Behold a New Year!

January 2019, baby Sophia's baptism

A new year is always exciting to create new inspiration, goals, resolutions. I've pondered and reflected more on this past year, the joys, the sorrows, confusion, crosses, and all its happenings. It was a different kind of year with different focuses than before. I was just getting into the work world, full time work and putting all that I learned from my ECD classes into practice. There was excitement but also a lot of unknowns of how everything would go and turn out. There was a dose of wishful thinking in there as well! 

 I had looked forward to working full time for a while and felt ready to make more money, use my time better with having less of it, and learn new things and be around different types of people. I had an idea of how things would be and in a way idealized it all. I saw my sister go to work everyday, and would hear about her day, the interactions she had with co workers and students. She was busy but thriving from it all and I wanted the same, and felt ready for it. I enjoyed picking out outfits for work for her with the intention of professionalism and class over comfort. These thoughts progressed my mind into the next step, the next phase but God knew I wasn't quite ready. He sent me crosses that were very unique to me and were severely strong and heavy. He also knew that I needed them and needed to cling to Him more.

I came across this quote from a spiritual reading book, and it struck me as how relatable it was.  "The certainty that God wants what is best for us is the ground of a serene and joyful confidence, even regarding the unpleasant things we never expected." I have learned to have hope but not blind hope but rather hope in Him. Every year brings with it its own failures, and crosses, discomforts and frustrations, but the same is true for joys, and thankfulness, peace, and love. I can focus on last year and all that happened and look onward to this year in greater strength and hope, and not let the hard parts from last year bring me down but instead lift me up, and focus on the good, all the graces and blessings I've received. And the gift of a new day, and new year!

Here are some pictures and highlights from this past year:)

Carmel Mission, Dec. 2018

New Years Day 2019, Mt. Diablo

Sibling Hike:) Early January

Dinner at Persian Restaurant

Isabel's visit, Summer

House warming, early Summer

  

Fruit picking in Brentwood

Yosemite!

Birthday celebration for niece, and Santiago's bday 2 months later, Fall

I love this image,as it represents the two most important feasts. This year will also have it's won joys and sufferings, but Christ will be there through it all. Happy New Year!