A late welcoming

Don't you just hate it when you write a nice long post and then the computer locks up before you can press the "publish" button? I wrote this last night, and for some reason most of it doesn't seem to strike me quite as strongly today as it did then... Oh well.

I have been wondering around the world of the internet reading the goals people have set for the new year. The challenges that my friends and family have signed up for.

I was thinking mostly happy thoughts about the challenges I signed up for last year.

The reading challenge, I think I got fairly close to completing. I didn't exactly keep track of what I read this year. I am pretty sure I didn't read a play, or go to a book event. I'm not exactly sure what counts as an essay... Other then that, I have got the list covered. I volunteered to read for story hour at the library in Hahira before we moved, thus promoting literacy. I donated a few books to the library. I read multiple genre's, tried new things, reviewed several books on my blog even.

Reading isn't a hard challenge for me to meet.

But the photography challenge, well I failed miserably at that. A picture every day!? Not even close. I didn't even get pictures of the main events several times this year. Zion's birthday and Christmas I am still waiting for other people to either E-mail me or bring me a thumb drive. I don't have a single picture of those super important days. So, I totally failed in that challenge.

But - I survived Andy's deployment, and that is always enough of a goal for me when he is gone - survive. I sold a house, moved out, and then back into a different house WITHOUT my husband (yet again). I did lots and lots of adoption paperwork - not to any end yet, but with the hope of a future still in sight. I did lots of military paperwork, hoping for something to open up for Andy's career future. I remained persistent to the point of annoyance until I got a diagnosis, and the proper medicine, which should prevent any more grande mal seizures. I finished a year of Kindergarten and have completed the first half of 1st grade as a homeschool teacher. We have a fluent reader! Success!

I have things that are still unfinished staring me in the face.

Officer Package possibilities.

Adoption choices.

School ideas for my children.

I think my goal for this year is just to be content. No matter what occurs. I had too many big dreams last year, and none of them came true. But, in all honesty, I didn't have any tragedies either. This year I am going to focus on what I have. Hope for more, but be content with what is here, now, right in front of me.

No specific challenges. No reading lists, or sewing plans, or even a coupon cutting goal. (although all of those are things that I certainly intend to do this year). I'm just going to love on my children and my husband. I'll hold out my hands, open to the sky-

If God chooses to place things in my open hands, I will gladly accept.

If He chooses to let things trickle through the fingers of my open hands, I will leave my hands held high, open. Still content.

I am blessed. I am ready. Welcome 2010.