2012 Recap & 2013 Goals

2012 was a good year, a full year. It was also a challenging year, full of much waiting, much praying, and in God's perfect timing, much answered prayer. I am thankful to have completed 2012, and I am thankful for all the growth and lessons learned. I am thankful for having experienced God's love and faithfulness.

I thank God for what He helped us accomplish this year:

Husband and I moved to the US. With God’s grace, he was able to adjust (and I was able to readjust) to life here.

After much prayer and seeking, husband found a ministry position here. (more to come on that soon)

And I found a full-time job which I enjoy.

Co-workers became good friends.

I started to volunteer as a Spanish interpreter at a local obesity clinic.

Husband has become a self-taught photographer, and we started a photography business.

Family got 2 lab puppies, Lily and Sadie.

Starting in Fall, had a weekly craft night with friends.

Celebrated 3 years of marriage on Dec 27th.

Found an apartment and started moving into our own new little home.

(Side note: We have been praying and looking for our own apartment for a while now and we finally found something. We actually signed the lease today! We are really excited to have our own little home and I am so thankful to God for His provision.)

I am also very thankful for the new beginning we have on January 1st. A fresh start, a chance to re-prioritize and start again.

This year, I am going to share my goals. I was inspired by Nancy Ray and Lara's blog posts. I feel a little vulnerable posting this, but I think it will help to keep me accountable. I hope you will join me.

My 2013 goals focus around these three things:

1. Be present. Stay in the moment. Remember and focus on God's love and presence that is always with me, neither lingering in the past or being anxious about the future. In the words of Jim Elliot, "Wherever you are, be all there".

2. Simplify. Set healthy and appropriate boundaries in my life. Create a welcoming home that is decorated simply and with color. Declutter my thoughts, work space, and my home.

3. Choose healthy. Cook and try new healthy recipes. Limit dessert to once a week. Add more yoga and cardio.

These goals are all kind of abstract, and hard to achieve. So I am going to start with a few small, measurable January goals.

I am not going to do any of this perfectly, but as this blogger says "I will hold myself to a standard of grace, not perfection."

Here's to a new clean slate, and a new year. May you accomplish your goals this year, and may you experience God's love like never before!