2013 in Review

How in the world is it the last day of 2013? 

They say time flies when you're having fun, and they say life goes by faster the older you get.

So I guess the combination of having fun and getting older is the ultimate combination for a fast year.

Since it seemed to pass in the blink of an eye, I put together a few pictures to remind myself how blessed I've been this year. 

Without further ado, here's my year in review!

Highlights ||  - John turned 21!
- Started classes at Clemson and grumbled about the confusing bus schedule as I walked to class in the rain for the first week and a half
- Visited the Biltmore House with my family, John, and Morgan
- Experienced my first cold “spring” break in Charleston with John and his parents

- Celebrated one year with John
- Created this blog! {that first post... woof!}

Highlights ||  - Ran my first 10K {Cooper River Bridge Run}
-  Visited Savannah with John
- Realized I was thankful I never learned the bus schedule and enjoyed my walks to class
- Attended the Blockhouse Steeplechase with John and our parents
- Sang my heart out at an Avett Brothers concert
- Made the President's List at Clemson {so did John!}
- Turned 21!

Highlights ||  - Corey graduated from high school!
- Charlotte took her first trip to South Carolina!
- Lots of family visited for Corey’s graduation party
- Nannied the sweetest girls for world’s best summer job
- Actually trained for my second race and fell in love with running
-Visited Beaufort, Tybee Beach, and Savannah (again!) with John to celebrate the 4th of July
- Spent quality time with my grandparents in Elk Rapids, Michigan
- Rode bikes around Mackinac Island with my family, Morgan, and John
- Stayed at Brian’s parents lake home with Jana, Brian, Charlotte, John, Morgan, and my family
- Learned to wake surf
- Realized my love for fitness while taking classes at the Y after work

 Highlights ||  - Welcomed my freshman brother, Corey, to Clemson

- Cheered on the Tigers during the football season
- Experienced College GameDay at Clemson, not once, but twice
- Tackled 21 hours of classes
- Met fantastic girls in my major
- Became friends with said fantastic girls and felt like I’d found my niche at Clemson
- Lost a dear Wofford friend
- Ventured up the mountains to Highlands with John
- Blogged every day in October
- Received my class ring
- Rolled my eyes while strangers admired John’s inflatable sumo wrestler Halloween costume
- Lost my Uncle Mike
- Decided to run a half marathon in his honor
- Reveled with friends during Clemson’s annual Fall Crawl
- Rescued a dog
- Made the President's List {so did John!}
- Decked the halls for Christmas
- Donned tacky sweaters 
- Reunited with friends from home
- Cut out cookies for my parents’ annual cookie baking party

Although I was unable to see my uncle this year to say goodbye, I found peace with the realization he’s no longer in pain from leukemia. In 2014, I’m determined to surpass my fundraising goals to raise money for other people fighting blood cancer.

Here’s to the new year! I don’t have any resolutions, per say, but I definitely want to continue improving my health. Over the course of 2013, I finally shed the pesky freshman fifteen or twenty I gained... More on that in another post, though! For now, I’m just going to enjoy some yummy food at my “baby” (9, 6, and 3 year old) cousins’ annual Rockin’ New Year’s Eve party and some champagne tonight with friends in Columbia! Auld Lang Syne, y’all!