So I just realized that I have not written in my blog once this year.

Not. Once.

I feel terrible. Especially since I had some cool stuff to write about, like living in China and coming back to Alaska for the first time in 15 years, and Disney World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, and so many other shenanigans it's ridiculous that I didn't take the time to write them down.

I feel really bad.

Well, not really bad, but a bit.

So here's an update:

This past year I embraced being a feminist and became much more liberal than I used to be. I went to Shanghai, Hong Kong, Beijing, and climbed the Great Wall of China.

Absolutely amazing.

I met some amazing people, got to see my family again when I came back to AK and meet amazing people here. I got a job as a daycare assistant at the BGC in Anchorage, where I continued learning what it's like to have terrible management, but also how to take care of babies better than I ever have before and learn to love them more (which I didn't know was possible).

I've done so much and seen so much this year that there's no way one post will be able to do everything justice. It's really been an amazing year, and I'm greatly looking forward to the future. I plan on moving to Moscow (hopefully) soon to be a governess (so I'm continuing with the "teaching English" part of my life), where I plan to make a ton of money, get out of debt, and actually learn Russian (which I should have done in college with my Russian classes, but I digress). My family has been amazing. Dad is currently in Kabul on a six month deployment (and we're grateful it's not a year), and we miss him terribly. We got to Skype him last night and he said there had been a bomb detonated in the morning there. I guess this isn't the first time they've had to deal with this, which scares me a little bit, because I hate to think of my dad having to deal with things like that, but we are managing and I pray for him just about every night.

I've loved my singles ward here. I've made a couple of very special friends. I've also realized I'm a bit lonely, but I'm not willing to give up my independence just yet, nor do I think I need a man to feel good about myself, but it would be nice to have someone to talk to every now and then (and make out with. Just sayin'.).

I got my Patriarchal blessing in October before Dad left, which held some amazing information for me that I really needed to hear, and made me very excited for my future. This prompted D.J. to get his just a week later. I'm grateful for the great example my baby brother is. He's truly amazing in every way.

I dyed my hair a few different colors. I wore a lot of black (so not much has changed there). I ate scorpions at a Chinese night market (they're really crunchy and salty).

I sang a lot of karaoke and competed in a mock American Idol competition at Disney World (and won my first round).

I literally went to Hogwarts and almost died of happiness.

I've had so many amazing experiences and opportunites, it literally boggles my mind sometimes to think of the things I've done, and what I've got to look forward to. I've laughed, danced, cried, and sung my heart out more times than I could count. I've been incredibly happy, which is all a girl can ask for in this world, I think :)

If this post seems random, that's because, well, it is. I read a quote once that basically said that from day to day our lives seem ordinary and don't really change, but one day you look back and everything is different, and it's so true.

To all of my friends and family, I love you so much. This year would not have been what it was without any of you. To my friends I haven't really gotten to talk to this year, I haven't forgot about you, and I miss and love you as much as I ever have.

I think I only have one resolution for 2014: make it even better than 2013. I hope the New Year brings perpetual happiness and prosperity for all of you :)