Fastest Week Ever!

With finals completed before the break, this week was a blur. Kids got new schedules, I had loads of paperwork to complete, and lots of other stuff to get done. I cannot believe that it is already January and we are into the second semester of the school year. It seems crazy!

After being home for two weeks, I realized something... I miss Iowa, a lot. Anchorage is great, don't get me wrong, but there is just something about the midwest that is irreplaceable. Family bonds are different, life seems more centered around faith and church, and the people I consider closest to me are close by. So, if you are thinking "wow I wonder if she is considering moving back," you are correct. I am seriously contemplating making the big move back to the midwest, pending a job of course.

Oh yeah, and there is Mark ;) I miss him, lots and this whole 3,500 mile, long distance relationship is harder than I thought it would be (I guess I am not, in fact, superwoman). Who knew that I would turn into the mushy girlfriend type? I frequently find myself thinking things that used to drive me nuts when it came out of other people's mouths, funny how the tables turn.

So pray for me, that God will guide me as to where I am to go, and what I should do because heaven knows I am going to need some assistance :)

Holiday Hangover

As I am sitting here in the Minneapolis airport on my 4 hour layover several things have come to mind most of them trivial but one thing sticks out: optimism. Over break I was constantly reminded of how people need to learn to let the small things go and live life. With the holidays full of family and friends, the biggest outcome is typically stress. We become overwhelmed and start letting the little things bother us. People start nitpicking and complaining about all of the things that went wrong, and forget to focus on all of the things that went right.

Now I am not trying to belittle those of you who had a seriously stressful holiday...trust me, I get that, somethings are just out of our control. However I do think that most of us just need to take a step back and relax. Planes get delayed, weather acts up and people even burn the Christmas feast, but after all of that most of us end up together and fed. There were a couple of times that I got frustrated with the way things were going and then I stopped and looked at the following situations I could have been in:

5. I could be struggling to find a job and home.

4. I could have crashed into a tree again...

3. My house could have burnt down.

2. That plane could have crashed and hundreds of people would not have made it home for the holidays.

1. I could be 9 months pregnant and riding on a donkey, only to arrive at my destination and have to stay in a stable with animals...oh yeah, and then go into labor.

Alas, I did not find myself in any of these situations. I did burn the cookies, my planes got delayed, I got sick, and was late to the New Year's Party but in the end, my family and loved ones were together and things went very well.

For those of you who really did struggle this holiday season, through loss, grief, or just the circumstances of life...I wish you all the best, and pray that God blesses you with a more fruitful and positive 2010.