Hello 2014!

Here we are again starting a new year. 2014. The super shallow girl in me just loves that it is an even number and I like to write 4 better than 3's! I know, shal-low. Now, deep . . .

A new year is always a fresh start, a new beginning, time for refocus, yada, yada, yada. I've never been much for resolutions, but I do think it's super important to always try to improve somehow. So I work on that one way or another each year. Deeper relationship with my Maker, do more for my family, hitting new running goals and my first year of graduate school will be my major focus points this year. Nothing documented or track-able, just a goal to get through one day at time. Look, I made it through 2013. And that was nothing short of amazing at times! Ugghhh. '13 was truly one of my hardest years EVER, so to make it to 2014 'clothed and in my right mind' isn't an accomplishment to scoff at. Really. The pressures, emotional trials, struggles, a full-time job, completing my final undergraduate year of school and losing my mother made it beyond tough and unbearable at times. Yet, I endured and here we are: 2014.

But hold on 2014, you're not going as expected. Things I thought were working out aren't turning out so well. Hopes and dreams I had, are already diminishing. Relationships that should be strong are shaky. People that I had expectations from, are not coming through. Stress is already mounting. Emotions are high. I've already had a few good cries. My little life that I had all planned out is rather turbulent. 2014 is starting out just like 2013. Isn't all supposed to clean and new and fresh and perfect and headed in the right direction?

Life. It's life. Just like all the other 30-something years I've experienced. Sometimes it doesn't hit until May or June or maybe even September. But life happens. I can't control it or order it the way I would like, but I can only chose my reaction in these situations. And though my 2014 may not be starting off the way I'd like, I know here we are at another year of life and come what I may, me and Jesus will get through it!