karaspeak

The last week of 2008 was a blur, and I'm sure the next 52 of 2009 promise much of the same. With a nearly six-month old clawing at my heels, I can only imagine where this next year will go. As I think back, I can see such growth in 2008. Despite the fact that I did not set any specific goals, per se, I can see a new person in the shoes of the girl that began this year. Among some of the highlights I recall.

Being pregnant, and with it:
- Achieving a healthy pregnancy
- Gaining a new perspective on eating, body image, and weight.
- Finishing a 5k race at 7 months pregnant. And enjoying it.
- Becoming a mom

Becoming a mom, and with it:
- Learning to balance time as a mom and time as a wife.
- Realizing my capacity to love is so much greater than I could have ever imagined.
- Seeing God's compassion for me, his child, with a new set of eyes.

Stepping out in faith to move, and with it:
- Watching God fill the gaps we thought would exist (with finances, with friendships, with relationships, with when leaving everything we knew.
- Being a part of my parents own journey into their next phase of life.
- Meeting some incredible people who have challenged me to grow deeper as a wife, mother, daughter, friend, and child of God.

There is so much more, but these are the main things that stick with me as I look back.

As I look forward, I have set a few goals for 2009...and I hope to attain most (if not all) of them. My Type A personality needs goals, though the time I have is spent so differently now, I hope they don't become to unrealistic after a month! The compounding factor to this year is that I also reach a major milestone as regarded in this human life I have to live...yes, the almighty 30 finds me in 2009. And while I am not driven by numbers, I do have some things on my list to accomplish...more than half of which I have already achieved, and will detail in another posting, as it doesn't belong here. So on with the things I seek in 2009 in no specific order (I know, appalling!):

• Read the Bible every day
• Finish 12 books, novels, etc. (books, not magazines!)
• Run a half marathon
• Go on a date once a week. (with my hubby of course; see note* for further clarification)

* This term "date" does not mean spend money on a meal, but just spend time out
of the house and on our own away from Aiden to remember that we are first and
foremost, husband and wife. Even if that means spending time at the good old
Border's for some one on one reading and coffee. Regardless, to get out of the
house and talk, dive in, breathe, and appreciate one another.

• Build deep and lasting friendships (dig deep into others' lives and not let myself or them get away with surface level conversations, or to let myself shy away from reaching out)
• Find a church home
• Pay off a loan
• Take at least one vacation (like how I say, "at least one"? I will gladly welcome more!)
• Worry less, encourage more

That's what comes to me now. I may add to it as I go forward, but we'll see how these go first. What's the biggest thing you seek in 2009?