this time last year, I was planning and arranging everything that I would need to work at a Christian camp for the summer. Those plans fell through around March of 2017. I wrote a post on that...I wrote about how I was actually okay with it not working the way I had hoped. I knew I was going to graduate..so. I decided that I was 100% okay spending the summer tending my garden and being lifeguard for our pool, that I wanted to read and write and spend time with my family. ALSO LIKE UNKNOWN EXCITINGNESS EEP
WELL LOL MOST OF THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN
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| LIFE ^ and how random it is legit |
(ONE : THE FLIGHT) (TWO: BOSTON) (THREE: OCEAN + MANSIONS + HOME)
at the end of May 2017, I answered the knock at the door to see a friendly face of the farmer which we had "randomly" met a few years prior. We had been friends throughout the years, helping each other with butchering chickens and such things. He asked if me and Sarah would like to work for him at his CSA (which if you're still wondering what that is, GO HERE)
WE WERE SO EXCITED. and legit it was just pulling weeds. At least, that's how it started. Within a month, we were helping harvest veggies. Within two months, we were planting and picking/packing the entire share (30+ boxes of 8 different types of vegetables) on our own. I cannot tell you how much joy I got out of that job. I'm a gardener/farmer at heart. I soooo miss it right now.
AND ON TOP OF THAT - I had my own garden. bc *cough* like I had just started working on it when Farmer Boss came to the door. And the pool. and.. yeah. You get the gist. I had a lot going on. Also we decided to paint the entire house. it was insane and I was exhausted but I WAS LOVING IT.
then I saw that they were hiring at my local libraries. I applied to both. and yes, I was hired. A few weeks within working there, I bought my jeep, Wilson. I worked my two jobs until the end of October...when CSA season for us ended. I am counting down the days until spring.
I just find it crazy ... like I mean I KNOW THAT GOD DID ALL OF THIS - but I find it absolutely nutty and amazing bc..I wasn't expecting it in the least. NOT IN THE SLIGHTEST. I'm learning that I'm going to struggle a lot tho. also..I adore community. And, that the unexpected can be good.
so I guess this post is saying I'm really excited about 2018. I went over my previous posts this week and saw that my blogging style has changed. I'm much more lifestyle and *cough* I'm sorry that a lot of my posts have gotten super deep and speechish.. I always said I wouldn't grow up and now I am. I'm not really upset about that bc just ask anyone, and they'll say that I'll always be a child at heart. Neverland is still my home forevermore.
I guess the point I'm getting at is my eyes have opened and I'm seeing a bit more of what is what. I'm finding out who 18yr Julia Ryan is and what she likes doing. it's just that 2017 had a lot of hard things but a lot of beautiful things. I was talking with a friend and was telling her about what was going on recently. She was like "WOW THATS ROUGH." and I was like "yeah, it is." and mentally had a realization -- it IS rough but like it's OKAY.
I'm getting really sick of remembering days and years for the terrible things that have happened. I'd much rather focus on the laughs in those days. They're always there - somewhere.
well. gee. that turned out way more sappy than I wanted it to lol!!! sorry about that. XD btw, I made christmas jam today bc IT IS 5 DAYS + 17 HOURS UNTIL CHRISTMAS WOOOAAAHH. my siblings are starting to get really excited and all I can think about is PEPPERMINT BARK + WATCHING THE NATIVITY STORY *heart eyes*
p.s. this is why I love blogging. I have all these posts written down as proof for all these amazing God moments <333
WHAT UNEXPECTED BUT AMAZING THING HAPPENED IN 2017 FOR YOU?
HAVE YOU EVER HAD CHRISTMAS JAM?
As I am sure you know, the most amazing and unexpected thing that happened to me in 2017 was
ReplyDeleteMay - met the boy I had been chatting with online for 7.5 months
May 19th - began officially dating that boy
September 23rd - became engaged to my best friend
Now I am planning a wedding and preparing to leave my family and home for a new life!
2018 is going to be one crazy ride.
I don't believe I have ever had Christmas jam? I am not sure if I have ever even heard of it?
*grins* I do know this
Deleteand EEEEEEEEEEEEEEPPP SO EXCITING FOR YOU
and I 100% know that it's also terrifying.. like tbh I can only imagine it, but still, I get it.
2018 sure will!! You'll keep blogging right?? even just a little?
ohh really?! So it's like strawberries and cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, cooked down into a jam. soooooooooooooo yummmmmmmm
Ack I loved reading this. 2017 was a really different year for me than any other year. At the beginning of the year I felt hugely busy and we had so much on and it was getting quite crazy. If anyone asked me "How are you going" my reply was normally something along the lines of "very busy." and...I'm still just as busy...so I've realised that busy is normal now and that's okay. I like this sort of busy. Full of adventures and excitement.
ReplyDeleteSo, at the beginning of this year, I had a goal to be pitching to publishers by now, but since then I've discovered that noo that's not where I'm at yet. I have way further to go. I'm currently thinking within the next two years that would be possible though.
I also became the Aussie resaler for Burning Rose (Hope Ann) and my word I WASN'T EXPECTING THAT, NO SIR. O-o
*squints* Is Christmas jam like ordinary jam only you eat it at Christmas? OH WAIT. What I call jam, you call jelly, so...WHAT DO YOU CALL JAM?? *confused Aussie*
ack thank you Jane!!! hmm.. yes...that was often my reply as well. It got old but like you said, I realized that was becoming the new normal and it actually is okay!! It's still hard to juggle busy with the things you wanna do + the friends you want to hang out with, but still..it's good.
Deleteohhhhhhhh wow well no matter what YOU ARE BRAVE MY FRIEND (remember how much I died showing my tiny little novel to you + my alpha readers??!! XD XD) you'll get there - no doubt!!
WWWWWOOOOAHHHHHHHHHH YOU ARE LIKE WOOOAH SO COOL
*grins* hahaaa noo, but tbh I reaalllly crave it around this time. It's like strawberries and cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, cooked down into a jam. and uhmm.. we have jelly here as well. Jelly tends to be completely smooth (like no fruit chunks) and a bit more on the thin side (like a marmalade) and jam has the fruit chunks and is a bit more thick. is that the same for you? *confused American*
Before I say anything, I must know - what is Christmas jam!?!?! O_O
ReplyDeleteHaha, you were pretty sappy, but hey, I'm a sappy person myself so I rather enjoyed it. ;D I can 110% relate to what you experienced: I had my 2017 all mapped out and literally NOTHING happened the way I thought it would, and SO much more happened in its place! And it was infinitely better than my plan. Honestly, I was expecting 2017 to be a rather listless, hard-working year, in which I would be waiting for my 'big break'. (Finish school, get a license, get a job, DO STUFF...) But God showed me there is no such thing as a big break. There ARE such things as "seasons of waiting" but that doesn't mean they are void of anything good. Indeed, I believe it is in those seasons that God grows us the most so that we may be ready for the next chapter, and have everything we need to know, that we wouldn't have had unless God had let us take a moment to sit back and sort through stuff. That was my 2017. My plan was to get a driving license and attempt to finish grades 11 and 12 in one year. I'm only a quarter way to getting my license, and about three quarters close to finishing school (which is fine, because then next year's school year will be a breeze XD) but SO MUCH MORE HAPPENED. I think I've matured so much, and just THOUGHT about things a lot more. People actually come to me for advice and I feel as though I can actually be of some help, which is something I always wanted to be able to do. This year I did some crazy stuff, and met some crazy people. I did a Certificate 2 in Business, I went to hospital a couple times (which I'd never done), my brother got married and I was a bridesmaid, and made a lot more friends. But most importantly, I drew closer to Jesus, and became ever so much happier than I have been. It's amazing.
I've loved reading about your year, and I'm so happy for you. BRING ON 2018!! (Okay, not really, I gotta enjoy Christmas, my birthday and New Year's first. ;P)
Also, that Captain Jack Sparrow gif may or may not have made my day. XD
LOL LEGIT EVERYONE HAS ASKED THIS. XD XD XD soooooooo it's like strawberries and cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, cooked down into a jam. basically a combo of my favorite things and it makes the house smell like heaven plus WHAT IS BETTER OF A NAME THAN "CHRISTMAS JAM"!?!?!? so festive <3
Delete*grins* well thanks a ton + more bc I felt like being sappy. ;) LOL I WOULD CALL THAT GOD.
woooooooooh, sounds like we were expecting the opposite and then got the opposite. which totally is not a bad thing. MAN THO SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE LEARNED A LOT!!!!!!!!!!! wow wow wow wow
I am soooooo proud of you tho. like learning stuff like that isn't easy. but you're taking it in stride and wow. GOOO YOU <3 (also your bro got married? HOW COOL IS THAT)
and yes, most importantly you drew closer to Jesus. 100% most important.
AWW THANKS GABBY <3 (and ooooooohhhh YOUR BIRTHDAY?!! when is it?! AND HAPPY BIIRRRTHHHDAAAAY TOOO YOOOOUUUUU)
dude I laughed so hard. thank you <3 xD
Haha, thanks. My birthday is 2 days after Christmas Day. ;D
DeleteNever made jam specifically for Christmas, but I do love jam. We preserve fruit as a family and also make jams and relishes (beetroot relish is incredible!!). Loved watching your insta stories when making jam, haha.
ReplyDeleteThe craziest thing that happened to me in 2017 was saying yes to a relationship in August with a young man I said no to in January. I didn't think that would happen. But it did. He continued to pursue me and won my heart. I know God is in it. I'm so glad he didn't give up when I originally said no! Life is amazing. Crazy to think I'm only 19 yet I could be getting married late next year or sometime in 2019!!
I'm also working full time this year in a law firm, which is awesome! Life is crazy but good. 2017 has been one rollercoaster of a year, that's for sure. Also, rollercoasters are so fun.
ohh you should! this is my 2nd or third year of doing it myself? I really love cranberries but like they are soo tart so the strawberries help balance it wonderfully. WOAH BEATROOT RELISH!?! I wanna try that! and awww thx Bonnie <3
Deletewow. yeah. I would totally agree with that. and AAAHHH MARRIAGE?!?!? dude where has the time flown?! we are all truly growing up aren't we?? PRAYING FOR YOU
ohhh dude I didn't know that SO COOL!!! And yes. Rollercoasters can be fun <3
So awesome!!!!!! I love these kinds of posts. You're not sappy, Julia, you love deeply and laugh loudly and appreciate fully and want to. That's exactly the way I want to be, which is why I loved this post. It makes me so happy that your'e happy, and I'm also agreeing with you about "I know what I want to do and what I like" etc...yesterday was my birthday, and I turned thirteen though I've been in the eighth grade for over a year, and after this last school term I'll be in high school even though I'm pretty sure fourteen-year-olds are in high school. AND YES THERE ARE ONLY LIKE TWELVE DAYS LEFT IN 2017 whatttt?!?!?!?!
ReplyDeleteare you trrrrrrrryyyyyyyyyyying to make me emotional?!!!? like stooppp right now. srsly. I like don't even know what to say other than thank you and wow you're like making me all sappy again. ;)
DeleteWOW LOOK AT YOU.
*cough* *sputters* *dies* I FORGOT ABOUT 2018 BEING THAT CLOSE LOL LOL LOL
unexpected but amazing thing that happened to me this year - that month long trip to the east coast. I can't even begin to tell you how thankful I am that we bought those plane tickets and just WENT FOR IT. So much good came out of that trip. Hoping for another one next year. Felicity will be living there, and having her sister visit will probably make her very happy. ;P
ReplyDeletewhat is Christmas jam!?
but I loved this post soooooo muuuuuuuccccchhhhhh *ten millions hearts isn't even enough to show my love for not just this post, but your entire blog* <3333333333333333333333
ohh right!! and I'm so glad you went as well. My graduation trip to the east coast was sooooo unexpected as well - I think it's so neat that we did similar things like that XD XD and DUDE DO IT. I bet you'll have a grand time <3
Deletehaha!!! I guess I should have explained myself XD it's like strawberries and cranberries, cinnamon, nutmeg, etc, cooked down into a jam. I LOVE IT SOOO MUCH
dude stoooopppppppppppppppppp *hugs you* x140589140985814580914985
YES! God is SO SO GOOD! Isn’t it incredible how He changes our plans and something better comes of it?! I am so excited for 2018 too, it’s gonna be awesome to see what God has in store! This post was awesome!!!! <3 <3
ReplyDeleteLydia
ISN'T HE JUST SOOOOOOO WONDERFUL!? *nods vigorously* I am constantly amazed by how it happens!! and yayayayaayay let's be excited together <333 thx xD
DeleteWow! its amazing how God takes our plans and trades them for His, because OF COURSE his are so much better in the long run. "For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." For some reason my mind has blanked and I can't remember the reference. >.<
ReplyDeleteMy year was COMPLETELY different from what I expected. Some of it was very bitter, but a lot of it was sweet, too.
I can't wait to see what happens in the coming year, though I'm awfully sad to say goodbye to this one.
(and can I just say that you always choose the perfect gifs? and sorry I haven't been commenting regularly for a while... I finally started following by email because that's the only way I can remember all the blogs I follow XP)
I like this post a lot. It's encouraging to hear your experiences, and that even when things didn't turn out how they were expected to, God was still there working everything out to His plan. Also wow, you did so much, and you still kept up this blog?! You have my admiration.
ReplyDeleteDon't apologize; your super deep and speechish posts are my favourite! And I can't believe I never got to commenting on your previous post. But it was so good, and made me realize how many times I slip up in my language. I'm much more aware of it now, and I think that's a good thing, so thank you! Though I think the enemy knows what's going on too, and it's not an easy thing to change.
I so appreciate your positive attitude and looking on the happy or funny side of things. It's refreshing, honestly. You're inspiring. xx
Wowow it sounds like you were super busy this year! I've enjoyed following you throughout this year and seeing how you've grown.
ReplyDeleteHappy 2018!
Sounds like some wonderful things happened for you this year!! ^___^
ReplyDeleteSome wonderful things that happened to me:
My sisters and I met family in Florida in April! That was a nice trip!
I finally got my license!
And I've got some crazy\exciting things coming up next year, which I wrote about in my latest post! ;)