Happy New Year!

It's January 1st, 2010. Wow! Several times today I have said that to myself just to get it in my head. I can hardly believe we have entered a new year once again. My grandma has always told me that time only goes faster as you get older. She was not kidding! I'm only 21 and time is already flying by. I'm looking back over the past few years and I can hardly believe how filled they have been with blessing. It seems like just yesterday...in 2008 Russell and I met, in 2009 we courted and became engaged, and this year, 2010, we will be getting married. Wow! In less than 4 months I'm going to be a bride! This year is going to be like no other in that it holds a new start. My whole world as I know it is going to change very soon. 2010 will be filled with many, many joys. I look forward to experiencing them as Russell's and my individual lives are melted into one. But I know I would be a fool if I let myself get so caught up in this fairytale that I didn't also realize their will be sorrows ahead. Soon I won't be close to the people who are close to me in the home I love. Soon I'll be travelling to a distant land far from the home I love to be with the man I love. What conflicting emotions! How can I feel such sweet joy and bitter sorrow at one time? I know 2010 holds a wedding...my wedding, but besides that much of the future is a blur of uncertainties. I don't know what the future holds, but I know Who holds my future. I can be confident that the Lord will be with me, for He has already walked the path ahead and knows every inch of the way. "...He knoweth thy walking through this great wilderness..." Thank God for that assurance! Please pray for Russell & me and our future. We've never done this before and we want to do it right! Like the picture says...2010 = Hannah + Russell's year. Mom did that. Cute, huh?

Happy New Year!