I spent time yesterday trying to write a "summary post" of the past year, but no matter how hard I tried I just couldn't put something like that together. I think it is because we are still trying to process through all the twists and turns, ups and downs, joys and heartaches of the last 12 months. Instead, may I present a more brief, less insightful "2010" post.
Book of the Year: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. Recommended by my sister who usually offers up some good suggestions (of course, there was the "Harold and Maude" film debacle...). I sat and read this book in an evening because I simply had no other choice. I am not sure I have cried as much over the pages of a book since Where the Red Fern Grows. This book is a lovely story, made almost unbearably beautiful because it is true. Should be required reading for everyone over 15.
Movie(s) of the Year: (Bear in mind, I can hardly remember what happened last week, let alone 11 months ago so I may forget some good ones...) She's Out of My League, Ironman 2, Despicable Me, Red, and Due Date (no judgement, please.). Due Date and She's Out of My League were very pleasant surprises, and although they had some questionable moments in them, they made me laugh out loud. Red just plain rocked with an all star ensemble cast that hit it out of the park. Honorable mention would be The Karate Kid (but why a romantic story line for 12 year olds??? Really???). Disappointments were Invictus (sorry, Morgan Freeman - you know I still love and adore you) and The Last Song with Miley Cyrus. She's not ready. Clearly. The movie we turned off the quickest was "The Ugly Truth". Didn't even make it 10 minutes in.
Television Show of the Year: After jumping off the Glee bandwagon (a difficult break up if I'm being honest), we settled back into our sports heavy viewing habits once again. 2010 did bring one delightful discovery - Masterpiece Theater on PBS. I enjoyed many evenings of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and even Charlotte Bronte. GREAT discovery...loved it.
Personal Discovery of the Year (non spiritual): Karate. Hands down the greatest "new thing" of 2010. It is hard to believe that this time last year we were only thinking of putting Calvin in karate, and now three of us take it twice a week. I cannot say enough about how much I love martial arts. It has been an amazing physical discipline for me, but also a huge mental discipline as well. By far, the best investment we made this year.
Biggest Flop of the Year: My friend LaDona and I were going to start an Internet talk show together. We had topics, names, a set, and costumes bought (from Goodwill...no huge financial loss here), but we never got around to actually doing it. For those of you who have seen the two of us together, I can sense your relief. For those of you who haven't, well, if we decide to put it out there, I'll let you know.
Best Purchase of the Year: Mark did the nearly unthinkable and ventured out on Black Friday to look at TVs. He ended up scoring a HUGE financial coup by snagging a 50 inch plasma TV for our bonus room. We had this monstrosity of a big screen TV which was actually one of the largest pieces of furniture we owned, so hanging this lovely, crisp TV on the wall caused the angels to sing in delight. (OK, maybe that was Mark behind me...) We are loving the new TV...and the new floor space.
Personal Discovery of the Year (spiritual): Lots of opportunity this year for spiritual growth. (And not in the fun way.) Three main things I am realizing this year - 1) I would rather obey a God who is trustworthy in difficult or heartbreaking places than a god who cannot bear up under the hard questions those circumstances raise. 2) God can change hearts. He changed our family's heart, and I am certain we will never be the same. 3) Waiting is a far more difficult spiritual discipline than doing ever could be. I'll let you all do any more in depth analyzing of these if you want. I'm still trying to live them out, so they aren't ready for any pretty spiritual bow on top right now.
Regret of the Year: It probably isn't the one you're thinking. We do not regret for a moment everything we went through and did for the failed adoption. I know logically (and financially) we should, but that isn't the reality in our hearts and minds. We wouldn't change any of the moments we had with I., except the outcome, but we accept the way things are, and have only love in our hearts for her. But through other little moments of 2010, I realize my greatest regret is not listening to that still, small voice in my gut that I usually try to drown out with "nice girl" logic. There is a reason God gave that to me. I better start using the discernment and hesitations He provides. If I would have this year, I would have avoided some difficult circumstances.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
Book of the Year: Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. Recommended by my sister who usually offers up some good suggestions (of course, there was the "Harold and Maude" film debacle...). I sat and read this book in an evening because I simply had no other choice. I am not sure I have cried as much over the pages of a book since Where the Red Fern Grows. This book is a lovely story, made almost unbearably beautiful because it is true. Should be required reading for everyone over 15.
Movie(s) of the Year: (Bear in mind, I can hardly remember what happened last week, let alone 11 months ago so I may forget some good ones...) She's Out of My League, Ironman 2, Despicable Me, Red, and Due Date (no judgement, please.). Due Date and She's Out of My League were very pleasant surprises, and although they had some questionable moments in them, they made me laugh out loud. Red just plain rocked with an all star ensemble cast that hit it out of the park. Honorable mention would be The Karate Kid (but why a romantic story line for 12 year olds??? Really???). Disappointments were Invictus (sorry, Morgan Freeman - you know I still love and adore you) and The Last Song with Miley Cyrus. She's not ready. Clearly. The movie we turned off the quickest was "The Ugly Truth". Didn't even make it 10 minutes in.
Television Show of the Year: After jumping off the Glee bandwagon (a difficult break up if I'm being honest), we settled back into our sports heavy viewing habits once again. 2010 did bring one delightful discovery - Masterpiece Theater on PBS. I enjoyed many evenings of Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, and even Charlotte Bronte. GREAT discovery...loved it.
Personal Discovery of the Year (non spiritual): Karate. Hands down the greatest "new thing" of 2010. It is hard to believe that this time last year we were only thinking of putting Calvin in karate, and now three of us take it twice a week. I cannot say enough about how much I love martial arts. It has been an amazing physical discipline for me, but also a huge mental discipline as well. By far, the best investment we made this year.
Biggest Flop of the Year: My friend LaDona and I were going to start an Internet talk show together. We had topics, names, a set, and costumes bought (from Goodwill...no huge financial loss here), but we never got around to actually doing it. For those of you who have seen the two of us together, I can sense your relief. For those of you who haven't, well, if we decide to put it out there, I'll let you know.
Best Purchase of the Year: Mark did the nearly unthinkable and ventured out on Black Friday to look at TVs. He ended up scoring a HUGE financial coup by snagging a 50 inch plasma TV for our bonus room. We had this monstrosity of a big screen TV which was actually one of the largest pieces of furniture we owned, so hanging this lovely, crisp TV on the wall caused the angels to sing in delight. (OK, maybe that was Mark behind me...) We are loving the new TV...and the new floor space.
Personal Discovery of the Year (spiritual): Lots of opportunity this year for spiritual growth. (And not in the fun way.) Three main things I am realizing this year - 1) I would rather obey a God who is trustworthy in difficult or heartbreaking places than a god who cannot bear up under the hard questions those circumstances raise. 2) God can change hearts. He changed our family's heart, and I am certain we will never be the same. 3) Waiting is a far more difficult spiritual discipline than doing ever could be. I'll let you all do any more in depth analyzing of these if you want. I'm still trying to live them out, so they aren't ready for any pretty spiritual bow on top right now.
Regret of the Year: It probably isn't the one you're thinking. We do not regret for a moment everything we went through and did for the failed adoption. I know logically (and financially) we should, but that isn't the reality in our hearts and minds. We wouldn't change any of the moments we had with I., except the outcome, but we accept the way things are, and have only love in our hearts for her. But through other little moments of 2010, I realize my greatest regret is not listening to that still, small voice in my gut that I usually try to drown out with "nice girl" logic. There is a reason God gave that to me. I better start using the discernment and hesitations He provides. If I would have this year, I would have avoided some difficult circumstances.
I hope you all have a wonderful New Year!
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