Looking back at 2020

Ahhh, 2020 is over. In some ways, it is a relief, in others, I am sad that a whole year has flown by. 

Let's take just a minute to look back before going forward. 

Last year, my word for the year was PEACE. It was exactly the word I needed in the midst of chaos and a trying year. God knew the word I needed.

Looking into 2020 last January, I didn't want to make a lot of resolutions because I thought other things were going on. (There was, but not what I thought! Or anyone!).

 Here is what I wrote last year when I chose my word and thought about making resolutions:

In 2020, we have many commitments including politics, campaigning, helping with the local homeschool co-op (I am also teaching this semester), hosting a reader's retreat, VBS, graduations of close friends and family, a major election, work, family, to name just a few.

Looking back, this how that turned out:

In 2020, we have many commitments including politics Yep, 

campaigning Looked so different this year, 

helping with the local homeschool co-op (I am also teaching this semester) Until we cancelled in March due to Covid, 

hosting a reader's retreat Postponed to 2021, 

VBS Postponed to 2021, 

graduations of close friends and family Happened, just different than we would have guessed, 

a major election Again, looked so different this year, 

work Thankful for my job, looked a lot different this year, 

family Time with family also looked different, to name just a few. 

Funny how our expectations vs. what happened last year were so vastly different. Most of the above did not look like I would have expected. But somethings were even better. There were definitely things to be thankful for in the midst of 2020.

Here are a couple of the things we listed on our Christmas card this year:

•  A new niece born in January
• Family vacation in July
• My sister getting engaged and married
• Fall family camping trip
• Seeing "Noah" at Sight and Sound in Branson 
• Lots of produce from our garden (1st time in a long time!).
• Technology
• Friends and Family
• Jesus!
  
• And so many more.  
  

Looking back on 2020 will always be hard, but I will try to find the joy, the blessings, and give thanks for all them. I will remember that God is always good and was and is with us always. 

I think it is good to look back on the things we grieve (write them down and release them), but then to also write a list of things to celebrate and give thanks to God for how He is always working in our lives. Look for those God sightings! You might just be surprised!