It’s officially 2007, and some pretty funky noises are coming from outside my window. Firework noises, mostly, and some kind of weird one that could’ve been a firework, but wasn’t like any kind I’ve ever heard before. But I guess that’s not saying much. I’m no firework expert, after all.

There were a few places I’d hoped to be last year when I made my unofficial resolutions. (None of my resolutions are ever official, unless you count the kind of book-reading goals that they make you write in middle school. That was about as official as they get for me.) For instance, I’d hoped to have gotten into shape, but as those of you who’ve seen me lately can see, that one went straight out the window after about a week into 2006. I’d also hoped that I would get more serious about school. By serious, I mean that I wanted to have a desire to do my homework so it wouldn’t be so monotonous all the time. Looking back at the past year, I’d say another one bites the dust. Not that I was very ruffled about any of these anyway; I’ve never been very good at seeing things through to the end. The one that bothers me the most is that I’d wanted to keep in better touch with my friends and family, and it just didn’t happen. I’m still just as irresponsible when it comes to replying to letters, emails, and phone calls. My apologies to whomever is reading this at the moment- if you’re not some random person reading my blog for fun, you’ve probably been a victim of my unresponsiveness.

Even though last year’s resolutions turned out as disappointingly as they did, 2006 was still an overall good year. I spent it in Hawaii, and there were no family disasters or anything; how could it have been any less than wonderful? Guests have come, stayed and left; people here have moved on to different locations or churches; new friends have been made. I’m learning now more than ever that life isn’t all fun and games. More often than not, it’s bittersweet and tangy rather than the juicy, sugary mush of oatmeal I’d believed in only a year before. The thing that scares me most about that, though, is that I’m still only a teenager. I haven’t even gotten to experience life away from home, life outside of my little comfort bubble that consists only of Hawaii, Pennsylvania and occasionally Indiana or West Virginia.

What about this coming year, then? I’m almost sixteen years old and still as immature as ever. I can sound more intelligent than I actually am through words, but honestly, I’m still your average teenager in more ways than one. Y’know, a few weeks ago, when Dave and Tara were here, I remember Tara saying something that stuck with me. I’m pretty sure it was when we were taking that awfully long hike across the lava, near the beginning when I said sarcastically, “Well, this is fun.” Tara looked at me, laughed, and said something along the lines of, “What a teenage thing to say! Sometimes I forget that you’re ten years younger than me, but it’s those things like that that remind me you’re only fifteen.” (Sorry if I misquoted you, T, but I can’t remember your exact wording.) Whether she intended it to do so or not, it really made me think. How mature am I, really, when I can sniff at the behavior of the guys and girls of my age, but I turn around and whine like a little kid? Not very. So that’s my first goal for the year; to become more mature in the way I act.

Goal number two? The ever-dreaded and never-taken-quite-so-seriously fitness goal! I’d like to get in shape… maybe if I keep putting it on my list, it’ll happen eventually. Who knows?

And goal number three is the most serious of the trio. I want to get my relationship with God where it’s supposed to be. It’s been too long since I’ve genuinely wanted to read the Bible, and it’s been too long since I’ve sung any songs in church and actually thought about what they truly mean. It’s high time I get my act together. After all, isn’t there that verse that says “Seek first the kingdom of God… and all these other things will be added to you as well”? Of course I’ll need plenty of help, so to you, the reader, I ask this: will you help to keep me accountable, to make sure I’m still just as serious about this in a week or a month as I am as I type this?

It’s two o’clock in the morning and I’m starting to nod off, so I’ll end this New Year’s email (rather lamely, since I can’t think of a better way) with this: Happy New Year, everyone!

01/02  Note to Tara: I know the whole maturity thing was a joke- it was just one of those things that popped into my mind when I was looking for examples the other night.  =)