new year renewal

Over the holiday break, I spent a lot of time reading.

First, I polished off Stuff White People Like. I have yet to take the quiz, but I have found that as far as Caucasians go, I'm pretty honky.

Next, I read 20 and Counting which is the how-to/memoir published by the Duggar family who just welcomed their 18th child on December 18th.

And finally, I'm about 25 pages away from finishing Rob Bell's Jesus Wants to Save Christians.

You may look at these three titles and think that they are in no way connected, but they are.

Or maybe they aren't, but the messages I'm suppose to be taking away from them are.

This new year brings with it lots of forks in the road for my little family, and perhaps it's those issues that are already weighing on my mind as I go into reading that end up highlighting the same conclusions.

I definitely need to process each of these books separately if I'm going to be fair in reviewing them. However, as a result of all three in combo with what's coming up in life... here's what I'm thinking about.

1.) As much as I don't want to live in Elkhart, I had a hard time leaving. I can't help but whine about the unfairness of living so far from my family while at the same time understanding it. With so many people leaving Detroit these days, many of whom are going against their will, God continues to reaffirm that we are to be here.

2.) I'm dealing with a lot of conviction in the amount of quality time I spend with my family. This is going to mean less blogging. I'm okay with that.

3.) We need to be more intentional about every single dollar we spend this year. We need to save while at the same time helping those who need it. This will require some lifestyle changes which I'm prayerfully preparing for. That doesn't mean it's not going to be rough.

4.) This fall will probably mean a move for us. We have a lot to learn about housing between now and then. Discernment will be key.

5.) There are relationships in my life which are toxic and I need to gracefully bow out of them while not letting the remaining scar tissue prevent me from being open to new friendships.

6.) My eyes and ears are opened to new opportunities. In lots of areas. I don't have any clue what this preludes, but I feel strongly that it's something significant.

These are not really resolutions because they aren't goals I'm trying to accomplish. These are more like new mandates that have arisen as a result of what we believe is meant for the next season of our lives.

Endings are difficult for me. And so are beginnings. Probably because endings are usually follwed by beginnings.

I'm good with being in the middle somewhere. Hopefully I've got some more clarity by March.