Final Thoughts for 2009

As 2009 comes to a close I have to ponder and question what I learned and what is to come for 2010. For if I do not think over what I have learned this past year, then there will be nothing to learn this next year. I think with 2009 comes a lot of thinking about the past. For this year marked the 10 year anniversary of graduating from high school. As I think about 10 years ago, I was so young, naive and really just beginning to understand what being a "grown-up" meant. In 10 years I have come to learn a lot more about myself, other people, and the Lord. For in 10 years God has allowed me to get to know so many people and learn from each person that I have come to meet.


A look back at the past 10 years...

June 1999: Graduated from High School
August 1999 Moved away from home, Hannibal- Missouri
Dec. 2000 Went to India (my first plane ride and my first overseas experience)
June 2001 Went to California for the first time, loved it! Worked with goats, chickens, pigs, horses and kids and people that were So AMAZING!
August/September 2001 Changed my major to education
Jan. 2002 Worked at Alcohol and Drug Rehab Center...oh the memories
Summers of 2002 and 2003 Worked in California, met awesome people, changed my life
Jan. 2003 Worked at the group home for mentally handicap...oh more memories
August 2003 Moved in with my Grandparents while student teaching
December 2003 Graduated with my BS in Elementary Education
Jan 2004 Began working at the Crayon School
August 2004 Moved to Egypt
December 2004 Went to Holland for a 2 week visit
June 2005 Moved to California
August 2005 1st teaching job in the states/Began going to New Song
Began my Masters in Education
February 2006 Back to RH
August 2007 Lighthouse
July 2008 Thailand
October 2008 Visit to Malaysia
June 2009 Trip home for the summer visited 11 states and 2 countries.
July 2009 Visit to Singapore: Leadership conference
October 2009 Visit to Vietnam
December 2009 Hanging out in Bangkok

Sometimes I get stuck on this whole really wanting to be married and raise a family issue, then I look at my life. I look at what God has done in the past 10 years. The people that He has allowed me to meet and the trials He has gotten me through. In my timeline, I didn't mention deaths of family members, births of family members and tough relationships that have come and gone. For we all have those and they have all shaped us and who we are. I do though want to take time to really think about what these things mean. To really stop and examine what the next 10 years are going to look like. I am 28, 10 years ago I was 18. I was just beginning my life as an adult and now with my 20's coming to a close, what is it that God wants me to think about? What is it that my life is going to be about for at least the next 10 years?

So...as I sit here in my hotel room in the middle of Bangkok. I have to remember that this is never where I thought that I would be. Even 5 years ago when I was in the middle of celebrating New Year's with good friends in Holland. I never thought I would be coming to Thailand. Or Asia even. I am so glad that I am here now. I am so glad that I have had the past 1 1/2 years to experience and begin to love this country, this place and these people. I wish that I could say I have found the place where I belong, but the truth is that I am not sure I will ever find that place. I think that the Lord has gifted me with the ability to accept and crave change. It is true I crave change, when things start becoming the same routine and the same people I start looking for ways to spice life up. I don't know if it has to do with my distrust to others or if it is just because that is the life He has given me. For whatever reason, I am still single and able to live pretty much anywhere. I mean really, the World is out there just waiting to be discovered. And...well this next year I want to prepare to discover it. There are some things I must do first though...

What I learned in 2009 both the good and the tough...

#1 God is trustworhty, no matter what He will not let you down or go away. Joshua 1:5
#2 Spending time with God, making Him a priority leads to a more fulfilled life.
#3 Love, causes you to give up a lot of things and desires.
#4 You can never completely trust anyone, it is a fact people are going to hurt you and let you down.
#5 Get over the hurt and the pain, it happens- the world isn't perfect.


I am sure that I learned a lot more but these are the thoughts that are coming to me right now. So as I sit and think about what my life should look like here are my thoughts for 2010

In 2010 I want

*to spend an hour with the Lord every morning (the goal is to wake up at 5:00am)
*to be commited to praying for others, for their needs and for the World to come to Christ
*to become more healthy
*to remember birthdays and send a card to at least close family and friends
*to let go of hurts that I am holding on to and let scars heal that need to heal


Hello to 2010 may this be the year that I realize God's faithfulness like never before. May this be the year that God shows me His power and Love. Because I am ready for it. I think that I have to have my eyes open, and they may have been closed for quite some time. So here is my life Lord...use it and use Me.