He Makes All Things New

Happy New Year, everyone! Looking back, it's difficult to imagine so many events being packed into 2012, but I have a feeling 2013 will be quite competitive in terms of busyness. 2012 was a year filled with blessing and trial and I thank God for every moment of it.

The year started with several fun, yet always challenging speech and debate tournaments. I enjoyed competing in Lincoln Douglas debate and Extemporaneous speech for the first time this year, as well as old favorites such as Apologetics and Duo.

Things were tough in March when Dad departed for a planned 8-month deployment with the USS New York.

In May, I was excited to graduate from high school. We had a fun party filled with friends and family. It was a blessing to be surrounded by many new Virginian friends after just having moved to Suffolk a year earlier.

June held an adventure to Minnesota with Mom and Noah for NCFCA Nationals. I enjoyed competing in four events- Lincoln Douglas, Duo Interpretation, Apologetics, and Illustrated Oratory- but I especially loved spending time with friends.





In July I realized that I should probably start thinking about shopping & packing for college! Then, at the end of August, Mom, Noah, Andrew, and Grandmom dropped me off at Appalachian Bible College in West Virginia. It was the beginning to a brand new adventure for which I could never have been fully prepared.

I started to settle into college life throughout September, enjoying classes, joining Chorale, and being elected secretary of the freshman class. In October I auditioned for and was accepted to a spring traveling singing team, Magnify, and ABC's summer singing team, the Gospel Heralds.

November held Thanksgiving break. The news that Dad's deployment was being extended cast a damper over this time at home, but it was still nice to relax and get some extra sleep!

December was a wonderfully busy month. I enjoyed a lovely Christmas banquet at school, my first venture into "geocaching" with friends, final exams, of course Christmas, and last, but not least, a thrilling reunion with Dad on December 20th. His return was definitely my favorite Christmas present!

I wouldn't change anything about this past year because I know that every up and down was part of God's ultimate plan. I stand in awe of His control over all things and look forward to the revealing of even more of His plan in 2013.

~Hannah Grace


"And He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away. And He who sits on the throne said, 'Behold, I am making all things new.'" ~Revelation 21:4-5