Reverb10 Day 1

A few of my friends are doing this reflection challenge this month. To learn more about it go to http://www.reverb10.com/ I'm hoping this will get me to blog more, but more importantly to reflect more, because that's hard to come by when you are trying to mother a 3 and 2 year old.

Day 1: Encapsulate the year 2010 in one word. Explain why you’re choosing that word. Now, imagine it’s one year from today, what would you like the word to be that captures 2011 for you?

Year 2010...Rooted.
I'm in a way stealing this word from the church I attend (The Rooted Church), but I don't know a better word to use. This coming up March will mark 3 years in Texas. To describe why I'm using "rooted" for this third year, I have to outline the first and second year. My family and I had some major stressful things happen all at once...

...move to different state, buy new house, family member terminally ill, got pregnant, new job, no friends, critically ill dog (stupid, I know, but it added to the stress), traveling A LOT to see family, church hunting, sell old house, baby born, family member dies, weird new job hours, finding a church, learning to be a mom of two babies and at times feeling like a single mom b/c of the jobs weird hours....

...those have been the hardest years of my life yet. And this third year has been the year where I've had the time and chance to root myself. I found a church and formed more friendships. I've found my way to grieve and heal from losing my mother-in-law. I've learned to work with and even enjoy the husband's weird job hours. My husband is rooted himself in his job by excelling and making great accomplishments (He recently just made the SWAT team). I wouldn't say I'm excelling in my job as a mom of two, but they aren't babies anymore and that helps :) I've watched my husband transform our backyard into an extra large vegetable garden, where we eat most of our produce. I've watched my three year old sing hymns and start to talk about Jesus. I've become good friends with some neighbors. I've learned the lay of the land around us (I know where to shop and for what). I've accepted this place as my home. I've made my roots and I'm slowing growing. Which leads to what I desire of 2011...

Growth. I'll put it simply, my all time desire is to grow more in love with my Yahweh.