Well this year certainly did not turn out the way I thought it would.

Does anything ever really though?

There was so much good: Dancing and laughing my a**(for you Mom) off at Kate and Lindsey’s weddings, getting to write for a really incredible CEO, spending time with the kids, getting to visit home for an entire week, Denny Fitch, getting to speak at Lafayette and having the scholarship fund become a 501c3, having Erica move up here, moving to the Gold Coast, getting to have every member of my immediate family visit and working at a place where potential seems to brim around every corner.

There was a lot of bad too. But I’m 27 in less than five hours, and I don’t want to dwell on any of the bad.

Moreover, I am grateful for everything that I have learned this year. I learned that I can be strong, but that my family and friends are there when I need a hand. I learned who I am, and further realized that the person I want to be isn’t so far away any more: She’s within reach.

I gave myself a challenge on Saturday. Between then and Wednesday (just 5 days), I wanted to run 26 miles to close out my 26th year.

All the good, all the bad—I wanted to end the year on a positive note.

I had to run 3 miles this morning and nearly 7 after work today, and that last mile I wasn’t sure if I was going to pull through, but I told myself:

You’ve got this Jill Christine.

You’ve got this girl.

And I did.

26 miles to close out this truly unforgettable 26th year of my life.

Can’t wait to see what 27 brings: Inevitably more cheesiness from me (see above few lines), but also Sunda tomorrow night with Linz, Hubbard Inn with Kate and Ere Friday night, a beer pong tournament with Kate Saturday morning and a date on Sunday.

And that’s just this weekend.

I thank God for the opportunities I have in front of me, my family and my friends, my Dad who watches over me from heaven, my passion for writing and my newfound optimism.

I thank him for my life, and I’m excited to see what this 27th year brings.

No expectations though: Things rarely turn out the way you thought they would.

Happy Jily.