Resolution

As January came into full swing, once again I found myself writing a letter to my family and friends about the year gone by. I’ve pasted it below, portraying my feelings about 2008, and my goal for 2009...

2008. Hard to believe that it is now a year of the past, not the present. Time is funny that way. We can turn the hands of our clock back as much as we want, but it does nothing to stop the hands of time itself. Would I want to? Probably not. There’s too much to look forward to in 2009 to want to stay in the past. There can be no joy in living regrets - only in keeping one’s eyes focused ahead to what God has in store.

A YEAR OF PASSIONS

My writing is probably one of the biggest ongoing things in my life (surprise, surprise). In the springtime, my third novel, Silent Ride, was released. Another paged turned in the grand adventure I’m in. Once I had “finished” that project I hit a dry spell in my writing. Though continuing to write daily, unpublished short stories, devotional thoughts and poems were what took up most of my creative time. My novels were put aside until my zeal returned. The lack of interest persisted longer than anticipated, and one novel sat near completion for over a year without being touched. I’m happy to say that just a few weeks ago, the novel bug bit me again, and I’m once more totally engrossed in my books - yes…that was plural.

Beyond Yesterday is the working title of my fourth novel. Its unedited version now awaits publication. The release date? God knows the answer to that one. The hunt for a publisher has risen again, so a portion of my spare time is spent in research. Once I hit “the end” of that novel, it was on to the next. I had started The Right Lead over three years ago, but stopped to write other things. I’ve picked that one up again and am well on my way. It’s a fun plot with enough twists to keep me on my toes as I write, and I look forward to when it will be in print as well.

While I might not have been engrossed in fictional plots during the year, I did take a side trip down a different writing path that led me to write God at the Reins. Written for horse lovers, it contains fifty-two devotions that are horse-related and offer encouragement and inspiration for the Christian walk. My mom has helped me greatly with this project, and it’s been fun. At about the same stage as my fourth novel though, it’s on to the publisher hunt with this one as well.

God has blessed me time and time again through my writing, and I look forward to what He’s got in store for me next.

Apart from manipulating words, I’m still working full-time at Deaf Missions where another passion grows. Being a part of this ministry may sometimes feel simply like a “job,” but there are days that I receive a gentle reminder from God that this is indeed His ministry and I am His tool no matter what small tasks I may be doing.

The more I look back at my spiritual growth, the more I see how far I have yet to go. God had given me ample opportunities for this growth, and I can only hope that I please Him during this next year and beyond. Whether it’s my one-on-one contact with people, or through my writing, my resolution for 2009 is to be a light.

I’m still living in the country, still have horses, and still attend church in Atlantic. Not much has changed, but there are days when that is a blessing in itself.

They say that 2009 will be a tough year because of the economy... I say it will be a great year because it’s the low times that provide even more opportunities for God’s blessings.

May He bless YOU this year. Happy New Year!