the year of...

So, its a new year. Albeit 6 days into the new year, I am thinking through the idea of having a whole new year ahead. All of a sudden we left one decade and have begun another- and, like everyone around New Years' does, I got to thinking about what this year could look like. When I think about it, really, I think that God is so in control and I am so not. I could plan out this year, strive toward a list of resolutions (or revolutions, for that matter) and His plans for me could look so different. All that's to say, I still (six days late) am thinking I should have some goal or hope for 'ought-ten'.

There are quite a few individuals who spent a year doing something big. It was big to them anyway, and big enough to constitute writing an entire book. One woman wrote a book on her year of "Living Oprah". She honestly took every necessary step to "walk the walk of the queen of talk". An agnostic man spent a year living biblically, and took biblical rotes and rituals very literally. A Christian man, inspired by this, wrote a book on his year spent taking "what would Jesus do?" to a whole new level. Another woman wrote of her year buying only food and essentials. She purchased nothing but what she had to purchase to live basically... and maybe some toothpaste so her teeth wouldn't fall out. One man spent the year exploring the world on a bicycle.

All of these people chose a journey for one year- as crazy as some of them may sound- they committed to one year of living differently and more radically in some ways, than they ever had before.

Most years, my resolution is to stop biting my nails, once and for all. I have never been able to commit to this for one whole year.

I have thought of a few things for 2k10... mostly I want this to be the year of living more like Jesus. Really. I know that sounds like a cop-out (and it kinda is) but if I could really figure this one out, I think it would be one of the best years of my entire little life. And I will fail miserably as I am all-too-human.

Maybe this will also be the year I go all organic. But, probably not because that is too expensive.

Or, maybe I will just not dye my hair even once in 2010. Because that hasn't happened in a very long time- a year of natural hair.

I would love this to be the year of being a better wife. A few days before the new year, my husband asked me what he could do, in this year, to be better. I thought- I know one thing's for sure, I need to work on being a better wife, because the thought of asking you a question like that never even crossed my mind...

I want to spend more time with you. And you, and you and you. I miss Kaley, what, with her being some 3,000 miles away or so. I would say, you don't know what you got til' it's gone, but I did know what I had and I am sad she is gone. But having her so far away has made me so thankful for modern communication. And grateful that even with being so far- we are so close. So, if we (yes, you and I) haven't talked in a while, I'd like to, very much.

I'd like to stop and look at every sunset that happens right outside my back window.

I would like to better appreciate (and take advantage of) where I live.

I want to love well.

I'd like to love children better. Especially orphans around the world.

I would like to volunteer more. Read more. Get fit. Run more races that promote change and provide hope. Stop complaining. Be more environmentally responsible. I'd also like to see more of the world. Learn something new. Maybe a little of all these things. Not just from January to December. Maybe...