Resolutions

When most people approach the New Year's holiday, they look forward - they make resolutions, put the past behind them and focus on starting fresh. Those things can be very good and very healthy; sometimes hitting a milestone like the change of the year can challenge us to make important life changes or set goals that can move us in the right direction. I tend to be a very forward-thinking person (being the planner that I am), so usually I follow along and think ahead at this time of year.

Right now, however, I am finding myself looking back more than looking forward. 2010 was an important year in our lives and God has been teaching me to depend on Him in new ways this past year. Rather than only focusing forward, this new year's I want to resolve to remember. I want to look back on 2010 and hold fast to what I've already learned. I want to build on what's already begun and avoid the tendency to forget. I so easily forget God's faithfulness in my life, the changes He has begun in my heart, and his sacrifice that should transform my life and actions each day.

Looking back on 2010, here are some highlights from life and learning that I especially want to remember in the coming year...

• Nate and I celebrated our 1-year wedding anniversary. The first year was fun, challenging and full of lots of learning! We love being married, but we also learn new things about marriage and each other every day. If we do not become complacent, this learning will continue for a lifetime.


• We took the leap of faith and began the first steps to apply to serve with WorldVenture back in April. We hit some snags early on and the process felt slow. God taught me more about trusting Him and trusting in His timing.


• We moved to a new apartment...again. The constant transition of living in 4 apartments over the last 4 years (both before and after marriage) has helped us to hold loosely to our immediate circumstances and hold more tightly to God's constancy in our lives.


• We had a few opportunities to travel, rest and relax...Door County in March, Grand Cayman in June, and a few other short trips. We continue to value the importance of getting away and resting. Even when this will be more difficult down the road, we will continue to make this a priority to care for our souls.


• We were accepted to WorldVenture and appointed to Austria in November. What we had been anticipating for years finally is becoming a reality. Now the real trusting begins! Since appointment, I have been learning patience as the process slowly gets underway and doesn't always go as quickly as I would like.

I look back on 2010 and am thankful for what we've learned. In 2011, I resolve to remember these things and continue to build on them.

[image courtesy of newyearseve.com]