Closing Thoughts on 2010

It only seems appropriate that I should attempt to make some sort of final post, recapping the year and thinking about all of the ways I have grown and changed over the past year, so I will give it a shot. Here are some things I did in 2010 (in no particular order):

• I read a lot. Mostly children's literature, but some grown up stuff too. I also learned that I regret not ever reading Little Women or Anne of Green Gables as a little girl, but thankful that I got around to it.
• I saw LOTS of my friends get married. 6 weddings in fact (Jenn & JD, Brooke & Matt, Wes & Sarah, Stephen & Erica, Jordan & Brian, and Mandy & Jeremy). One being my best friend's, at which I was more or less an emotional nut-job for most of it :)
• I found a new small group that I love, officially joined my church, moved to the new campus of The Summit, and took up post holding babies in the nursery.
• I was on the most losing-est (but most fun) teams ever on the Finley Director's Retreat.
• I rekindled relationships with some family members I hadn't seen in too long and said goodbye to others.
  
• I helped raise half a million dollars.
• I went on a cruise and have decided it is the best way to vacation if you really just want to get away from normal life.
• I moved into a very cute apartment and decided to live by myself...and LOVE it. I just recently committed to hanging things on the wall finally.
  
• I ran a camp for children with special needs and learned a lot about what love looks like.
• I spent some sweet summer time in NYC with one of my favorite people ever, Brittany Brock and was encouraged by how far she's come since I've known her.
  
• I celebrated Memorial Day with Mags in DC and re-realized I will always have a soft spot in my heart for the military.
• I dealt with my first semi-major car issues.
• I spent one hour a week with one of the funniest children on the face of the earth and saw her go from barely knowing her alphabet to reading books!
• I made peach cobbler for the first time.
• I celebrated the 4th of July in true American fashion: at a baseball game eating a hot dog.
  
• I was continually reminded about how I am lucky to have so many great people in my life.
• I saw one of my friends grieve a serious loss and prayed a lot for her.
• I saw Hanson in concert with my BFF and fell in love with them all over again.
• I rolled a giant hamster ball down a hill, as part of my job.
• I had several spontaneous life chats with girls at work.
• I watched Teen Witch at least 6 times.
• I set up my first Christmas tree on my own.
• I thought a lot about what I should be doing with my life.
• I blogged 30 times...this post will make 31.

Other things happened and I'm sure I'm a slightly different person now then I was at this time last year, but that's what I've got for now. So 2010, you've been swell, I raise my glass to you.

Everyday Suspense

I love that there are some things, no matter how expected and normal they may be, that can still evoke a sense of suspense in me. Like birthdays or the ending of a favorite movie or book. It's the same thing time after time, but still there is a sense of excitement as it approaches.

Today I experienced some everyday suspense by way of a sunset. The sun sets everyday, and on the days I take the time to notice, I almost always stop to soak it in and think about how good God is. Today, the sunset's sense of suspense was heightened by the fact that while I was driving west on 440, it was mostly hidden from me by trees. All I needed to do was get around the curve and what was currently a hint of pink clouds would be revealed as a full, orange, setting sun that would take up the whole horizon. That curve, however, just didn't seem to end. I kept driving, speeding up unintentionally trying to get a better look. Eventually, I rounded the bend and I was not disappointed. Beautiful. I'm thankful for moments like that.

I also hear the sun rises every morning and the experience can be equally as exciting, but we all know mornings just aren't my thing :)

How Deep The Father's Love For Us

How deep the Father's love for us
How vast beyond all measure
That He should give His only son
And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of searing loss
The Father turns His face away
As wounds which mar the chosen one
Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon the cross
My sin upon His shoulders
Ashamed I hear my mocking voice
Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held him there
Until it was accomplished
His dying breath has brought me life
I know that it is finished

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Sometimes (ok, most of the time) I just need to think about this and forget about the other stuff. Some songs just cut deep...in a good way.

Glimpses of Hope

Despite my best intentions, I'm just not always very domestic. I don't feel any compulsion to keep my house spotless, I willingly let laundry pile up, and I often don't really have the motivation or energy to cook anything that resembles a real, complete meal. Sometimes I wonder how I could ever survive as a wife and/or mother and often just have to hope that if that day comes, some magical switch inside me will flip.

However, tonight I had my after school staff over for a Christmas dinner (they're awesome by the way), and in a matter of an hour and a half, I was able to clean up my apartment and cook a complete and delicious meal. I was able to get all the dishes done before they got here, set up not only appetizer plates for the chips and salsa, but have the drinks, dinner plates, side dishes and even dessert prepared and ready to go before dinner was served. To be honest, I actually quite enjoyed getting it all together and preparing a meal that I knew (ok, hoped) would be enjoyed by the people I was serving. Moments like these give me a glimpse of hope that I'm not a totally lost cause :)

And in case you were wondering, I made enchiladas, and they were awesome. The recipe is below:

Ingredients:
1 lb ground chicken
1 pack of taco seasoning
1 package of creamed cheese
1 can enchilada sauce
flour tortillas
grated cheddar cheese


Instructions:
Brown the ground chicken and add taco seasoning as designated on the package
Melt cream cheese in microwave and add about 1/2 can of enchilada sauce to melted cheese
Mix together browned,seasoned meat and cream cheese mixture
Fill tortilla shells with meat and roll up
Place enchiladas in a baking dish
cover with remaining enchilada sauce and sprinkle cheddar cheese on top
cook at 325 for 20 minutes

On Christmas...

Contrary to what some may think, I'm not really a Christmas fanatic. Sure, I do enjoy participating in the holiday within the right time frame (after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day); I will watch the Christmas movies and occasionally leave the radio on 101.5 (although I quickly get annoyed with the slow, sappy Christmas songs--give me some Hanson or NSync); and I can bust out a tacky turtleneck or sweater for a Christmas party BUT walking through the Christmas aisle doesn't exactly get my heart racing and I contemplated not even putting up a tree this year. Personally, I like Easter the best, but that is a different topic.

All that to say, the one thing that I do really love about Christmas is that it always brings me back to the humanity of Jesus and sometimes that's just too much for me to wrap my head around. Yes, He was fully God, but He was also fully human and in those first moments of His life, was there anyway His newborn brain could even process the thought of what He would grow up to be? I don't know. Part of me doesn't think so because Jesus' humanity is what makes Him a savior I want to know. It's a lot to think about on a Monday night turned Tuesday morning, but something definitely worth thinking about.

With that, I will leave you with the lyrics and a video (ignore the actual video and just listen to the song)for a song that gets my heart every Christmas season.

I Celebrate The Day

And with this Christmas wish is missed
The point I could convey
If only I could find the words to say to let You know how much You've touched my life
Because here is where You're finding me, in the exact same place as New Year's eve
And from a lack of my persistency
We're less than half as close as I want to be

And the first time
That You opened Your eyes did You realize that You would be my Savior
And the first breath that left Your lips
Did You know that it would change this world forever

And so this Christmas I'll compare the things I felt in prior years
To what this midnight made so clear
That You have come to meet me here

To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me
In the hope that what You did
That you were born so I might [ really ]live
To look back and think that
This baby would one day save me

And I, I celebrate the day
That You were born to die
So I could one day pray for You to save my life

I Celebrate the Day--Relient K