in jan i completed my 2nd half marathon, which, as everyone knows, equals a full marathon. then not long after that triumph i turned the big 2-9 and began my last year as what i like to call "young." the spring found me with a tool belt around my waist and hammer in my hand as i followed teve around, trying to figure out what a ballast was and what exactly it takes to flip a house from meth lab to dream home. summer, sweet summer, was filled with pools and lakes... weddings... and a family beach trip that i didn't want to end. the heavens also decided to open up and hand petikei and i a group of friends that we had been praying for forever it seems... our wednesday night community group has been a crystal clear picture of God over-blessing me. nothing else to say beyond the fact that i. love. these. peeps. then i bit the bullet and bought a ticket to the big city where i spent a magical fall weekend frolicking in central park (and i rarely frolic), eating at fancy restaurants, and hailing cabs all by myself. oh and then i went to africa.
can i just say one thing? this will be a quick sidenote. in january of 2010 i wrote down five goals for the year (i have never done this, mind you. daddy yum yum might be rubbing off on me a little more than i'd care to admit?) and by december, they all were either actually completed or are making serious strides toward being completed. is that nuts? the craziest of all is that i wrote "be more involved in international missions -- africa?" as goal #5. africa was literally an afterthought that i put thinking maybe i should start moving towards getting that ball rolling. and, uh, eleven months later my feet were on rwandan soil. freaky. and pretty powerful.
to round out the year, i spent thanksgiving and christmas being overwhelmed and surrounded by my entire family. all of us under one roof playing michael jackson the experience on wii like it was a our job. does it get any better? and then i rang in the new year over the austin skyline with my muffin and i believe that to be the cherry on top of a year i never in a million years would have been able to dream up.
2010... when the world around me opened like it was brand new. friendships seemed to deepen and brighten. love seemed to swell and overflow. faith was tested and strengthened. hope became an actual face, not just a semi-deep church term to throw around.
i've been searching for the words to adequately describe my thankfulness for all of it. think i found some that will work...
i will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
everyday i will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
one generation shall commend your works to another,
and shall declare your mighty acts.
on the glorious splendor of your majesty,
and on your wondrous works, i will meditate.
they shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
and i will declare your greatness.
they shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.
-psalm 145:1-7
