Good-Bye to 2009

Now that I’m getting ready to say good-bye to 2009, I have to admit that it has been a year filled with joy, love and gratitude with many rewards, but it has had its fair share of challenges. If I am to describe this year in one word it would be “being stretched.”

1) Being stretched while giving birth to our baby boy. Stretching my legs and every muscle in my body to pop him out. (sorry, if this giving you visual images in your head! lol) and can’t leave out the horrible stretch mark. :)

2) Being stretched and learning how to manage my time and to multi-task with a gazillion things on my to do list.

3) Being stretched to move out of my comfort zone and the life that I was used to a long time ago. All I wanted for Christmas was to sleep for 12 hours straight, with no interruptions. I miss the good old college days where I slept till noon.

4) Being stretched in patience and love. To learn to understand and take care of the little guy and the big guy of the house. Having this little guy taught me a GREAT lesson: to respect & appreciate my husband so much more. Yes.. he is my better half.

5) Learning and stretching my inter-personal skills, being able to quickly understand and figure out what my clients need from me.

I won’t lie. I have had my fair share of melt downs, and on occasion I sobbed like a baby for hours. (I blame my messed up hormones after pregnancy! lol) But, there were also many times I felt I had everything under control and gave myself a pat on the back for giving 100%, and doing the best I can.

At the end of the day, I learned that I don’t and I can’t have control over everything and I have definitely been stretched to my limits this past year. I know that along the way I may have disappointed people, I’m not saying this to justify my shortcomings, but one thing I learned was how to say “No.” and knowing what I can and can't do. However, saying “No” made me prioritize what's important which I am very grateful.

As I welcome 2010, I have decided to go against a tradition of writing down a list of New Year’s resolutions. I feel like a list of resolutions can only prove that you are a good-enough person by keeping to your list, or a failure by not keeping your word. I already have my to-do lists on a daily basis I don’t want yet another list of resolutions to dictate who I am as a person and what I am capable of doing as a person.

However, I do want to hold on to this verse and I want it to be a daily reminder to me throughout 2010.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me" 2 Corinthians 12:9

Let's welcome the New Year with gratitude and hope, with a little room to grow.

Happy New Year!

Yours Truly,

Esther