The Mason Jar on my nightstand is overflowing this year with scraps of white paper with thank-yous written on them. Thank You, Jesus, for You. For ships in a bottle and maps on my wall and oceans in a heart unfettered and free.
A Twelvemonth
- January: I started my last semester of college.
- February: Brrrrr. That’s pretty much all I remember.
- March: The South experienced an ice storm and a branch took out the windshield of my truck. Oh, but classes were cancelled! I also started meeting weekly with a friend to go over I Peter. Best part of my week.
- April: We thawed. Last Finals week.
- May: I graduated!
- June: I finished the last book in my Steadfast Love Series.
- July: I went on a mission trip to Virginia. I could say “It was an awesome experience” seventeen times and not encapsulate that great, daring week.
- August: I started a new novel.
- September: I started writing letters.
- October: I signed a book contract on the series I had just finished. That night, a dream came true.
- November: My two sisters came to visit me. We talked and laughed and took too few pictures.
- December: I opened a new chapter.
In Music
- Oceans. Just Oceans.
- My Worship Playlist — glory
- My Steadfast Love Series Soundtrack — so country it makes me laugh (’cause nothing says medieval England like guitars, yes?)
In Books
Just a few, in no particular order…
- The Selection Series // Gee, whiz, folks
- Speak Love by Annie F. Downs // not just for teenagers
- Grace for the Good Girl // my, my, my, read it
- Circle of Spies by Roseanna M. White // I adore her books, and not just because she’s my editor!
- This Quiet Sky by Joanne Bischof // the good kind of broken heart
In News
Just to recap, I graduated from college this year (Summa Cum Laude by grace!) and signed a three-book deal. How crazy is that?!
But definitely some of the best memories of the year aren’t that moment when I tossed a cap or John Hancocked the contract I’ve wanted for years…they’re the moments the six-year-old in my class told me I’m her favorite coach, when a friend from church told me a blog post blessed them…
What are some of your favorite moments?
Summa Cum Laude?! Wow! Congratulations on that and all you’ve achieved this year, Rachelle. Here’s to an even better 2015. Happy New Year!
Thank you, Ganise! To you, too!