In 2014 I...
- Spent half the year on crutches.
- Met Lady Antebellum!!
- Finally expressed my interest in becoming a speaker and started a new career - which was a buried 7-year-old dream.
- Was accepted to attend the University for the Deaf and hard of hearing (Gallaudet) for summer classes.
- Had to decline my acceptance to Gallaudet due to emergency gallbladder surgery. (Seriously, I sound so accident prone this year.)
- Received a college scholarship for my academic achievements.
- Took a writing class on how to write memoirs.
- Started going to coffee shops just to read and write.
- Moved up in my job from being a noon time assistant (AKA: yard duty teacher) to a substitute teacher's aid.
- Spent over 3 months subbing long term at one school, working with Deaf and Hard of Hearing students.
- Successfully completed 33 college units.
- Spoke to several classrooms at a local elementary school, hopefully breaking stereotypes before they were built.
- Held a sensitivity training in a local hospital.
- Joined a hospital Patient Family Advisory Council, and was asked to join a second one that will start in 2015.
- Was turned into a super hero AND had a theme song written for/about me!
- Started writing a book...or two.
- Spent time with one of my Operation Mobilization London friends - in person - for the first time since 2012!
- Saw Wicked, the musical, for my fourth time.
- Had a murder mystery super hero birthday party!
- Celebrated the birth of my baby cousin, Erica!
- Spent a LOT of fun times with my 4-year-old cousin Rayna! (And became her favorite person.)
- Made sugar cookies for the first time (ASL style).
- Bought more books than I have time to read.
- Was upgraded to first class and economy plus for free.
- Tried cotton candy grapes. (Yes, that's a real thing.)
- Had my photo unintentionally go viral (to over 30 million strangers).
- Had my story written about in the local newspaper, The Fresno Bee.
- Enjoyed having sleepovers with my little sister, BreAnna! As well as tackling our summer bucket lists together.
- Received more encouragement from friends and strangers that I am SO thankful for. They'll never know how much their support and encouragement meant to me throughout the year.
- Did a lot of house sitting and babysitting.
- Went on an Alaskan cruise that caught on fire!! (Yet, it was the best cruise I've ever been on.)
- Went to Seattle and Portland.
- Spent time with my girls at Sugar Pine Christian Camp during the summer as a week-long counselor.
- Tried a reindeer sandwich. (Oh, wait...Did I write that out too close to Christmas time?)
- Attended the Free Will Baptist National Convention.
- Spent time with dear friends.
- Had four laser treatments.
- Spoke at a women's retreat (not as the main speaker, but for a 20 minute seminar/testimony time).
- Wrote articles for Randall House Publications (will be published in early 2015) and for the Treasure Magazine (published in the fall of 2014).
- Made a ton of new friends!
- Laughed a LOT.
- Met Jack Canfield and was encouraged by him when I had the chance to talk with him about my life goals.
- Chased my dreams.
- Learned, matured, and grew a lot.
- Became stronger - and an overcomer.
- Made a gazillion God-sized dreams AND accomplished some of them too!!
- Went to Nashville and created this 3-minute beauty with Brian Ellison and Melissa Cowart:
This year had a LOT of great moments. Many were planned for, dreamt of, and totally unexpected. (Many of which were really, really unexpected.) I am SO excited to see what 2015 has in store for me and my family. I don't know what's going to happen in the new year, but I do know that I am going to keep dreaming big - and I'm going to keep pursing my dreams. Who knows what doors God may open??
Happy New Year, my dear friends! Thanks for spending a part of it with me.
The Travelin' Chick,
Crystal
