If there is one thing we all have in common on New Year’s Eve (besides making resolutions)  it’s that we look back and wonder, ” How did another year go by so quickly?”  I’ve been asking myself that for 53 years now (well, truthfully I didn’t realize how fast it went until I turned 30…after that I think someone puts turbo batteries in clocks and the hands spin twice as fast as they once did).

Looking back at the year now is different than it was say 20 years ago. The older I get the more I feel the call to do more for others. It is so easy to stay wrapped in the cocoon of “my world” that often I fail to reach out to those in need, and I don’t have to look very far to see the needy. My grandmother would say, “What’s done is done. We can only move forward.”  While that is true perhaps if we take a look at what we did or didn’t do in 2009, maybe we can do better in 2010 and there’s definitely room for improvement in my life. How about you?

My 2009 thoughts….

1. I wish I had studied my Bible more.  I know where peace and hope reside and I could save myself a lot of grief and worry by studying more, praying more and trusting more in the maker of the universe to guide me. This is at the top of my list of things I will change in 2010.

2. I wish I had been a better friend. The last few years I’ve been spending a little more time with my girlfriends and it’s made me realize how much I’ve taken them for granted over the years. So many times I’ve thought I was “too busy” to take a weekend off and just relax with the girls. This is another area in my life where I want to do better.

3.  One of my biggest personal struggles in 2009 was deciding to leave education to pursue writing full time. When something has been a large part of your life for a very long time it’s tough to know when it’s time to move on, especially when you like what you do and you know that leaving it also means leaving a pay check. Sometimes we need a little push and for me that push came when the editor of the magazine I had written a column for for 13 years informed me they were “revamping the magazine” and my column was being discontinued. I couldn’t imagine life without writing and one day while driving down the road God whispered in my ear (I pray a lot while I’m driving and my brother has always said that’s a good thing) and NanaHood was born. The vision for NanaHood has evolved to one of friendship ( a cool place for grandmother’s and moms to hang out) mentoring (a loving environment where mom’s can ask for help, advice and opinions and receive a thoughtful, loving response) and praise (where every Tuesday we participate in Gratituesday with www.heavenlyhomemakers.com and give thanks to the one from whom all blessings flow!)

What were your greatest challenges in 2009? What do you hope to do differently in 2010? My wish for you this New Year’s Eve is this…

Happy New Year and may God keep you in His care through the year and the rest of your life!