog out of my "personal" problems

because it would really be boring.

So I tend to only focus on crafts and clothes and other things besides my challenges.

I've had to face things I never knew I was strong enough to handle.

Things like

 loss

heartbreak

loneliness.

depression.

It certainly wasn't an easy year.

There were several times when I wanted to throw it all away and give up.

 but, all these things (I hope) have made me stronger.

and all of these challenges proved to me that I can handle anything. 

Through it all, I knew that God will take care of me.

He loves me.

and you know,

a lot of great things happened in 2012.

I got to spend my summer with my cousins and grandparents.

I started a new job that I love.

I got to spend some great quality time with my best friend who lives out of state.

I made the dean's list at my college.

I started a blog!

all these wonderful moments would never have happened if I had given up when things got tough.

If I had thrown in the towel and said "that's it, God! I'm done!"

In hard times, it's easy to blame God.
To ask "Why me?" 

But God allows these challenging times to help mold us into better human beings.

Hard times are apart of his purpose:

"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,for those who are called according to his purpose." -Romans 8:28

My challenges this past year were apart of His divine plan.

Today, I thank God today for those challenges.

Because without them,

I wouldn't be who I am now.

" Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance,  and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."-Romans 5:3-5

So I know that whatever challenges 2013 brings, I am ready.

I am strong

I am loved

and I won't give up
because God is good.

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