Another year has passed, and it has been a year full of milestones, some bigger than others.  I had my 18th birthday; I registered to vote; I was able to vote for the first time; I applied for scholarships; I went to prom; I graduated from high school as valedictorian; I spent a week with some of my best friends in the world; I got my first job; I packed up my room and moved away from home; I've made new friends from all over the country; I've learned the value of a dollar, and how far a college student can make a dollar go; I have stayed up late and paid for it the next morning; I have learned that boys, or anything for that matter, shouldn't be my source of satisfaction; I've been to Los, Wal-mart, and Coburn too many times to count; I've gone to class and studied a little; I've lost some friendships but gained others; I've  become addicted to facebook and spider solitaire; I've experienced life away from my family and because of that, frustration, confusion, and sometimes loneliness has penetrated my being, but most of all, and because of all this, I've grown.  I've grown and learned more about myself in the last 4 months than I've learned my entire life.  My walk with Christ has had its ups and downs throughout all of this, but I'm realizing that He is what keeps me going.  His mercies are new each morning, and I'm finally realizing what that means.  So, with my newly learned lessons in mind, I begin 2006.  I don't have a resolution per say; I simply want to continue growing as a godly woman.  I want to continue in this patter of learning.  I want God to teach me, fill me, and grow me.  I'm ready to accept what He's got in store for me.  As the old year fades away, I want to look to the future and know that God is with me every step of the way.  After all, that's what He promises.