Sometimes we all need a fresh start. 2009 was a really difficult year for a lot of people. For me personally it proved to be yet another year filled with ups and downs and challenges and decisions. I think I came through pretty well! I can not say that I did anything major that had a positive effect on any number of people but I do think that it was a positive year for me in many ways and hopefully for those around me also.

A new year always presents new opportunities—-time to reevaluate and determine what the year will look like. Of course we can never anticipate all that is to come and to honest—I don’t think I want to know what is to come. Kind of like when I was pregnant so many years ago—it was before they would tell you the sex of the baby you were having and if I were pregnant today (oh my!) I would not want to know. I still like the element of surprise a bit.

So what are my thoughts about 2010? Hard to narrow it all down today but I want to reach out more. I have been somewhat introverted the past 6 months—I was happy to be back in the US and happy to be able to visit with family and friends. But I limited myself. I did not grab onto opportunities that I had taken on before. Not quite sure why but this year I think I need to stretch myself a bit more. Maybe I was being selfish? I think a bit. Hard to admit that but yes—as I think about it more I admit it—I was selfish. I was enjoying doing things for me, just for me, and while that is not always a bad thing this year is going to be different. I am going to test my limits—-stretch myself and do what may not always be the comfortable thing to do. It is hard to put yourself out there, you know?? It involves risking rejection, the unknown, and testing personal limitations but I am going to try. God has blessed me in so many ways and it is really incredibly selfish of me to keep that to myself. So in whatever small ways I can make a difference I am going to try. I will keep you posted on my progress…..who knows what 2010 will bring…..