Here's to a New Year.

I'm back! Please forgive the absence, I've been busy. Busy with work, busy being a wife, busy with the holidays, busy at church, and busy feeling sorry for myself. Yep, I said it. Busy feeling sorry for myself. I'm gonna be embarrassingly honest with you. The past 6 months as a newly-wed in a new state with a new (challenging) job, has been difficult. I've spent a lot of my time and effort in the recent past thinking about my tough situation.  My job stresses me out and pushes me beyond my limits daily, my loneliness overwhelms me at times, and figuring out how to live with another person is tricky. Poor me. How could life be so hard?

I had a revelation recently. Poor is a terrible word to describe my life. I have a kind-hearted, God-fearing husband, a wonderful support system, a comfortable home, a paying job, a new oven (yay), and my health. Yes, things aren't quite as I would have planned, however, when are they ever? In the spirit of the new year, I'm making a resolution. I resolve to spend more effort learning to be content, and less focusing on things I cannot change. To put it into cliche terms, I want to "look on the bright side," "count my blessings," and "find the silver lining." In the words of Paul in Thessalonians, my goal is to "in everything give thanks."

I know it won't be easy, but it will make living easier. So here's to a great year to all of my friends and family. I pray that God will bless you immensely.

And that's what happens when a teacher marries a preacher...