The years go by. The time, it does fly. Every single second is a moment in time that passes oh so quick and it seems like nothing. But when you’re looking back … well, it amounts to everything. -Ray Bradburry, Catch 22

Christmas was always so fun back when everything seemed magical. Thank God for Emma, she allows me to still see Christmas in the eyes of a four-year-old. ♥

We're growing up, we're really growing up. It's crazy, I couldn't stand the thought of losing friends last year at graduation. It's only going to get worse with each graduating class though. It's so sad, honestly. Yeah, I want to grow up. Yeah, I want to get out of Lugoff. But I've lived my whole life for tomorrow, for the future, for the next step. It's like where I've been has never been good enough. Just when everything is going good, something happens. I think right now, at this moment, is probably the most content I've been throughout 2010. I mean there's about 15 days left until 2011. November and December have flown by, this whole year has flown by. Tomorrow is a half day, and then it's officially Christmas Break. First semester is almost over! I'm kind of scared for next semester, it should be pretty hard compared to this semester. I'm excited about having new classes with new people though! I'm really going to miss yearbook and art though. It's weird, I went into my algebra two class and art one class thinking I'd be miserable all semester and yet, I've made a new group of friends thanks to Algebra and Art- oh my gosh, I was so scared. That class has honestly kicked my butt all semester. It hasn't been easy, but Riches told me from the start that I'd be fine. He was right. I even got recommended for art two. Yearbook was just as stressful as everyone promised. Fortunately, we have a really close staff, and going in there every day to every body just made every deadline that much easier.

I don't think I have plans for lunch tomorrow because I think Courtney is staying with Lindsey, therefore, I need plans. All Saturday will probably be dedicated to this wrestling tournament, yay.... and then Monday I'm leaving to spend a couple of days in Georgetown for an early Christmas!

He said something that didn't mean as much then as it does now. He told me that things happen in life that you can't stop, but it wasn't a reason to shut out the world. I realize that I have been so afraid of the bad things that I missed out on the good, you know? I didn't want to come back here, but I'm really glad that I did. I have forgotten how much it helped to have you guys as friends ... really lucky to have this place and each other. There's a part of me that would like to stay here forever. ~ Now and Then