Open the Eyes of My Heart...: TOP TEN OF 2012

In all of the blogs that I follow, the bloggers tell the readers about their lives. I never do that because I think "who would want to read about my life?" yet I find myself reading about everyone else's lives, even strangers, and am enthralled. So here it goes. This is my life!

ITS A NEW YEAR! I was extremely excited about the year changing and may have even had the false impression that when the clock striked 12, all the bad parts of 2012 would disappear.

Needless to say, they didn't! Yes, it many ways this has been a hard year. But if I really sit down and think about it... the blessings FAR surpass the very few things I could complain about. This has been such a exciting year!

MY 2012 TOP 10:

1. I got the great privilege of becoming a small group leader for Providence Baptist Church's College Ministry. (If you are looking for a church, click the blue words, and you can find out more about this AWESOME ministry!) It started out with two girls, and we now are five strong! In attempting to lead them, each of the girls have taught me so much. I love each of them and am so blessed by them daily! This past semester we went through the Old Testament Together, and learned a lot about the character of God. I am in much need of a new picture with all of them in it!

2. I went to AFRICA again. Geez, I just love that place! This time I went to Kampala, Uganda and served along side "A Perfect Injustice" ministry. It was just a eye opening experience, and potentially gave me a lot of direction for my future. I now have so many friends in Kampala who I love and miss so much! I WILL be back to visit them soon!

3. I became a Aunt! At 3am on the 22nd of December my sister, Janna, woke me up to say she was going to the hospital. I stupidly responded, "WHY?" Karmen Leigh Lambert was later born around 1:30pm that day. She was 6 pounds 15 ounces and 19 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful and has already stole my heart! The first thing I did the morning of the 22nd was go buy her clothes.... safe to say she is going to be spoiled (and stylish if I have anything to do with it!)

4. WE WON HOMECOMING! After the most stressful week of my life, Sigma Alpha Omega and Beta Upsilon Chi together won first place in NCSU's homecoming competition. I had the great privilege of walking on that beautiful field at Carter Finely during halftime! It was such an amazing experience! We also won first place in cupcake wars, first place in the Homecoming parade, along with a lot of other awards through out the week!

5. I was able to go to Charleston, South Carolina not once, but twice! I have always wanted to go there and it was a beautiful place. The first time was for a Sigma Alpha Omega Executive board retreat, and the other was for a Beta Chi Upsilon Fraternity, formal. Such a pleasure to be able to go! The formal took place in the theater from "The Notebook."

6. I gained two new beautiful "little's" into my life through Sigma Alpha Omega. Morgan, Hillary, and I have had such great times together, and I love them both very much!

7. Football Season! It is always fun, but this year has to have been my favorite so far. The best memory of course being when we beat Florida State! GO PACK!

8. Though she lived with us some in 2011, this year Jordan Nicole Butler officially became part of my family. Words can't express how blessed I feel to have her as a sister! She is absolutely hilarious and always so loving! It has been so neat to see her "grow-up." This year she has been a beast on the swim team, made the A honor roll, and somehow managed to become the favorite Ellinwood child, I am pretty sure!

9. I conquered my biggest fear! Snakes have always been my worst fear. Even seeing them on television used to make me cringe As strange as it is, one of my friends this year decided to get pet snakes. I started with being ok with being in the same house as them then moved on to being in the same room. I then touched it, let it be on my sleeve.... and now me and Samus are best friends (or something like that)! I even fed it a mouse (that was conquering a fear in itself... eww mice!) I have to admit, I am extremely proud of myself!

10. I went on a lot of trips: Asheville, Pigeon Forge, Myrtle Beach, Nashville,, and Florida .. Florida makes the top 10 fo sho! Me and some of my friends went to Ferdandina Beach in Florida for Spring Break, and it was most definitely a week to remember. We came back with so many inside jokes and more stories than I can count. My favorite story of course being when Brittany peed on herself because she was laughing so hard.