Happy New Year.

I got this idea from my friend Sarah. It hadn't occurred to me either that in less than a week, a decade is ending. That's kind of a big deal considering I've only been alive for a little over two decades. In high school, when they asked us what we thought we'd be doing in ten years, I'm not sure this is what I pictured. I would have never imagined that I would have had many of the experiences that I have had in the last ten years.

I've never been one to make grandiose plans about the future. I barely plan farther than a week ahead. Thinking ahead ten years is such an abstract thing for me. I mean, I can think of a million things that I would like my life to be, but that doesn't mean they're realistic. I guess, as cheesy as it might sound, I like to live one day at a time. I think it makes for less disappointment in the end. Really, who am I to say what my life should or shouldn't be like. I can't see the big picture. I'm not really a big picture person. I love the details. I'll leave the rest up to God. He's better at it than I am.

And on that note, some things that I have accomplished in the last decade (and Sarah, some of these might be repeats...sorry:

1. I survived Y2K.
2. I watched the Twin Towers get hit and collapse. I remember attending a candle light prayer vigil in our small town and truly appreciating the fact that even though we were thousands of miles away, we could be a part of the healing through prayer.
3. I graduated from high school.
4. I became a lifeguard.
5. I met the love of my life on New Year's Eve 2002/03. We met on a Twister board and never looked back.
6. I snowboarded for the first time. It was a goal of mine since I first heard about snowboarding in elementary school.
7. I broke my first bone while snowboarding.
8. I graduated with an Associated degree.
9. I lost my grandpa to lung cancer and had the worst year of my life.
10. I got engaged on a mountaintop while snowboarding.
11. I met people who are some of my very best friends to this day.
12. I got married.
13. I travelled out of the country for the first time on my honeymoon.
14. I got stung by a jellyfish.
15. I had an amazing first year of marriage despite all the people who said it would be the hardest.
16. I travelled to Minneapolis, visited my best friend, and went to the Mall of America.
17. I got pregnant and had a miscarriage.
18. I moved to Seattle.
19. I got accepted to the Art Institute of Seattle's photography program.
20. I got pregnant again.
21. I did the practical thing for once and said no to the Art Institute and enrolled at CWU-Lynnwood to finish my degree. So long, photography school.
22. I survived 24 hours of labor.
23. I had a baby and had one of the most sleep deprived and stressful years of my life.
24. I spent a winter as a snowboarding instructor.
25. I finished my Bachelor's degree while dealing with a colicky baby.
26. I bought a house.
27. I did a triathlon.
28. I finally learned to surf.
29. I started playing ice hockey.
30. I found out who my real friends are.
31. I went to six funerals.
32. I went to eleven weddings. I was in three. Justin was in one.

That's just a glimpse of the last decade, but it definitely didn't turn out the way I thought it would. I'm not even sure I had any idea what it would be like. All I know is, even through the mistakes and regrets, I wouldn't trade any of it. I learned, I grew, and I got closer to God. I'm not even going to try to guess what this next decade will bring. All I know is that I want to keep growing and maturing. I don't want to become stagnant. This year really will be a new chapter in our lives. There are many things that are falling into place even now that are going to make this another decade to remember.

And if I have learned one thing from this past decade, it's this: You can plan and hope and dream all you want, but only God knows what the future holds. If you hang onto your own plans and desires too closely, you're only asking for disappointment. Letting God take care of the planning can be one of the most difficult things to do, but His plans are more fulfilling and amazing than yours ever could be. I'm not great at doing this. In fact, I'm pretty bad at letting God take control, but when I have given everything over to Him, I've had some of the most amazing experiences of my life.