I can’t believe another year has up and gone. It seems like just a quick hop, skip and a jump since toasting sparkling grape juice to the start of 2017, 12 whole months ago. Wow, I guess time really does flies when you’re having fun. Here are 17 stellar things that happened this past year:
1. My beautiful niece, Piper, was born. It has been so fun watching her personality take shape. She reminds me to always have fun, innocence is never gone, and hitting is only okay if you’re tired or hungry.
2. Some friends and I crammed in a particularly small van for a particularly long 24 hours drive to Croc, Mexico over spring break. You can’t help but fall in love with the friendly people, the brightly colored village and the coolest amigos in the world. You know where to find me this spring break.. probably at a fiesta.
3. My sisters and I went to see Never Shout Never, a band we listened to when we were younger. Lets just say our fifteen year old selves can now rest peacefully.
4. I turned seventeen, ayye. Now I can donate blood without parental permission.
5. I got my first tattoo for my seventeenth birthday because waiting until eighteen is too mainstream. (thanks mom)
6. Junior Prom did not go how it does in the movies. Rain + white prom dress = terrible things. Although, it did make for an interesting evening full of laughter (& tears) and twisted ankles. Walking in heels is hard, running in heels in the RAIN is harder!! God bless our calves!!!
7. A camping retreat to Dearborn, MO is a retreat everyone needs to take! The weekend was full of laughs, reminiscing and growth. Real conversation, real struggles, real doubts.. these people are the best!!!!! Days like this feel like a really really good dream where you don’t want to wake up. (except we did wake up because we couldn’t feel our toes)
8. Junior Year, done- yahoo!
9. Packed up all my things and made a happy return to Youthfront Camp Lacygne for a second summer. I was reminded how beautiful living in community is and that life guarding is very hot.
10. The summer staff definitely had more fun at the dance parties then some of the campers, but that’s okay. Dancing is therapeutic and vital to ones well-being.
11. Living in a small room with three girls for two months is fun, sometimes smelly. Learned that personal space isn’t always an option/necessary and that is okay! Also that everyone picks a toilet and sticks with it.
12. I stopped being vegetarian. You’re welcome dad.
13. Jumping off bridges is legal right? For some reason my friends and I find this summer tradition fun. YOLO.
14. The last day at Youthfront was full of tears and wet hair. I think the heavens were crying with us. Returning to normal life is hard, but taking the memories, friendship and lessons makes it easier. #wedinetogether
15. August brought the class of 2018’s last, first day of High School- yahoo!
16. Working at a retirement home has been the most lively part of my senior year. I have learned patience and compassion. Going to work is not something I dread and that is AMAZING.
17. I applied, interviewed for, and committed to the World Race Gap year! I can not wait to yeet around to Ecuador, Cambodia, Peru and Guatemala in nine months for nine months! Thanks God!
I am so excited for this New Year and all the new opportunities it will bring and I hope you are too! I encourage you to look back on all the awesome moments in 2017 and re-live some through the bittersweet photos from your camera roll. This year may have been full of happy/sad/beautiful/sorrowful times, but isn’t it relieving to know there is a blank canvas waiting to be painted. I hope you go into the 2018 with a positive and productive mindset. Now lets make 2018 the grooviest year yet!
Lets chat:
Blog: savannathomas.theworldrace.org
Email: s[email protected]
Instagram: @savannathomass
