2019

Last year I...

Was told I’m a fantastic teacher

Was told I was a terrible teacher

Had students that told me they loved me

Had students that told me they hated me

Got an award for teaching

Cried in front of my boss

Felt so accomplished on certain days

Felt so stressed that I had chest pain on others

Rested with God this summer

Overworked myself at school

Climbed mountains in the sun

Climbed mountains in the rain

Did an Olympic triathlon

Came out dead last in the swimming portion

Went to Thailand

Almost passed out from some weird pain on one of the flights there

Loved my job in Wyoming

Someone left me a bad review on tripadvisor (whoops)

Took a long road trip and got to meet up with friends

Felt lonely on some of the road trip

Kept in contact with some friends

Lost contact with some friends

Took a few amazing photos

Took thousands of terrible ones

Tried my best

Gave up a time or two

Took chances

Played it safe

Had good days

Had bad days

Lived.

I think it's easy and attractive to think of life as being this thing we can control and warp into whatever we want. Instead, I think it's healthier to see reality for what it is. In joyful seasons, that might mean acknowledging pain and hurt even when it makes you uncomfortable. And in hurting seasons, it might mean finding reasons to be joyful even when you feel like they aren't there.

2019 was full of crazy emotions for me, both good and bad. I'd imagine most years are like that if we're willing to think about it hard enough. I'm really looking forward to 2020. Not because I know it will be easier, but because I know that it's going to be okay.

Romans 8: 37-39

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.