Looking Back...Looking Forward

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It is late at night on the first day of the new year. As I look back at 2015, I could list many things that have happened over the course of the year.

Last year at this time, I was spending my evenings browsing real estate websites, hoping to find a house within my budget that didn't need expensive renovation. Tonight, I feel very blessed as I sit in the home God has provided in the past year. 

Last year at this time, my father was still working full-time. During this year, he finally retired. Dad and Mom currently are preparing to move into my grandmother's house. I am very glad to know they will finally be in a single-story house with an attached garage - much more convenient and safer in the winter.

The six of us siblings are still scattered around the country. Janet and her family, Beth and I are all in Ohio...different cities, but same state. Doug is in Colorado, providing tech support to cell phone customers. Steve and his family are in Missouri. Rick and his family are in El Salvador. Most of us got together this past summer for a family vacation in Colorado. It was good to spend time with them in such a beautiful part of the country.

I am nearly halfway into my second year in my job as a high school secretary. Once again, I consider myself very blessed to be placed in a position where I can work with teenagers and with a fantastic group of dedicated professionals who I also consider my friends.

Even as I count my blessings from 2015, I also think of friends and family who have had difficult things happen in the past year. Some have lost loved ones. Some have faced health issues, either for themselves or others. For others, challenges are going on even now. My thoughts and prayers go out to them.

As we launch into 2016, none of us know what we will face. Joy or sorrow, success or failure, gain or loss. One thing we can hold onto no matter what we face. 

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. 

Philippians 4:13 

Let's hold on to that promise...and set out into the adventure that is 2016.