December 31

Dear 2014,

365 days ago I had no idea what this year would hold. None. Like at all. 

This time last year I was watching movies and eating chocolate all night long with my cousins. I was just a semi-quiet awkward seventeen year old Junior in high school. I liked to dwell in the negatives and thrived in the "what ifs" of life. Little did I know how much everything would change in a year (cliché, I know...hang with me). 

I decided to do the 365 photo a day to help find and focus on the positive events and define something to be thankful for each and every day for an entire year. For an entire year I've searched for something to be grateful for or something worth marking and saving as an important event or thought to look back on and smile as I relive 2014 through this blog. 

As a matter of fact I've taken the time and looked back through the entire year, and wow what a year it has been (cliché again...I know).  It's amazing some of the experiences and people that have crossed my path in a mere 365 days. I mean, come on, I not only flew by myself but I went to Italy, freaking Italy, with one of my very best friends and we most definitely had the trip of a lifetime--I couldn't imagine sharing those memories with anyone else in the world. I became extremely and abnormally close with the most diverse group of personalities brought together by the random chance of being in the same French class and could not imagine my life at Bixby without any one of them. Sweet sweet family time with all the Trews this summer and pretty much any and every time the Oklahoma Trews are in Tennessee. Sweet family and baby time when the Griffith clan gets together both in Tennessee and Kentucky. When I think back on 2014 I want to remember all the laughter and fun that was had, all the people I laughed with (which is a lot of people...if we've ever laughed, like really hardcore gut wrenching laughed together before I am talking about you--and am so thankful for YOU), and all the adventures big and small and all the laughter that came from them. 

Laughter. 

It's my go to answer for everything philosophical or profound (because you know... I'm so philosophical and profound...). How do you make friends when you're a shy and awkward introvert? Laughter. What's the best form of medicine for a broken heart? Laughter. What's the meaning of life? Laughter. You get the idea. The way to make an impression on my life is most definately through laughter. So thank you for the laughs 2014!

This New Year's Eve I'm reminded so much of New Year's Eve last year except that the end of 2014 is nothing like the end of 2013. I'm about to go and watch movies all night long with my cousins and stuff ourselves with ice cream (if there's any left by the time I finish this post and get next door) just like last year, but as this year comes to an end I am constantly reminded of all the joy I have to be thankful for that has become extremely apparent in this past year. I am so glad I took the time to keep up with this blog for this year because of all the years, this one was for the books...or in this case the blog. ;)

Thank you 2014. 

Love always,

Emma