What happened in 2012?

A lot happened this year.
Many trials, growths moments, and challenges yet to come.

Spring semester 2012 was a particuarly trying time.
Began learning and questioning what does the word love mean?
What is friendship?
What is more?
Destinguishing between guard and building relationships.
Responsibility and trusting that God is the one in control.

This year in January I applied to study abroad, and by God's grace.. I was able to ... ( i am in Japan now.. )
I was able to lead an amazing small group of girls with a beautiful lady by the name of Ashley<3!!
I got to meet, get to know, and talk to wonderful girls in my small group. There were alot of hard and tension moments, but it seems to be part of the picture that God is trying to show me.
He continues to show me what it looks to let Him be the one to do the work, let him build the product, just plant and water. Plant and water, then let the sun grow the plant.
If one just stands over the plant, it will block the light and shadow it so that the sun can not come and shine upon it... if the person always waters and waters the plant the minute it is dry the plant will either drown, be weak, or die the minute the care taker steps away. Plants need to grow in periods of dryness, flooding, day and night. This way they can survive, their roots will grow deep.

Friendships were probably one of the hardest things this year.
-- the entire essence of it has been questioned---
from times when i want to abandon everyone and live alone... thoughts of 'wanting out' and leave the stress of this world, the worries about relationships and responsibilities...
but,
through these struggles I feel like i keep being shown what love and grace means in our lives. It begins to feel familiar and apart of our daily life, and this way we can think to share the same with others. For after all, "We love because he first loved us" ... right
It say that
 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love because he (Jesus) first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

So... why is it so difficult for us to love our fellow believers... they are the ones we criticise and judge the most right?.. or is it just me... hmm.. then... how can we love? ... That is what i believe can only be done once we ourselves feel what it is like to be loved, loved especially in moments where our guilt knows that we do not deserve it... but dispite our guilt, God chose to love us. <3

SO what happened in 2012??? your turn :)