Farewell 09.... Hello 1-0

Tis the end of another year. I don't know why but I always feel a little hesitant going into a new year... what will it bring? How much different will my life be 365 days from now?

2009 has been a pretty great year for us. Javik has grown so much in the last month I can't even begin to recount how he's changed in the last year. He has quickly become a little boy, right under my nose! I read a book once where a mother said that if she could go back in time and do any one thing she would most like to relive her children's "lasts." Time passes so quickly, and is lived so day-to-day, that we often miss the lasts of life :: the last bottle you fixed, the last diaper you changed, the last time he scooted down the stairs rather than walked... While I know that there are many more firsts in Javik's life, he has crossed over some of those lasts. I know that one year from now, there will be countless more "lasts" to add to that list.
In the here & now, though, he is quite a guy! He loves to play outside (in any temp or weather!), he loves action movies & cartoons and fancies himself to be a Super-Mr. Incredible-Spiderman-football player! He could practically go pro in running & jumping (with both feet... at the same time...) and has recently mastered the art of "pretend." I catch him narrating his playtime through the eyes of his toys :: " 'Let's go over here,' said the elephant." " 'What's going on?' asked the Helicopter." Hearing his sweet voice never gets old and never fails to melt my heart!
He is also 2... and with that age comes serious trial and error on the part of a (usually) sweet boy & his parents! We're daily teaching about appropriate attitude & tone, and exactly who has the job of being the boss & who is the listener!

2009 also brought another job change to our lives. One year after Cole left full-time youth ministry to pursue evangelism, God lead us to a small church 0.1 mile from our new home, who was (surprise!) seeking a pastor! After much prayer and many many Sunday visits, Cole accepted a position as full-time pastor of Perche Baptist Church. His role as pastor there is so unlike the ministry positions he's had in the past, and the small church atmosphere has definitely taken some getting used to! But our new church family has been so loving to us and made us feel like part of the family right from the start! Yet again, I am reminded of how truly blessed we are to know & serve such a mighty, loving God!

While I haven't had any major changes in my career over the last year, life in the 8th grade is never without excitement. =) I continue to teach math at the middle school in my hometown. I love my co-workers & my students. Although it's technically the end of another year, I'm only half way through this year of mine. At 28 years old, I still operate August-to-May and my summers stand still. Every year I am sad to bid farewell to my kiddos in May, knowing that I'm sending them off to high school "prepared" for what they'll face there, and hoping that I've somehow made a difference in their lives. And I welcome a new group of 8th graders every August (albeit with a little hesitation & anxiety), excited to see what I'll learn from this group. And year after year I'm reminded that no matter how enticing the offer may be, I'd never want to relive my jr. high years! I see 14 year old boys and think to myself "One day my Javi will have to put up with guys like this... or worse yet, he'll BE one!" But I wouldn't trade my days for anything, and I can honestly say that 9 times out of 10, I'm truly excited to go to work. =)

I know too that I've grown spiritually this year. 2009 has brought me face-to-face with a form of "persecution" that I've rarely had to face in my life. Ever since I've walked seriously with the Lord, and been aware that His will & the will of the world often clash, He has blessed me with friends who are also believers. My social life has rarely been affected by the fact that I follow Jesus. I always had others around who made similar lifestyle choices and so I always had people to hang out with. In the 7 months since becoming a "pastor's wife" my social life has taken a serious nosedive! While the people at our new church are so loving & welcoming, I don't really "fit" anywhere in the social spectrum. This has been tough, and has tried me more than I often care to admit. But I know that I am blessed to have a wonderful family... I also have the most fabulous girlfriends anyone could ask for (I just wish they lived closer!!)

So... so long 2009. I'm ready for 2010. What will you bring? No doubt you will bring love & sorrow, joy & pain, sunshine & rain (my heart just broke into song! LOL). You will bring my high school class reunion (but oh my, that's another post entirely!). Another baby? Maybe... An ever-growing little boy; and hopefully another 365 days to live out my life and love for those around me, and to become a little more like Jesus.

Happy New Year!