2013 Year in Review

Wow, can you believe 2013 is already over?!

One year. 12 months. 52 weeks. 365 days. Already in the rear view mirror of our lives.

This year, 2013, has brought unbelievable blessings and trials. God has shown me time and time again that no matter what we go through or how great our life seems to be, there will always be new adventures coming our way. Those adventures have shown me that God is the only one in charge of our lives and living it to glorify Him is going to be way easier than trying to do it our own way.

So cheers to 2014 and the great journey it will bring!

JANUARY

Snowdaze 2013 which you can read about here and here!

Braces came off for the second time! You can watch the video here.

 FEBRUARY

February photoshoot with Beka here.

Basketball games with the best friends ever! They became my life! Love supporting our school :)

MARCH

 Scenery from our dreadfully long winter here. I also decided to take a blogging break around this time - I usually take one or two a year.

APRIL

Had a blast at the youth conference District Blitz!

MAY

Finished Sophomore year!! Reviewed that in this post.

JUNE

Big sister got married!!!

JULY

Highlights of Summer 2013!

Little sister's 3rd gotcha day! You can read about our journey here and here.

AUGUST

Valleyfair 2013 with The Posse! :)

SEPTEMBER

Volleyball Season 2013!

Highlights of our season can be found here. So proud of these girls!

OCTOBER

 My cousin Kressi got married in October and our whole family was able to be there on her special day.

NOVEMBER 

I turned 17 this year! Read about some parts of my crazy life here and here.

Posse night in...Love my crazy group of friends!

DECEMBER

Merry Christmas and blessings in the new year! :)

xoxo,

~Michlyn

From Our Family to Yours

Wishing you the best this season!

xoxo,

~Michlyn & Family

Christmas Instagram

Well it's that time already...Christmas 2013 is only 3 short days away! This year literally felt so short it's unbelievable. Time flies but memories last forever. (< yeah I'm pretty cheesy)

Thought I'd catch you up on my instagram feed as we all celebrate the most wonderful time of the year! :)

birthday cards & flowers// new beanie// getting pedicures// 

celebrating birthdays w/ my mom & sister// editing photoshoot pics// scarf selfie// best friend status//

message on my calculator (inside joke)// black & white selfie// sister bonding through homework//

my cousin & I on thanksgiving// random selfies// college emails// it's Christmas break, let's celebrate selfie//

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Volleyball Banquet

My volleyball banquet was in the beginning of November, so I'm posting this a little late but I wanted to go back and look at the memories we made. :) The girls are my second family and some of my best friends...the teach me life lessons, make me laugh, and work harder than a lot of girls I know. When ever I felt down or upset, one of my co-captains noticed and could always make me feel better. The bus rides to away games were always my favorite and we always had conversations that made us laugh until our stomachs hurt.

Looking back and thinking about the banquet not only makes me smile but brings tears to my eyes. I'm sooo proud to be one of the captains of this team and to see how hard they worked this past season. I LOVE YOU GIRLS SO MUCH!

Here's to the 2014 season!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Wordless Wednesday

A Best Friend in Between.

They were both my best friends. He was blonde, athletic, and funny. She was brunette, bubbly, and beautiful. They both had a love for basketball and got to know each other better. Before I knew it they were dating. Almost a year went by and the summer was coming to an end. She started a new school. His friends started college classes away from school. They didn't see each other very often and it was hard. They kept fighting and she felt at fault. He didn't treat her the way he should. She took the blame for everything and soon it was over. A fight in his driveway and a phone call the next day broke them apart. She cried for weeks at night and all he did was put every feeling he ever felt away. It's only been a few months. When I'm with him we don't bring it up. When I'm with her, I don't mention his name. Being a best friend in between this situation is one of the hardest things I've ever been through. Pleasing people is what I do. Then one night I got a text from her that said "I can't be friends with you if you're friends with him..." *Cue tears and heart breaking* That night was hard but I was not ready to let either of them out of my life and thankfully it all worked out. "You need to become friends with him and mend this break between you two" was how the conversation ended. It's been a slow transition but I know that eventually this situation will be over and someday we'll look back and laugh at ourselves. Best friends...Can't live with them, can't live without them.

Wordless Wednesday

Word Lovin'

You've read about it...I've mentioned it more than once. My life has been stressful and crazy. The thing is I'm trying to look past all the overwhelming details and trying to focus on the goals I want to accomplish. Lately, I've read some great posts that have really spoken to me and inspired me. I thought I'd share them here and maybe someone else would find them encouraging as well. :)

According to Em: Finding Joy 

Emalee is a lifestyle blogger who loves fitness, makeup, and cats! Her post was especially encouraging because it seemed like she was talking to me when I read it. Definitely worth your time.

Paper Raindrops: Little Things

Inna is a b.e.a.utiful writer. I can't even. The way she words her posts just makes everything sound so beautiful. I love reading what she has to say about life and her adventures. And no this post isn't about One Direction's song - So go read what it's all about.

A Beautiful Heart: Proof of Your Love

Jenna is a personal style blogger but also writes about bible studies, travel, and life adventures. She wrote this post last month and it's great. It talks about God's love and how we would be nothing without Him. Go check it out!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Brothers' Birthdays

My brothers' birthdays are only 2 weeks apart. Our family actually has 5 birthdays and Christmas all within 8 weeks of each other. So the holidays are always extra fun and busy. :)

My brother Jace turned 11 years old this year. I honestly can't believe it. I remember when I was 11 years old and now here my little brother is turning that age. He got a sports bag, sweatshirt, and new game he really wanted for his birthday. :)

The next birthday we celebrated was my other little brother Scout's. He turned 8 years old this year...wow!! I was only 9 when he was born so this birthday made me feel especially "old". He got some new clothes and a Lego set he wrote down on his list. :)

It's such a blessing to watch my siblings grow up and to be their big sister. Happy birthday to the best little brothers ever!

xoxo,

~Michlyn

Where Does Time Go?

I should probably have a good excuse for being gone for weeks and weeks, but I truly don't. I have some posts in mind and will be getting some scheduled as it truly is "the most wonderful time of the year". (but also the busiest)

School has been extra stressful lately and with Christmas break coming up in 2 weeks, that means projects and papers all have to be turned in before the deadline. I've had far too many late nights this week and hope to stop that and get some sleep.

I hope to take some pictures of my siblings soon so we can put our Christmas card together and send it out before it's too late.

We had 2 nights where bountiful amounts of snow came and covered the ground. I usually LOVE the snow, and it's very pretty but driving in it is a completely different story. Thankfully we haven't gotten stuck, gone in the ditch, or rear-ended anybody. God's provisions are overflowing!

I'll be back soon! Stay warm everyone!

xoxo,  ~Michlyn