I have a long-standing New Year's Eve tradition. Every year on NYE, I write. About the last year... About what it's been, what's happened and what it's meant. And since we're having friends over this year, I'm writing earlier in the evening than usual. I think the tradition started out of sheer need to keep myself awake for the two hours between bedtime (10pm) and the new year. And I've stuck to it ever since. So this year, even though it's only 7pm, I'm taking a few minutes to reflect.
I can't believe what a year it's been! I started doing sales for my family, traveled to sales meetings, took the youth from our church on a number of activities and outings, asked for and was given in-discernment status with my church and association, competed for a second year with my chorus, squeezed in a few quick trips to see friends, began a new relationship, joined the Spiritual Growth mission group and church Cabinet... I can't even count all the things I did!
But perhaps the most important thing I did this year was start school. In January, I finally started my undergrad. Settling back into the swing of school proved more difficult than I had originally thought. And taking classes online proved a challenge greater than I had expected. But I got through my first few online classes at Front Range. In the fall, I transferred to Aims and decided to give traditional classes a chance. I discovered that I'm really much, much better at those! I'm enjoying classes and excited to move on to another great semester.
Every year, in the beginning of the year, I pick a word or phrase that I choose to focus on through the year. This year, my phrase was "In everything: Grace, Mercy and Love." More than once, I was faced with situations where I had to choose grace, mercy and love. And although I failed often, I feel like I'm coming out on this end of the year with a greater understanding of how I can treat those around me with grace, mercy and love.
I can't believe the new friends I've made this year, too! There are so many of you that I can't even begin to name you each. I know I'll forget some! Your new friendships (and the friendships of your spouses and families) have been gigantic blessings this year! It has really been a year of new beginnings, and each of you is part of that.
And finally, this year has been especially important in my faith journey. So many of the friends I've met have blessed me with new perspectives and understandings of a God that is greater than we are. The faith of my friends (Christian and non-Christian alike) astounds me every single day. I have taken communion in a room where ages spanned more than 100 years and learned more from the children I get to see each week than I can fathom teaching them. I have continued to learn to "Be Still" (and even got a tattoo to remind myself!) in some of my most frustrating moments and have found tools that help me to re-focus and center myself when I need to. I'm nowhere near where I hope I'll one day be, but 2013 sure has been an incredible year of growth for my faith.
So as I look forward to the new year that comes in just a few hours, I can only hope that the opportunities I've had, the friendships I've made and the transformations in my life over the past year will carry forward into 2014.
To 2014. Cheers!
I can't believe what a year it's been! I started doing sales for my family, traveled to sales meetings, took the youth from our church on a number of activities and outings, asked for and was given in-discernment status with my church and association, competed for a second year with my chorus, squeezed in a few quick trips to see friends, began a new relationship, joined the Spiritual Growth mission group and church Cabinet... I can't even count all the things I did!
But perhaps the most important thing I did this year was start school. In January, I finally started my undergrad. Settling back into the swing of school proved more difficult than I had originally thought. And taking classes online proved a challenge greater than I had expected. But I got through my first few online classes at Front Range. In the fall, I transferred to Aims and decided to give traditional classes a chance. I discovered that I'm really much, much better at those! I'm enjoying classes and excited to move on to another great semester.
Every year, in the beginning of the year, I pick a word or phrase that I choose to focus on through the year. This year, my phrase was "In everything: Grace, Mercy and Love." More than once, I was faced with situations where I had to choose grace, mercy and love. And although I failed often, I feel like I'm coming out on this end of the year with a greater understanding of how I can treat those around me with grace, mercy and love.
I can't believe the new friends I've made this year, too! There are so many of you that I can't even begin to name you each. I know I'll forget some! Your new friendships (and the friendships of your spouses and families) have been gigantic blessings this year! It has really been a year of new beginnings, and each of you is part of that.
And finally, this year has been especially important in my faith journey. So many of the friends I've met have blessed me with new perspectives and understandings of a God that is greater than we are. The faith of my friends (Christian and non-Christian alike) astounds me every single day. I have taken communion in a room where ages spanned more than 100 years and learned more from the children I get to see each week than I can fathom teaching them. I have continued to learn to "Be Still" (and even got a tattoo to remind myself!) in some of my most frustrating moments and have found tools that help me to re-focus and center myself when I need to. I'm nowhere near where I hope I'll one day be, but 2013 sure has been an incredible year of growth for my faith.
So as I look forward to the new year that comes in just a few hours, I can only hope that the opportunities I've had, the friendships I've made and the transformations in my life over the past year will carry forward into 2014.
To 2014. Cheers!
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