Happy New Year!

So, once again it is the end of the year. I felt as it is so, I should rather spend a few moments pontificating upon the manner of this soon-to-be former year of 2010.

The year started off with a bang. Travel was spaced out and relatively local to the West Coast. I got to start flying Southwest Airlines, and with that came enough travel to earn a free flight and many happy travels checking my bag for free (*glee*).

I experienced the first ever snow storm of my adult life (reference adjacent photos). That was an experience! I flew into Denver (NOTE - I had just been there 10 days prior) and they said at the rental car counter, "Oh, you're just in time for the storm!" Me: "...............What storm?" It dropped about a foot of snow in an hour. Maybe not the worst storm in history, but for a SoCal girl such as myself, it was sure a challenge!!

I had to dig my car out - Wasn't sure how to do that - and drive back to my hotel some 15 miles. It took about 45 minutes as we were all moving 5-10 mph. Funny thing when it snows, you don't drive in the lanes... Because you can't see them! That thought never occurred to me. Anyway...

In the Spring of this year I turned (gulp) the big 3-0. The moment every 20-something dreads... They are now officially "adults". You cannot feign kid-dome any longer. Alas, I did not find it quite as amusing a prospect as originally anticipated... It was kind of hard to some degree, knowing that I haven't lived up to the world's definitions of what a life should have accomplished by the age of 30. Nevertheless, I have been learning to trust in God's timing and not my own, and to remember that the things that are valued in His kingdom (the only one that matters) are not often the things highly esteemed in this world.

The summer was an intriguing one, weather-wise, in that there really wasn't much of one at all. It stayed on average of about 65 throughout most of the summer, with many gloomy and cloudy days. The odd exception to this odd pattern were a few freak heat-waves which seemed to plague the entire West Coast. In September, I was feeling glibly proud of the fact that on the hottest day of the present heat-wave I was going to (so I thought) escape it by being in downtown San Francisco for work. However, I arrived to find the weather had indeed followed me - It was 95 degrees, in September, in downtown San Fran! I had to stop and buy sunblock I was walking so far in such heat.

This summer was unique also in that I was blessed to be able to go on a family vacation with my dad and step-mom up in Central California. We did a wine-tasting tour (I mostly took pictures, as you can see posted to the right), visited Montaña de Oro and Elfin Forest (the one in Central Cali, not San Diego) and toured the streets of downtown S.L.O.

Fall picked up for me travel-wise, and I visited Phoenix (twice), San Francisco, Seattle (twice), San Diego and Portland all within a span of 3 months! I absolutely loved Seattle, and Portland even more. There's just something... charming about the Northwest (even if the weather is a little soggy!).

I managed to sneak in Portland just before Christmas, which afforded me some tax-free Christmas shopping. However it did make it challenging as in reality it erased a week from my time to prep for the Christmas festivities! Oh well, live and learn, right?

So there you have a summary, at least of my travels, for 2010. The year also held some particularly difficult challenges for me (on top of turning 30)... I'm hoping that 2011 will be a more happy year. But I am SO thankful to know that God is working in my life, and that He does indeed work all things together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. It is my earnest hope and prayer that 2011 will be a year of knowing Him more, and drawing ever nearer to the One who saved me, the Lover of my soul.

Peace and blessings to you this coming new year!

~D~