Reflections of 2014

Another year has come and gone.  Yes, it's only Christmas Eve, not New Year's Eve, but it's on my mind to write now.  Although 2014 was difficult in ways, it has come to a happy end.  It had its joys, many wonderful experiences, as well as some hard ones.  I haven't grown by leaps and bounds this year. But I have grown in my understanding of a few truths: that Jesus loves me and that God is Faithful.

When Facebook generated my 2014 Year in Review, it was all about NY.  And yes, that was one of the most significant aspects of my year. I left the factory world, spent time in NY, and now I'm behind the counter and enjoying it.  My relationships have changed. I'm learning to share my faith by just living it, and slowly in word as people ask about it.  I've changed in many ways.

I have so much to write about, so much to post on this blog, but I'm a little bit in holiday mode, and my discipline has been lacking.  I've had lots to do and lots on my mind, but haven't been able to make too much headway with it. But it's coming. It's certainly coming. The days of typing away at my laptop are coming.  I'm excited about some of the new stuff I will be doing and what I will have to share.  My plans for 2015 have dramatically changed in the past few weeks, and perhaps they will or have disappointed some.  But I'm happy with my choice right now. And I'm thankful for those who have helped me reach this place.

When I consider the coming of 2015, I anticipate change. I anticipate growth, although in a different way than I initially anticipated.  I can't see how things will play out.  People ask how long I plan to be where I find myself now. I don't know. I know that perhaps they would rather see me somewhere else. But one thing that has become special and precious to me lately is the sense that I'm exactly where I need to be right now. I didn't entirely understand it months ago, and I don't entirely understand it now. However, I see change where I'm at, and I want to see God continue to work. I have seen myself change. It's hard at times, and I don't let many people see the battles I often fight. But God is at work. And no matter how small that work may seem at first, it's special.

As you celebrate Christmas and the New Year, my desire is simply that you would know Christ's love and that the Hope He brought to this world would become real in your life.

What to Expect Soon

2014 is coming to an end soon and this blog hasn't seen a lot of action this year.  To be honest, I had a very hard year in many ways and I wasn't in a place to write much.  I haven't grown by leaps and bounds, and I haven't had any deep spiritual insights.  But one of my aims for the New Year is to get back to blogging regularly.

Having said that, I also want to warn my readers.  You may be disappointed.  This blog will likely look at lot different than it once did.  My content will likely drift from what I once shared.  There are several reasons for this.  Part of it is the spiritual dryness in my life, and I'm not about to paint my life as something it's not.  Part of it is because there are things I haven't written about, but they have affected my life in many ways.  I plan to venture to share about those things.  One series I had planned never made it online, and since I first planned it, it has changed a lot.  I plan to explore some different writing possibilities and some different kinds of writing.  And I came up with a resolution for 2015, that if I follow through with it, it will make for frequent blog posts.  I'm really excited about that.

I want you to know that you are reading the words of a sinner.  I'm a young woman with problems, and they only seem to increase as I get older.  It doesn't get easier.  I want to put that out there.  I'm tired of putting on an image for people and pretending I'm someone I'm not.  I love Jesus, believe in the Gospel, and the absolute truth of the Word of God.  But I have changed, and I relate to the body of Christ differently. 

Following are a few things I hope to share:

• A school paper I connected with well
• Stuff about books, since I hope to starting reading more
• My IBS story
• The Food series I was planning a long time ago, that never got written and has evolved since, because of my health
• My 2015 resolution series

Is there anything you would like to see?  I welcome new ideas and inspiration.