Baaa

Date: 03 January 2007 13:44:37

Everyone seems to be following one another in thinking about what the next year holds for them and making resolutions or plans. In the absence of anything else, I will join in.

We had a lovely service at church on the 31st which involved looking back and forward so I will steal some ideas from that. The order of service, being dated specifically for that day and therefore non-reusable, has gone in my resources box.

What do I have to be thankful for in 2006?

Being recommended for training for ordained ministry was a huge highlight of the year and most of the other good things follow from that, but at the beginning of the year I had a job which paid enough to keep a roof over our heads. It wasn't hugely challenging, but my boss and some of the people I worked for were amazing. It made a huge difference to be working in a place with a big Christian presence. I had enough time in the evenings to get on with other things and prepare for Bishops' Advisory Panel. In previous jobs I had found it difficult to let go in the evenings, so being able to walk out of the door and leave it alone was great.

Moving house went well. House-hunting was done for us - I came to visit the house they had matched us with and said OK and that was that. Sorting out the van for moving was one of the most stressful things I have ever done, but in the end it all worked out. Mr F has recently admitted that he thought we would never see our stuff again when it was driven off in the van, but it all arrived and nothing was broken.

Starting college has been an absolute joy. It is hard work, both academically and physically. I spent most of last term absolutely worn out, but I wouldn't have missed it for anything. I have really been trying to put effort into the course: this is probably the first time in my life I have managed to work hard at something over a sustained period. It has also been wonderful to be in a Christian community; working, praying and eating together.

New friends, both on and off-line, have been a feature of 2006. It has been lovely to meet you. I am particularly grateful that Mr F has been welcomed into the college community and found his niche there.

So there is a lot to be thankful for and that leads onto what I hope for in 2007.

I hope, first of all, to get a little better at work-life balance. It sometimes seems that I come home to sleep and nothing else, so I need to make more of an effort to spend time at home when I am not simply trying to keep my eyes open.

I hope to learn more and get better at learning quickly. I particularly hope to give an essay in with a week to spare - the current record is 18 hours to spare, so there is quite a way to go there.

I hope to meet more lovely people.

I hope to go on holiday and enjoy it - I am really bad at holidays, so this is not as easy as it sounds.

I hope to find more time to be creative.

I hope to spend more time just being.

I think that is enough, don't you? See you along the way.