2013.

Two thousand and thirteen.

A year of change.

A year of new experiences.

And, quite possibly, the biggest year of my life so far.

I think that when I'm older and look back on my life, 2013 will be a year that stands out. It will be a year that won't be quickly forgotten.

Sometimes I find that as you grow older, the years start to blur together. Questions like "What year did we take that trip?" and "What year did that happen?" aren't uncommon. But then there are the years that you center things upon, and 2013 will be one of those years for me.

So like I've done for the past three years (2010, 2011, and 2012), on this last day of 2013 I'm doing a little recap of some of the best things that happened this year.

I made a super short video of pictures from this year that I thought you might want to see!

In 2013......

I had my last Father/Daughter Dance.

I made homemade French macarons, something I've always wanted to do.

I decided officially where I would be attending college.

I ate Rita's several times!

I celebrated Easter with my family.

I started an awesome new job in the Registrar's Office on campus.

I went to my Senior prom!

I celebrated my 18th birthday.

I took my last AP test ever. Wahooo!

I designed, baked, and decorated a 3-tiered wedding cake all by myself. That was one of the prouder moments of 2013 my life.

I spent the last day of high school on the roof :)

I spent a lot of time being sad about my high school graduation.

I graduated high school.

I took a senior trip with my friend Danielle to Savannah and Tybee Island (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3), where we ate some of the best ice cream....

....met Paula Deen.....

....and enjoyed Paula's Southern buffet!

I celebrated my graduation with a party in June (Part 1, Part 2).

I vacationed in the Dominican Republic (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)!

I got to see the Jonas Brothers in concert one last time.

I spent a lot of time downtown.

I said goodbye {temporarily!} to friends leaving for college.

I made princess cake pops along with so many others!

My family went to Steak & Shake at 2 AM for shakes - ha!

I officially started college at the University of Cincinnati.

I joined Kappa Delta sorority.

I got to enjoy Moerlein's blueberry cobbler several times throughout the year!

I met the Pioneer Woman for a second time.

I enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving with my family.

I baked Minnie Mouse cake pops for my goddaughter's second birthday!

I gave part of a presentation on our SWOT semester-long project and then celebrated finishing it with a trip to the Cheesecake Factory with some friends!

I made about a bazillion Christmas cake pops. And I loved every minute of it.

I celebrated the birth of Christ with my family for what was an awesome Christmas (Part 1, Part 2).

Some other things that happened in 2013.....

I read 18 books.

I wrote 170 blog posts.

I flew on an airplane twice (both in the month of June!).

I traveled out of the country.

I sold approximately 275 cake pops.

But most importantly, I grew in my faith, spent a lot of time with my family, and made a lot of new friends!

..............................

At the beginning of this year I made predictions as to what I thought this year would hold. It's funny to look back on them now. I didn't know that I would go to Savannah on a Senior trip or vacation in the Dominican Republic. I didn't know that I would get a job working on campus. I didn't know that I would be accepted into KBS or that I would join a sorority.

Going into this year I was scared. I was afraid because so many things were unknown. I was afraid to leave high school behind and start college.

I think back to my life 365 days ago. So much has changed but so much has stayed the same too.

2013 was a crazy whirlwind of a year, but I am so incredibly thankful for it. I did things this year that I never thought I would. I stepped out of my comfort zone at times, and I survived.

2013 was one of the most emotional, difficult, and stressful years of my life, and yet looking back, I can't help but only see the good.

It was also one of the best years of my life. In fact, arguably, the BEST.

And now, 365 days later, the year that I dreaded, the year that I feared, is also the year that I am sad to see go.

I hope you all have a great New Years Eve ringing in the new year with people you love.

"That's what New Years is all about, getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more, and to stop worrying about what if, and start embracing what will be. So when that ball drops at midnight, and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other, and not just tonight, but all year long."

Now I'm just so excited about 2014 and everything it has to offer, but more on that tomorrow......