Goodbye 2010

Wow, I can't believe that the year is over already. It was an interesting year for us. 2010 brought a lot of changes for our life. It also brought a lot of growth and strength for us. Jon McLaughlin released a Christmas song this year that says something about thinking back about what a crazy year it's been, and every time I hear the song I can't help but think how fitting that line is for us. We are looking forward to the new year and the changes and adventure that it will bring us as we remember all that 2010 brought. I just hope that 2011 can be a little easier on us. Here are some highlights of our year.

• Enjoying skiing several times at our favorite ski resort in Montana, knowing all along that it would be our last season to be able to drive just a few hours to such incredible skiing.


• Tough times at PH. Lots of tears, frustration, and prayer, all while strengthening friendships that will last a lifetime because of the common bond we all share. We are so thankful for friends who shared that time with us.


• A month of goodbyes in June: Saying goodbye to the life in Montana that we had grown to love so much. What a wonderful place. Saying goodbye to kids that we had grown to love, many we had seen grow up over the last four years. Saying goodbye to those friends we had made and grown so close to over the years. Saying goodbye to a wonderful cycling group in Polson that is completely unique that we miss greatly.

• A fun drive from Montana to Indiana. We got to visit Yellowstone and Mt. Rushmore again.
  

• Struggling to find jobs in Bloomington, where we moved in with my parents while we figure out what we are going to do with our lives now. We both did find jobs relatively quickly, and John found a job that was a better fit for his education background and hopefully a better foot in the door at the school corporation that he just started after Christmas. It took a little soul searching, but we've both decided to stick it out with education and do what it takes to find teaching jobs. We're looking forward to giving it another chance. Since deciding to become teachers in college, we have both felt strongly that there is a great need for Christian teachers in the public schools, and hopefully we will be used in that way.

• House hunting has been a new experience for us this fall/winter. We looked at many many houses, and we think we have found one. We are in the process of making an offer, so hopefully good news about that will follow soon.

• Building connections and friendships in our new community and reconnecting with family.

• Finding a new church that we love.

We've definitely come a long way this year, in more ways than one. In many ways it has been a year of turbulence, and we are looking forward to some calm and rest in 2011.