2010

The majority of this year was spent focusing on and achieving a goal. From New Year's day 2010 we knew that we were setting out on a path that would meander into what we hoped would be a stream of possibilities. We began by researching (and by we, of course, I mean Jay) and preparing for our TEFL course. This turned out to require a ton of resources, some of which were so graciously handed to us and some we sacrificed for. We sold more than half of what we owned, packed up what was left, canceled contracts, and put our whole life in two suitcases. This last year I've had walls, barriers, and notions of what we should become shattered. In place of these walls we've seen an greater field of opportunity and blessings than I have ever imagined.

I've had the hardest and best times of my life, as of yet, in 2010. I saw what it meant to achieve goals, what it felt like to feel like a failure, and what it's felt like to pick up and move on to greener pastures. I was advised by a very wise man that I should not judge our success in Prague by finishing the year and that there was success in simply going. I didn't always adhere to this logic, but I've come to repeat this to myself over and over.

The best thing that's happened in this year is how much closer I've grown to Jay. For almost six months he's been the only person on this side of the world who I even like. We've been together almost 7 years now, and in April we will celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. To see how loyal, supportive, and unfaltering he is truly magnificent. I don't know what next year holds for us, but I know that we will conquer it. We have a better understanding of what we want to happen this next year, and now we have to figure out how to achieve it. It's amazing how learning what you don't want can open your eyes to what you do want.

This year we visited Prague, Berlin, Dresden, Warsaw, Vienna, and Venice. By next year I hope to see that list at least double. I hope to be fluent in Spanish, to be an asset to the business endeavors Jay and I will soon dive into, and to continue to walk these feet around the globe marveling in the beauty of God's creation.