Press On

With time running out in 2013, I find myself, like most people, reflecting. While eating dinner tonight I asked Brandon and the girls about the year. There were highlights like Hannah visiting, being baptized, reading through the Bible, running a 5K, and a few more. We talked about the Catching Fire obsession and decided that was a really fun week. The girls, of course, talked about "their" horses in Oklahoma, and oh how they adore Warden, Tinkerbell, and Preacher. All in all I'd say 2013 was a nice, low-key, normal year full of the ebbs and flows of everyday life. Nothing life-altering or earth-shattering. Just normal. And normal is good. 

But. 

I can't get this quote out of my head. It's been running on repeat for days. And I'm convinced I have so much to learn from it this coming year. 

"Looking back has value; but I'm convinced pressing on has more." ~Terri Kern

I'll be honest. I've been looking back. A lot. Not just at this past year, but the past few years. And I'm not just talking about looking back at our past addresses, like some people might think. I'm looking at myself as a wife, a mother, a daughter, a sister, a friend. I'm looking at how B and I have been serving, each other and those around us. I'm looking at Baylee and Caylee and how they've grown up overnight it seems and are no longer those wild haired toddlers, running the three acres of Arnold Acres. I can so easily get stuck in the comforts of the past. Why? Because that's easy. 

But.

I feel there is more. I know there is more. There has to be more. 

I'm not sure what 2014 has in store for us. I could sit here and write out some detailed resolutions, but let's be honest, I did that this time last year and I failed. Miserably. I didn't lose 80lbs. I didn't stick to the no cell phone rule consistently. And more times than not I still let my mood be based on circumstances, a sure sign of a lack of being content. And you know what? I could easily look back and beat myself up about it. But what good would that do? 

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to look back. I'm going to see the value in this past year. I'm going to see it for what it was, the good and the bad. But I'm not going to get stuck there. I'm going to turn my head forward and press on. 

I'm going to press on in my walk with the Lord. 

I'm going to press on in my marriage.

I'm going to press on as a mother, in this year my daughters become teenagers.

I'm going to press on in my relationships. 

I'm going to press on in my battle with my weight and health.

I'm going to press on in how I use my gifts and abilities to serve my local church.

I'm going to press on and continue to find my place in this great big world. 

Happy New Year, friends. Press On.