Happy January!

One of my favorite traditions that Chris and I have started (this being only our 2nd year) is to get away and reflect on the past year around New Year's. Our usual place of retreatment is Starbucks, but not because we like to support corporations, (had to put that in there) but moreso to commemorate our first date there way back in February of 2004. So we retreated last night. We have this leather journal that we write in and we have our annual entry and then it sits on the shelf and collects dust until the next January comes around. We decided to cover a big event for the year in a 2-sided story. Then we make a list of all the major and minor events that happened because we are likely to forget all those details years later. Last, we write down our dreams and ambitions and goals for the upcoming year. It's interesting to look back and read last year's entry. It showed what we valued and what was dear to us. Last year we wrote the story of how we met, our first impressions of each other, and cute stories that we've already forgotten about. When we read through them last night, I just couldn't hold back the tears. It's amazing to read OUR story and see so clearly how God has manifested His perfect will into our screwed-up lives. To God be the glory, great things He hath done. This year we wrote about our wedding. A lot of other big things happend (trip to Europe, moving, starting new jobs, losing credits, etc.), but we felt like our wedding and all the emotions we felt was something we wanted to record while it's still fresh. I love reading what Christopher writes about me and I love to write about him. So this has become a really special thing for us.