Okay, so unless you've been on Mars trapped in a shuttle for god knows how long, it's 2019. We're already here. And I'm already late. I've got a massive recap. post or two that'll be up this week because I'm determined to get it or them (I'm not too sure yet) done. Also because I wanna start off this year clean and organized and a little less behind where I'd like to be pace-wise. (Too late, I know, just let me live...) Uh so this post is off to a rocky start so I'm just gonna pray and hope it gets better from here.)
(Update to Future Delaney and Readers: It Does)
Sooooo, to look back a little on this year...
(WOAH I KNOW)
January: Last year's January was so cool because I wasn't home a single weekend. I traveled the whole month. I always had a bag packed to go somewhere, and clothing to fit every weather type, from beaches to the mountains. A definite highlight of this month though, was that I got to go to two different winter camps. One of which I led, and the other I was a student. Both of which, I learned. I learned a lot at both of these camps and was so lucky to have been surrounded by some of the sweetest souls. Super rad to praise the Lord with these folks.
February: Formal last year was an adventure at my new school, so that's gotta be the runner up, but the highlight of February had to have been POPS Concert. I sang an original song of mine in front of an audience at a live show, outside of a coffeeshop. That was a big accomplishment for me because it was wayyyy outta my comfort zone, but it was such a cool moment that I got to have and I wouldn't trade it for the world.
March: March was a fun month, but I don't have any photos from that month... at all. Hah! It's kinda funny because I don't remember much from this month except for being jam-packed with rehearsals for choir tour to San Francisco and for How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, our school's big musical production for the year. So I guess I was busy and didn't get any photos... whoops!
April: This month was a big one because How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying happened and that was pretty stinkin' cool, AND Chamber Choir went on tour to the San Francisco with Worldstrides. Tour was phenomenal because we did so well! Besides bonding with everyone and visiting so many rad places, we crushed the competition. We placed within the top 10% of choirs in the USA and placed 2nd overall at our competition. Additionally, two members from our choir won individual awards! Both the Maestro award and the Ovation award! & On top of all that, we were even invited to Carnegie Hall! Absolute madness. April was full of some crazy joys.
May: May was a fun month because my How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying cast was invited to perform at the MACY Awards Ceremony and that was wild. That was crazy. I got to perform on the Segerstrom stage for the second time and it was about a year after the first time I performed on that stage and it brought back the best of memories. So, so, so sweet.
June: June wrapped up my school year so beautifully. I attended a number of banquets, performed in my last show of the year (the THHS Dance Production show), and Chamber even sang at graduation which was such a special and bittersweet moment. On top of all the wonderful school things that happened, I played keyboard for Youth Culture night which was an honor. Lastly, I got the phone call right at the end of June that propelled my adventures for the next three months. I got the phone call saying that I got the part of Brenda in DCMS's production of Catch Me If You Can!
July: July was a blast because I started off the month performing "God Bless America" at SAMLARC's Star Spangled Spectacular event on the Fourth of July. Other than that though, I spent the entire month of July growing increasingly closer with my Catch Me If You Can cast. Whether I was FaceTiming or HousePartying with my stage fiancé to learn my lines, or I was away at rehearsals, or I was out late at dinner after my rehearsals, or I was grabbing breakfast with the cast, or going bowling, etc. etc. I spent the whole month getting to know these folks really well and it was sucha fun and free month where I kinda did whatever I wanted to. I had so much freedom and that awesome. Absolutely awesome. On top of rehearsals, I flew to Texas for a week and spent time with my family and my cousins. Super fun. Aaaaaand on top of allll thaaaat, I had the privilege to go to CSUF's Choral Camp! I was so lucky because I had a full ride scholarship to one of the best choral camps around. And I met some of the raddest people around. So shoutout to my CSUF pals for allowing me to nerd out in a number of new and even dorkier than usual ways.
August: This month might have been my favorite month of 2018. I performed in Catch Me If You Can, I went to Forest Home, and I started Junior Year. The entire month was a highlight because it contained some of the greatest highlights of my year. I spent this entire month with my big brother Dalen and we went on so many adventures and I wrote so much music and like- WOW. Words fail to describe how awesome August was.
September: September was a bit of a wild one for me because things got crazy real quick, but the best part of this month was that right at the end of it, literally the last school day of September, I made the decision to join Mock Trial. And that led to so many great things. Also, I saw Nick Jonas perform live that month and it completed my entire existence. Thank you Nick.
October: Yoooo this was a fun one. I turned 16, I worked really hard during preseason for mock, had the best time ever at Homecoming, & I performed in Trabuco Night Live at school with Off The Wall. Oh Off The Wall... I really became close with that group of nerds during October and I'm so grateful for that. These folks have had my back through everything and no matter what and I'm so stinkin' grateful for them.
November: Mock Trial season took up my entire life this month, but it was so worth it. I'm so thankful and humbled to have had this opportunity and to win awards doing what I love. For this being a re-building year for our team, we did SO WELL. We competed up until the same round that last year's (FULL) team got out during. So that was a massive compliment to us. Another thing that happened was I got to baptize one of my former students turned close friend, Olivia! That girl is one of the most caring and hilarious kiddos I know and I'm so thankful for her putting up with my crocs obsession and my hecka late text responses. A true gem. The big one thing that made my month complete though was seeing Dear Evan Hansen at the Ahmanson with my best pal Paige. I've never cried as much as I did in that theatre that night. I'd been waiting to see that show for so long and it was so beautiful and WOW. WORDS. FAIL.
December: A perfect end to a wild year. I focused in this recap. on all of the good things, but this year definitely brought its fair share of struggles, but things became so good right at the end of December and I'm so thankful. I'm surrounded by some wonderful people and I'm so thankful for each and every one of them for encouraging me and loving me and surprising me with chai tea lattes. So much love for those folks. Thank you, thank you.
So this year's already here, and with the new year, I've decided to make some new changes.
I'm going to be posting more often. This blog is still alive and I'm praying that this family grows and spreads because that would be beautiful. But yes! I'll be posting more, and posting more about things that make me happy. So that's change number one.
Additionally, I've decided that I want to start signing off my blog posts differently to spice things up a little bit. Because Delaney Miller is my name, but I've got so many nicknames and things I'd like to try, so we'll see what happens.
Lastly, I have a surprise coming, which I'll be releasing on my Instagram Stories as soon as this post goes up, but I guess I'll post it early and let y'all in on the secret. I'm looking to get some GUEST WRITERS on here! I'm very excited! So if you're interested in writing and sharing about things you're thankful for or writing a devotional or sharing some poetry or whatever, let me know!
I can't wait for a new year full of new adventures on Messy & Kind. Subscribe to my blog to get my lil' personal messages, and I'll talk to ya soon.
Much Love,
Del