2009!

I can't say my new year's celebration was the most eventful or crazy. It was rather subdued, but I enjoyed it. Seeing a few friends, and then ringing in the new year at midnight with 3 others whilst playing some board games.

As I look into 2009, I have many expectations, things I am *already* looking forward to!

My list of hopes & expectations for 2009 include:

+To get married!

+To become an aunt!

+To travel! (specifically, I hope to travel to Annapolis in April for croquet and to pick up a beautiful wooden rowing oar I am purchasing!)

+To have some more career changes, and pursue other avenues for income! (freelance photography and writing being foremost in my mind.)

+To grow in my knowledge and love of the Lord and other fascinating people He's put on earth!

+To read a few more books! (Some I'm eagerly looking forward to reading include: Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott, Rainbows for the Fallen World by Calvin Seerveld, Demons by Fyodor Dostoevsky, Simply Christian by N.T. Wright, Works of Love by Soren Kierkegaard, and Between Noon and Three by Robert Farar Capon.
These are all after I finish a few currently in, like Life Together by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky, and Jesus for President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw. I'll also welcome reading companions for face-to-face or email conversations about any of these picks, so let me know if you are interested!)

2009, I'm glad you finally made it here. I sense you are going to be a *most* excellent year! May we savor every moment.

new year 09 already!?

I am sitting in an office working a fairly new job (this is still my first month), wondering how it is that December 31st is already here and 2009 upon us?!

Many years ago, I would make huge lists of resolutions. Later the list narrowed, then list categories were made, and eventually, the resolutions disappeared altogether, the practice abandoned.

I like to set goals, I think it's a good thing.
I like to reflect, too.
But resolutions just sort of became the be-all, end-all list of everything practical and impractical. And the result is usually just discouragement, or it just gets forgotten and never tackled.

When I was in Belarus in 2006, we rang in 2007 with prayer. I'd like to continue in that vein of thought and heart as well as practice.

I will end 2008 with a list of thanksgivings for this year. Will you join me?

I will then embark into 2009 with a list of things I anticipate, with perhaps a few more realistic goals that I invite accountability on to tackle!