A New Year

As I was driving Simon home after spending the weekend with us, he told me that he thinks this year is going to be a fun year. We talked about his upcoming class trip to the State Capital in Madison - he is very excited to go and last fall his class was learning all about the State. Of course, he had to tell me all about the things he learned. Gosh, I didn't know we had a State Insect!!! And if I would have guessed, I would have guessed it is the mosquito. Wrong! It's the honey bee. Anyway, I've been pondering Simon's declaration that this will be a fun year and how anticipation is such a good thing in the eyes of a child.

I sit here today knowing that an important piece of my life has changed. I am no longer employed in ministry at our parish - a place where I have been privileged to walk with a great many people through the sorrows and joys of their lives for ten years. My last day was Dec. 31st and it was a bittersweet day - one where I was relieved to leave behind all that frustrated me and all that took me away from being fully present to Dan due to meetings and often weekend commitments. And yet, it was sad and really hard to leave the office that day and leave my keys behind knowing that I will no longer be working with some very wonderful other women on staff and no longer officially engaging in the work and ministry I have loved for so long. It's the people I will miss most of all. I have no job prospects nor any idea of what I will do in the job area next. And yet, that is not a pressing issue for now. Maybe this is so because this is all too new; too fresh. Or maybe it's because there is so much to do around the house. And I think a piece of it is because I have had virtually no time to work on crafting stained glass for way too many months - a hobby I thoroughly enjoy. But I knew it was time - time to leave. What I do know is that I need to take time to wait and ponder and listen to the voice within my heart to discern what the next adventure will be. And I do believe I am quite ready for a new adventure with all the excitement and joy it will bring...whatever that new adventure will be. In that respect, Simon is right: this is going to be a fun year.