Intentional

I feel like January 1 shocks me every year.  How can the year be gone already?  When I was a kid the years seemed to last forever, but now they fly by.  It's true, time passes faster for grown ups. 

We spent this beautiful 60-degree day walking Casper on the Three Notch Trail, doing laundry, and playing with our new toys.  I've already had one new experience for the year: Casper barked at a donkey and he brayed back.  I've never heard that sound in real life before and let me tell you, donkeys are LOUD!  I actually thought it was a pony but it was clear I was wrong once he opened his mouth.

As usual, the start of the new year has me reflecting on the old and thinking about the new.  2011 was a big year for us; this time last year I was agonizing over whether James would be laid off and whether I would have to suffer through another year at my job.  Little did I know that God had big changes in store for us.  And while it was pretty scary going through, I feel like He brought us through an emotional time of famine into a time of plenty, and taught us a lot along the way. 

James did lose his job, and we worried for a while.  But during that time He brought us our sweet Hands and Feet group to fellowship with, pray with, and learn with.  I prepared for the possibility of working another unhappy year at my job, but then the Maryland job popped up and seemed to have real promise.  I remember that James messaged me that he found this job description that seemed to fit him perfectly and that he wanted to apply for it, and that it was in Maryland.  I was in a meeting and I spent the rest of the meeting googling Maryland on my laptop.  James was offered the job and in August I happily said goodbye to my job of 3 years and we road-tripped it to this new, very different, and very beautiful state.  Since then it has become apparent that God really did prepare a place for us.  James likes his job, I am happy here, and we found a wonderful church family.  And we got a dog!  It has been quite the year.  God has been so faithful.

So for 2012, I have a few goals such as run a 5K, and possibly buy a house (we're still talking and praying about that one), but I haven't been able to think of any resolutions.  I never accomplish many of my resolutions anyway.  But I have seen a resolution idea that I like: pick one word for the year to come that describes who you want to be or how you want to live for the next year.

My word is Intentional. 

My Dad always used to tell me that I need to take more initiative and live more intentionally.  Initiative has never been my strength and I have a tendency to just let life happen to me.  I wasn't doing too bad at the beginning of this year but with all the changes that have gone on, I've been reverting back.  So this year I want to be intentional in my pursuits.  I want to give intentionally, serve intentionally, and live aware of others and how my choices impact them.

What is your word or resolution for the year?  Happy new year everyone and may it be filled with blessings!