Top Eleven of 2011!

My friends and I are sitting in our apartment watching the AU-VA Chick-fil-A bowl, and we decided to make a "Top 11 for 2011" list to commemorate our year. Despite my difficulties remembering what happened this year, and even what year it is, I managed to think of 11+ events that made 2011 one of the best years ever. I don't think I've had such an eventful year since... probably 2008. Here's my list, complete with honorable mentions.

11. Auburn wins National Championship in the middle of a snowstorm in Alabama.

10. Meeting new friends when I started leading the College and Career (CClife) group at Aldersgate.

9. Preached my first sermons at Hartselle FUMC and Aldersgate

8. Washington, DC trip with Bridget, which is a symbol for an entire several-month period at the beginning of the year in which I applied for, was accepted to, and decided not to attend several seminaries. I have yet to regret that choice.

7. Summer job at Trinity UMC's Intersect Huntsville program. I discovered a love of local missions.

6. I got a new car! I have had so many good times with my old Mitsubishi, Mitzi. I've had her since 2004, but she was getting old. In the last week of this year I bought a 2008 Nissan Versa, named Vera. She is my first major purchase as an adult, and I'm proud of her!

5. My wonderful friends threw me a surprise party for my 26th birthday! We wore togas and said "opa!"

4. A whole Summer of Adventures that I'll never forget!

3. Moved to a new apartment, Vintage 310, with two of my best friends, Bridget and Katelyn. We have lots of fun, including baking, parties, and pillow fights.

2. My career has taken a turn for the awesome. I am finally in full-time ministry, and I got to participate in the start of a new outreach ministry, Aldersgate on the Parkway. It takes up tons of my time, but the opportunity to have a new adventure for God is so exciting!

1. Joshua David Allison convinced me that we are perfect for each other. I will alway be grateful for his persistence.

Honorable Mentions:
My little brother Daniel graduated from Auburn! I'm so proud.
I went red with my hair, and I love it!
Nail polish became an obsession
Pinterest took over my free time
Game Nights with great friends
Beach Trips with friends and family
Meeting the Allison family and falling in love with every one of them
Riding in a hot air balloon!
Civil War reenactment, State fair, Mooresville, historic Huntsville, all in one day
New Year and Auburn celebrations with great friends
Watching the state of Alabama band together for tornado relief
Seeing Gungor twice!
Loving HIMYM and TBBT
Cooking at our apartment
Living with my good friends the Sneads
Getting a Macbook for work. I will never be the same.
Spending lots of time at Bridge Street with various awesome friends
Trips to Sumatanga to see Chrysalis and camp friends
Spending Spring Break serving at Urban Ministry
WC Handy fest in Florence
Iron Bowl 2011 with Joshua and Paul
Homecoming in Auburn
Visiting family, especially the little ones!
Being liturgist at the Christmas Eve service at Hartselle
Losing my best friend for a summer as she served Jesus at an orphanage in Romania. But I got her back.
Spending time with Jesus in new ways

Here's to an even more awesome 2012! Happy New Year!