Coming off a tough 2008, I am evaluating our year to come. We are aware we will tread through some tough times as we did in 2008 but we are hopeful that 2009 will bring refreshment and newness.

What’s in store for 2009…

Seth began a new rotation this week in the Fraud Dept. He will be stepping away from the visa line to work more intently on uncovering fraud for the next while. This opportunity came up about a month ago and it seemed like yet another great opportunity.  I think I mentioned before that he is managing the organization of the big 4th of July bash here at post so he is already in to meetings for that. I am continuing to see patients and have added 3 new ones in the new year.  I am able to work two days a week and help financially while still being with Jackson so this has been a huge blessing. Jackson is beginning a new endeavor in the new year, he is going to be attending a “Mother’s Day Out”-type program for 3 hours two mornings a week. This will help to relieve his misery on one of the mornings I am working and give him some much needed run around time with other kids as now he is stuck in our apt. I am apprehensive about sending him but we visited the little school (with only 10 kids at a time) and he loved it! It is more like a little house with only kids his age, a garden with a bunny, special music times, etc.  Jackson is 17 months old and never stops surprising us. I really don’t know what life would be like without his joy and fresh excitement about new things.

Seth and I have started “Love Dare” that his sister and brother-in-law gave us for Christmas.  We are enjoying it thoroughly although I must admit it is already challenging us. It is providing a time each day for us to sit down together and focus on our relationship. It is a great catalyst for discussions about tough things and a great reminder to appreciate one another. I highly recommend it to every married couple.

In 2009, (Septemberish) we are wrapping up our time in Bogota and we are heading back to the DC area to start the adventure of learning German. Our first move to DC was tough because we didn’t know the area, didn’t have a church, and didn’t have any family of friends. DC oddly now seems like another home to us. While in DC we were embraced by our small group, made great friends, found a church and got plugged in. In addition to our previous connections we are thrilled that my brother and sister-in-law and my two nieces moved to DC this past summer. We have my aunt and her family in Maryland which was a treat but we need to see them more next time around! We can’t wait for Jackson to have regular play dates with his cousins and for us to get to have family dinners! We are looking at DC as a time to refresh and recharge before the next big adventure…Bern.  We desperately need spiritual growth and fellowship that we have lacked here. We took that for granted before being overseas and we are praying even now that Bern will provide a healthier church environment.

As we look to the next 9 months before leaving Bogota we are working to stay plugged in and build friendships. It is hard to do when we are so excited to be going back “home” for a bit. We are looking for places to live in DC, sorting out the old, preparing for the new and trying to keep ourselves grounded all the while.

My prayer for this year for our family is that we can truly have a year of health and peace. That God would strengthen us and “keep us grounded” as we prepare, transition and re-plant. This is the life He cut out for us for this time, we trust that he will provide all that we need to live it well.