22

My birthday is almost over. I thought I would take some time to think over the past year.

Last year I spent my birthday in Fullerton. I refused to go home because I wanted to go to my church on my birthday. So my family came down and went to church with me and then we all went out to eat at Souplantation. I regret doing that. I should have just went home like my family wanted me to.

I got really involved in my church. It became sort of like an addiction. I didn't want to miss church at all. By the end of spring I realized that it was time to move on from that church.

Last spring was really tough for me as you know from my previous posts. My father was really sick and we almost lost him. My family was going through a rough time and is still pulling through it. I was going through a lot of depression and searching for answers to some of life's toughest questions.

My summer was really weird. I lived like a hermit. I spent my days at the dojo and with my family.

I learned a lot this past year. I went through a lot of pain and sorrow. But I have a feeling that this next year is going to be full of joy.

I'm not going to write down everything that I learned. But the two most important things that I learned is that God is so amazing that I can't begin to put it into words and that family is the second most important thing in my life.

He Protected Me

I have spent a lot of time this year thinking about my childhood. I am thankful that God protected me throughout my childhood. God gave me a strong will but He also gave me parents who "trained me up in the way I should go." God's protection and the strong will that He gave me kept me safe many times.

During my childhood...

- I never broke a bone. I never got stitches or was seriously injured.

- God gave me the strength to say no to things that would have really hurt me.

- I had parents that loved each other. I never had to worry about them separating or getting a divorce.

- I had good examples and learned from them. I also learned not to repeat other people's mistakes.

- God kept boys away from me. I didn't have to deal with boyfriends and breakups and the pain and regret from those relationships.

- God gave me good health and a strong body.

I had so many things in my childhood that other people missed out on. This year I have learned to thank God instead of taking it all for granted.