grace eventually.

I've been contemplating what my first post of the year should be. I've thought about the friends I've lost in the last year, some through tragedy, others through circumstances beyond our control. I've thought about the new friends that have been brought into my life that I now can't imagine living without. I've thought about how faithful God continues to be in providing when I didn't think he was even listening to the cries of my heart. I'm not big on resolutions. I know myself well enough to know that they just don't work for me, then I end up feeling like a failure. Funny how I'm such an advocate of extending grace to those around me, but not so much to myself. I have set some goals, in no particular order:

*spend time with my God-children at least once a week
*read one book a month
*read my Bible daily
*be honest with the people I'm closest to about how I'm really doing
*blog more
*love more
*trust more
*pay off debt
*save more
*give more
*eat better
*work out regularly
*stay connected to far-away friends
...you get the idea.

I think goals are important so we know what it is we're working towards. I won't always do all these things listed here, but I'm certainly going to try. As Don Miller talks about in his latest book, I want to live out a meaningful story, not just a series of meaningless events. I don't know exactly what that looks like but I'm looking forward to figuring it out in 2010.

Happy New Year!

One of my new years resolutions should probably be "update the blog more than once a month", especially since a certain someone recently asked me if I had forgotten how to write:) Today as I was driving around town, running errands, and enjoying my normal day off for the first time in weeks, I thought about all the people I love, wondering what they were doing, more importantly, how they were doing. I thought about all the places I would love to visit in 2009 but I have so many friends all over the world, it's almost impossible to choose! I thought about how much longer I could survive working 2 jobs, yet still not surrendering to the thought of giving one of them up. I thought about the transitions happening at the church and the new opportunities that might be ahead for me in ministry! I thought about turning 32...I have officially settled into my "early-30's"! I thought about how Jesus' 3-year ministry was happening right now between 30 and 33. I guess that means I'm in my prime:) This year I do want to do all those typical things: eat better, exercise more, save money...but even more so, I want to move out of the way and allow Jesus to use me, to grow me, to wow me. 

Sorry I've been MIA...

Things in my life:
--a friend moving
--crazy holidays
--apartment hunting
--lots of eating (aka weight gaining!)

I promise to share more about all these things very soon. For now I must go to bed and face the reality that my lovely holiday is over and I must get back to work.