2012: A Year in Review

Hello! I thought it would be fun to put a few of my favorite things about last year down on 'paper', per se. It's kind of fun to look back and see what you've accomplished (also not fun to see what you DIDN'T accomplish...)

2012:

I turned 19. Kind of a big deal, and kind not....

Officially Graduated and Celebrated (hopefully I'll post pictures of it sometime this year... :-) 

 

I co-hosted a fun fashion show with a dear friend

I finally began the process of getting my books published (after much prodding from the Lord!, I finally took action... ;-)

I have made many mistakes and learned from them.

I have read 12 books... hehe, yes, that's a lot for me. 

Our family had a vacation after 6 years. It was such a wonderful time to get away from the ranch, the stress, and everything else and just relax and enjoy family time!!! 

I got to call and talk on the phone with a friend who lives really far away

I accomplished a few things off of my huge bucket list.. yeah, I'm not a big one for actually finishing things.. or perhaps I just overload myself. Hmm... 

I reached over 100 followers on my blog- you guys are awesome!! 

I worked at the State Fair as an Assistant Superintendent in the Creative Arts building

I took on a house cleaning job to help make money for my book publishing

Participated in two drama plays (I got the play the villain in the last one!!) You can go check out a video over here

I started teaching fiddle to three wonderful students

Called my first dance (that was fun, but also boring because I didn't get to dance!)

Started working on the Secret Project

Did Some posting on my Writing Blog

 

Made a scrap quilt top with some dear friends (we all have quilts-lap size- made out of scrap fabric from our own stashes)

Learned more in my walk with the Lord, though I had many failings

What I'm planning to do/what will happen in 2013:

Buy a laptop

Finish the Secret Project and reveal it to all of y'all

Do another Bible reading challenge

Memorize Scripture more

Get my books published and sell them at the New Mexico Home school Convention

Possibly go up to the Colorado Convention and sell my books there as well

Continue to grow in my walk with the Lord and learn to trust Him for absolutely everything

Hopefully visit some long distance friends

Finish the quilt top I made last year (still have to quilt and bind it)

Do some hair tutorials or post a Vlog

Possibly host another Fashion Show

Participate in Drama 

Do a Writing Series on my Writing Blog

Maybe Make Another long list of things I'd like to do! ;-) And then hopefully get them all done... 

Read at least 18 books- hey, that is a lot for me... hehe! :-)   

Maybe do some photo shoots...  

What are some things that you are looking forward to in 2013?? What are some things that you're glad you did/accomplished in 2012?

And What Have I Been Up To?

Howdy!  I hope that y'all, or some of you, missed my regular posts while the fashion show was going on. I've missed it a bit myself! So, I figured I'd pop over here and see what y'all were up to and say a bit about what I've been doing. :-)

First and foremost, I've been busily getting my children's books ready for publication. They're still in the editing process, but at least it's moving along somewhat. I currently have 4 written with a 5th one in the making. It's extremely exciting and frightening at the same time! I will be sharing a table with a good friend of mine at our Homeschool Convention this next year. She informed me a couple of days ago that the Board had approved us as vendors and that we were now officially getting a table. That was rather stunning news, but only from the side that reality hit me like a demolition ball. "Wow, Sarah, this is for real. You'd better kick it in high gear and get this done!". So, a little scary from that point. I guess that I've dreamed and prayed about this so long that it feel weird when it is actually happening.  Oh, you should definitely go and check out Alicia's book on her website. It's really good and I definitely recommend it (if I haven't already!). She's currently writing up a second one, and will also have a 3rd book in the series. I'm looking forward to reading both of them! She is also selling on Amazon. She's got lots of neat things on her site, so definitely check that out!!!

Second, I've been preparing for my commencement (graduation) party. This has been SO difficult to prepare for... the biggest reason being that I couldn't invite every person I wanted to. My parents made me limit it to friends that I've either known for a very long time, or ones that have really been involved in my home school life. This was very difficult for me! I have lots and lots of friends that I would have liked to have invited. *Sigh*. In any case, it will still be nice with family and close friends. It's a rather big thing, for me, because I feel so unprepared for this next phase of life. I'm normally a very 'bubbly', happy-go-lucky person, but for some reason turning 19 and adding graduation on top of that has made me look at life rather seriously. I'm sure that's a good thing, though... ;-) Voting is a scary issue, too.... =P  (oh, if you want to see a sneak peak of graduation photos, you can go to Rebecca's site HERE)

Third, I've been sewing and making costumes for two things. One is for drama... the second is... well, that's a secret for now. You won't get to hear about that until later on, but I'll let you take a few guesses if you want. :-)
   Our drama performances are coming up here in November. for anyone interested, you can check out our new site HERE.  We're having a fundraiser this year, so if you'd like to support us, please visit the site and click on the 'support us' link. Our first fundraising day is this Saturday, so I'll be sure to get pictures and post them on the site.

We've also been excitedly looking forward to the community chorus doing their Handel's Messiah again this year! This will be our 4th year to sing, and I'm really looking forward to it! I might even try out for a solo... but I'm still contemplating that. :-) So far it is just Becca, Josh, and myself who will be singing.. but I'm hoping we can get Dad and Mom to do it with us as well. Caleb isn't old enough yet, but maybe next year. 

Other than that, we've pretty much been busy with just the normal things in life. Today we have been processing a BUNCH of apples. Some friends from church have a wonderful orchard, so we have bags and bags of apples to go through. They are really, good, though! We plan on making applesauce (we like the chunky kind!), and then freezing some for recipes. I'm not sure if we'll get around to making jelly (we're not too fond of apple jelly) or cider. I guess we'll see how far we get. ;-) Speaking of which, I'd better get back and start working again! ;-)

Oh, I'm hoping to get some hair tutorial videos up sometime soon.... If you have any requests, please drop me a line in the comment box, or in my contact page. :-) I'd love to be able to put up videos that I know you want to see! 

What has ya'll's week been filled with?