Happy New Year!

2010 - Doesn't that just sound like it's going to be a great year???

It's the beginning of a whole new decade. Isn't that exciting?!?! I can't help but to think back to the last time that the New Year brought a new decade. It was the year 2000. A new millennium. Y2K. There was a lot of hoopla about the '00 crashing computer networks resulting in mass chaos. Thankfully, that didn't happen. There were minor glitches, I'm sure, but nothing earth shattering.

A lot has happened since then. On January 1,2000 I was a Junior at A&M, and engaged to the love of my life. We were looking forward to our June nuptials and starting our life together. I had finally decided what I wanted to be "when I grew up." I had enrolled to begin nursing school in the fall and was thrilled with the prospect of a new career. We knew that we would have children eventually, but wanted to be married for several years before we even entertained the thought of kids. September 11th was just another day on the calendar. I didn't really have any concept of the word "terrorist." I drove a 1996 Honda Civic that was affectionately known as "Rhonda the Honda." Computers were big, bulky, and slow - mostly used for Microsoft Word or Excel spreadsheets. AOL instant messenger completely baffled me. It was amazing to be able to "talk" to someone in real time through a computer screen. I was in Aggie Sisters for Christ and loved my small group. I went to Central Baptist Church in Bryan, but didn't really consider it my church home.

What a difference that a decade makes...

Wade & I were the happiest little poor newlyweds that have ever lived, I'm sure of that. We lived in our teeny tiny apartment and barely scraped by. We were active members of the Nearly Wed/Newly Wed class at our church. We were determined to finish school, and by May 2002 we were both college graduates. Wade started his career in aerospace, and I was a nurse in the PICU. We bought our first house, had our first child, changed church homes, sold our first house, I quit my job as a nurse to become a stay at home mom, we bought our current house, had our second child, moved our church membership again, and Wade made a few career moves in there as well. We have lost loved ones and welcomed new relatives into the world. September 11th will forever be etched in my heart and mind as a day when the world changed. Terrorist became real to me and I felt a sense of insecurity that I hadn't felt before. I drive a Suburban now, affectionately known as "Mommy's bus." I tote my little laptop all over the house with it's wireless internet connection. We have a blog, Skype, and can access the internet from our cell phones. I spend my days with my 2 boys in full blown Mommy-mode.

And, I wouldn't have it any other way.

What a difference a decade makes, indeed.

I can't wait to see what the Lord has for us all in the coming decade. I am overcome with gratitude at the way that He has provided for us and guided us through the last 10 years. I trust in His faithfulness for the coming years as well.

So long, 2009. Hello, 2010!