Week One - Snapshots

So my first week back here in CO has officially been fantastic! Here are a few 'snap-shots' - Moments I didn't get a picture of, but are priceless nonetheless.

"Remember whose you are" - If I had a picture of this it would be of my dad giving me a big hug after a final prayer for safety and blessing. Cause at the end of that hug he always says the same thing: "remember whose you are"... His and God's. No matter where I go God goes with me and Dad is only a phone call away. It is also great incentive to be the best I can be, because I want to make them proud of me.

"The Wave" - Every family has quirky things that they do, that others watching might not get but means a whole-ton-of-a-lot (as a friend of mine would say) to those who understand. In my family one of those things is 'the wave'. At the last moment before you enter the shuttle to your gate, the official beginning of your adventure, you are supposed to turn and wave to the family waiting for that last see-you-later. So of course this time was no different, especially since my-Sarah had given me strict instructions not to forget.

"Arrival" - After a long trip nothing is happier than being greeted by people happy to see you :) Especially if there are kiddos in that group; which there were.

"Papa Murphy's Pizza" - Well, it's fantastic pizza!

"Puzzle time" - Hanging out with some friends, just enjoying the evening as we worked on a puzzle. I love it when you don't have to keep a conversation going, or accomplishing something to enjoy yourself with people. Some of the best friends are the ones that just being with them equals a good time.

"Hockey goal!" - I love playing street hockey! It's a great way to get rid of extra energy from the week as well as a lot of fun. I usually play defense, but I ran up for offense during one of the plays and made a goal, yes I am proud of that! :)

"Surprise visit" - One of my friends from VA happened to be driving through and was staying with another friend in the area so I got to see both of them and hang out for a few hours.

There are lots of other great times, but those are a few of my favorites. God has blessed and life is good.

Final Goodbyes

It's funny how many thoughts and ideas run through one's mind on the verge of leaving home for the 'last time'.

It isn't as if I have never left before, or been gone for extended periods of time, because I have. But this time saying goodbye seems so final; there is just something about knowing that whenever I come back I will be visiting, there will be no 'my room' to come to and 'my house' will now mean somewhere else.

I have experienced many adventures so far and been some wonderful places but at then end of each adventure no matter how long or how far it has taken me, I always love to come home. Thankfully home isn't just a place or a room, it's family... and family is the one 'place I belong' that can stretch for miles to reach wherever I am.

I have mixed emotions about closing a chapter in my life, but I am excited about beginning another. I know God is going to do many things during this next journey and I am ready to start!

Reflections and Resolutions

This time last year... This year I am going to... Every year around this time people are talking about  new year resolutions and thinking over last year's resolutions (or trying not to remember that they never did them).

Well, I have joined the crowds! As I look back I grin at the mental check list of things I finished and goals I met, and I frown at the ones I didn't finish as I try to think of great reasons (not excuses) why I didn't get to them...

Generally I don't make resolutions because my enthusiasm for them tends to die after about 2 weeks, but I decided to give it a try last year and I am glad I did. Although I didn't do anything 'monumental' the goals I made did help keep me a little focused and reminded me to keep going on some projects I probably would  have happily forgotten about.

So due to my past success... I decided to try out a couple of new goals this year. I have been trying to decide what they will be... because I hate failing I want them to not be too hard but because I love a challenge I don't want them to be things I would just do every day. (If you have made resolutions or goals I am sure you have faced a similar difficulty so I shall leave explaining my process there) I finally came up with a few things I would like to accomplish and have dutifully written them down where I can see them frequently and hopefully will do even better this year.

I would like to share one that is an 'intangible' with you, but first wanted to explain that it is linked to a lesson God has been teaching me this year which I also wanted to share. So if it seems a little muddled I apologize in advance.

To be honest, this last year has had several rather stressful times for me. It has had some major decisions that were difficult to make because they would effect my future and the circumstances around them were mostly out of my control. I allowed this to be my focus and life became overwhelming at times and this effected my ability to focus on those around me.

This year has also held some incredible adventures and lots of happy times. I was able to spend some time traveling and seeing friends and some of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. Some of my favorites were Pike's Peak, touring DC and visiting one of my best friends, getting to help with a friend's wedding in Texas, and making many new friends during several months in Colorado.

However, as I talked to God about this past year I noticed that while I had both ups and downs I was letting the downs shadow the good times. In further talking to God and some due to conversations I had with a friend I began to realize how often I focus on the struggles and how much I allow past circumstances to keep me from being as free as I might to enjoy life.

Each event wether good or bad is shaping who I will be tomorrow and how I will respond to future circumstances. More importantly, what I choose to do in response to these events will either improve my character or weaken it.

Bad moments and struggles are ok to have, they are part of life, but dwelling on them can sometimes cause more damage than the original event. I have been challenged to not only come honestly to God with the hard times but to come more frequently to Him in the good times; to share the joys of life with Him and others so I can more deeply appreciate and savor them.

So, what I really want to 'resolve to do' this next year is not tangible, but rather a refocusing of my mind and heart.

I desire to focus on the good, choosing to look at the lessons learned from the hard times and on who God revealed himself to be during them rather than focusing on the disappointment or pain. I want to be able to be honest about difficult times or frustrations experienced without allowing self pity to invade my heart; to spend more time savoring the joy of friendship and laughter shared as the days go by and learn to trust that God is working through everything so I can savor the 'smiles' I get from Him every day.

I can look back, and say it has been a good year! ...Because it was :)

Oh give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! -Ps. 107:1