Reflections on 2010

Ten goals for 2011:
1. keep pushing the boundaries of my comfort zone
2. cook more often (and better)
3. serve others regularly and inspire kids to care about the world
4. continue to develop my faith and trust God’s plan for my life
5. find more balance between all the things that pull at my time
6. see a new place (or two… or three…or four…)
7. date more—I gotta get out of my married friend bubble and put myself out there from time to time
8. learn to drive in Uganda
9. write, design, and create more often
10. make time for family and friends

Ten things I never imagined I would have done in 2010 but did do:
1. taught with amazing people from all over the world: the UK, Colombia, Italy, Holland, Kenya, Germany, etc.
2. took a Ugandan dance class and then danced in public
3. coached multiple championship soccer teams (it does not really matter who won the games… both teams made it to finals!)
4. saw a leopard in a tree! Leopards, giraffe, hippos, crocodiles... more reasons I am excited to live in Africa!
5. was a chaperone on an international service trip with my mom ☺ Pretty neat to serve alongside both students and my momma in the Philippines!
6. hired a night guard with a giant gun to protect my three bedroom house--- what!?!
7. taught 7th grade—while I am doubtful that I would intentionally do it again, it has been a good learning experience. I do appreciate the hugs, notes, and plants ripped out of the garden complete with roots that come along with my eager to please 7th graders.
8. acquired a puppy and a kitten. I never really pegged myself as a cat person too, but I have loved having both little guys!
9. held my puppy’s legs down while he got castrated on my front porch… vet services are a little different in Uganda! If only I got to drop him off at the vet’s office and return when they were done like I would have in the states!
10. walked beside a family of rhinos

Ten things I did in 2010 I am proud of:
1. got hired. In today’s economy, that’s no small deal.
2. consistently went to a home church in Korea and have joined a Bible study in Uganda
3. made decisions I knew people wouldn’t all agree with about what to do job-wise this year. I am proud of myself for doing something I felt was right even though I knew other options would be much easier.
4. moved to a country where I knew no one, and a developing country at that. This move, more than any other, has really stretched me!
5. maintained mentor relationships with some of my students from Korea even when I moved a continent away
6. spent quality time with family and friends
7. learned to cook more (thanks to the Lubowan social crew for the expert modeling)
8. dealt with power outages, a lack of hot water, mosquitoes, holes in ceilings, etc.
9. managed to teach 4 grade levels at the same time (grades 7, 9, 11, and 12)
10. got actively involved in a variety of service opportunities in Korea, in the US, and in Uganda.