Double Oh Nine - And a long wordy post to kick it off!

As I've been reading so many of your blogs about resolutions, goals and your 'word of the year', I wanted to share with you my own course of action for 2009.

Goal setting and vision casting has always been something that grabs my heart. Perks my ear. Turns my head. You know, that kind of thing. I'm the type of person who is always making lists. Who keeps mini-notebooks stashed in her purse to jot down ideas, recipes, craft projects, quotes, Bible verses, funny things people say. I'm the type of person who likes to chart a course - have a plan, a vision. That's not to say that I always follow through. I'd be such a phony liar if I said that. But, the idea of having a plan gets me focused and keeps me steady for the course.

2008 was quiet a hard year. I was adjusting to being married, a new wife, a new homeowner, being away from my family and close friends. I was jobless (still am, but that's another story for another day) and our debt load was up to our eyeballs. We were struggeling to keep food in our fridge - let alone in our stomachs. Many times my inlaws bought us groceries to carry us through - coupled by the fact that we ate at their house a few nights a week. There were times that Shane went to work with cereal for his lunch and chocolate chips as a treat. It was sad. We were fighting. And life was hard.

I had hoped to get back on staff at our church doing youth ministry - as they had fired the youth pastor just two weeks after I had moved back to Canada. After a lot of prayer and a meeting with the senior pastor, I realized it wasn't going to happen as I had hoped. But was later offered the interum position as junior high youth leader in March until the beginning of summer. But once that position was through, I really began to question where God wanted me in ministry. Or did he want me there at all? It is all that I have ever truly wanted and dreamed of. To work in ministry. Serving. Speaking. Discipling. Training. Praying. Teaching. Learning. Sharing. And more Serving. Life was hard.

But, then the winds shifted and things began to change. We were able to pay off all of our credit card debt, our truck and my school loan. We were debt free and feeling so good. We were finally able to start getting our finances back on track. I started to really become somewhat of a whiz in the kitchen, learning to rework meals and discovering how to feed a man with a GIANT appetite on a tiny budget. I discovered the love of blogging and all you sweet gals. I began to find community here as being home alone each day from sun up until sun down can become lonely.

When 2008 was about to close its curtain, I was at my inlaws house. Which has truly become my second home. You know those places where you feel so at ease? Where you feel like you can be you - that you don't put on any airs? Usually it is your own home, the one you grew up in and perhaps your best friends house - those places that you can just be you. That is my inlaws home. I married into a great family! It was good to be there, with them, celebrating in our own way. There was no giant ball. In fact, the Canadian television was just running commercials at midnight. We clinked our wine glasses filled with Pepsi and smiled at the thought of what the new year was to bring.

And truly, I'm hoping for great things.

My word for the year is "ABIDE".

I have been making "words of the year" since about 2001. It's been fun and exciting to implament those attributes into my life. I usually search out and do a bible study on that particular word to help ingrain it into my heart better. ABIDE. Here is what I am hoping this words means for me this year.

1. to remain; continue; stay: Abide with me.
This is what I hope to embody this year:

John 15:4-11
Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

2. dwell; reside
This year I hope to make my home the haven it is meant to be. I will get things in true order. Organize. Create a space where we can mingle and mix and be. To celebrate. To find refuge. To be able to offer hospitality. To create a sanctuary. To truly make this space my home. To truly dwell here. To embrace Canada and this, my still new country, as my own.

3. to remain steadfast or faithful to; keep: If you make a promise, abide by it.
And this is my goal to become steadfast in my quest to become healthy. I have already begun to rearrange my lifestyle to prepare for this. I officially began Weight Watcher's yesterday. I'm so very excited about this and really hope that I can do this. I'm setting myself up for success because it is time. I am ready. And I am going to do it.

ABIDE. 2009. Here I come!