When I wrote my first post this year, I didn’t expect 2020 to turn out the way it did.
Let’s face it… none of us did.
But 2020 did happen!
We battled a worldwide pandemic… we still are.
We lost loved ones.
We grieved missed opportunities.
We buried some dreams.
We resurrected old hobbies.
We found new interests.
We worked from home.
We cherished family.
We worried quite a bit.
We prayed a lot.
We made time for the things that mattered.
This has been a devastating year for many with the economic crisis, political wars, and the seeming triumph of injustice around the world.
For others, it’s been a year of rest and rejuvenation – a much needed break from the hustle of regular life.
Personally, this year has been a mixed bag for me.
As someone who periodically needs time alone to recuperate, this year didn’t give me room for that.
Solitude and quietness were hard to come by because my beautiful family was home all day, everyday!
I had to seek out new ways to cope with anxiety and find time for the rest my soul craved.
When the mundaneness started to wear me out, I found solace in reading and journaling.
I read a lot of the Bible. I furiously wrote as a means to process the mayhem in my mind.
I read 60+ books this year! I don’t think I’ve read that many books in the past 20 years combined!
I used books to escape the real world, but God graciously used the words to revive my faith, restore my mental health, and renew my determination to survive this year.
In case you were wondering, here are my top 5 reads of 2020:
- Get Out Of Your Head by Jennie Allen
- Get Your Life Back by John Eldredge
- Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt
- Kingdom Woman by Tony Evens & Chrystal Evans Hurst
- Unashamed by Lecrae
I had set some lofty goals at the beginning of 2020.
As each 90-day mark swept by, my list of goals dwindled down.
And one of my goals for the last quarter was in fact, “Survive 2020”!
Yep… that’s right! I was just about ready to get over 2020 and see it in the rearview mirror!
Still, I can’t say 2020 was a complete disaster.
My family and I hit quite a few milestones this year…
- We moved to our new home – it’s been an oasis of comfort in these trying times.
- My husband turned 40, and he made the best tuna sandwiches and fried chicken burgers this year!
- We’ve got 3 teenagers under our roof, and their shoes are officially bigger than mine!
- I got to contribute a few blog posts at IndiAanya this year.
- We got a puppy!
Not to forget…
The kids actually thrived in online school this year.
They also had so much more time to pursue their individual interests and grow in their faith.
So many times this year, God came through for us and surprised our family.
We’ve documented them all in words and pictures, to remember for years to come.
Some of my best moments of 2020 included sitting as a family in our living room and discussing a multitude of topics – from Biblical truths to funny videos.
So, looking back at the year that was… it’s been a wild, crazy ride.
But I am grateful for the ups and downs of 2020, and I can’t wait to see what God has for us in 2021.
Here’s praying we all have a better year ahead…!
Have a blessed 2021! 😊
Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash