Onward to 2018!

Oh my gosh, this blog! It's been forever! I hardly even remembered how to find it or log in. Justin recently told me, "You should start blogging again. I miss reading the posts and having documentation of different stages/joys/challenges in our life." I had no idea he even cared about my blog so knowing it means a lot to him, I decided to *try* to write the occasional post again. (Don't hold your breath waiting, though!) Facebook and Instagram have pretty much taken the place of blogging for me, but it is true that no Facebook post or Instagram picture can really tell a story like a good, old-fashioned (ha!) blog post.

I'm not even going to begin to document the things I've missed over the last two years, so I'll just pick up with where we currently are. I'm really looking forward to this new year, 2018. I'm ready for the fresh start and renewed hope it feels like a new year can bring.

2017 was a hard year, particularly the last few months. Justin's already busy travel schedule for work got even busier, which resulted in him being away from home a lot, almost 50% of the time. I lost a lifelong friend in September in a pretty traumatic way, which has resulted in lack of sleep, nightmares, and just overall fear for me. The combination of Justin being gone a lot and the grief that came from my friend's death has exposed some underlying anxiety I didn't even know I had. As a result in October I started seeing a therapist. It's been good, hard, enlightening, and challenging. I have learned things about myself that I had never realized and I have been given tools to help me deal with situations in my life that are hard for me. It's amazing what comes out when you are given an hour to just talk! As an external processor, the value of this time is unmatched. I'm pretty sure none of you want to listen to me blab hour after hour after hour so thank goodness for therapists. I know everyone says this, but you really should go if you haven't before. It's so valuable!

It feels really good to just get this out there, to be honest about where I am right now in a way you can't really do by posting a picture to Instagram. I personally place a high value on authenticity and have felt inauthetic at times, only posting our highlight reel. Don't get me wrong, we've had some beautiful and wonderful moments this year that have been worth documenting. But that isn't the full story.

The other night we went out to dinner with the kids and asked everyone to come up with a goal for 2018..not a resolution necessarily, but something you want to accomplish or work on or improve. It's not officially a goal unless it's out in the interwebs, so here you go, folks! Feel free to hold us accountable.

Justin: wants to learn 2 new songs on the piano this year
Annie: wants to train for and complete a full marathon
Claire: wants to take a new style of dance class
Emma: wants to learn to cook or bake 5 foods
Charlie: wants to learn to catch the baseball in his baseball glove  

I really am looking forward to working on these goals this year and feel hopeful about entering into a new year. I know, deep in my soul, that God can and will redeem all things, all pain, all people. I'm looking forward to seeing Him present in the redemptive work of these challenging and painful situations.

What are your goals/hopes/dreams for 2018, friends?! I'd love to hear from you.