It's hard to believe it was only a month ago that I was in India, wrapping up the end of a life-changing year. The past several weeks have a been a flurry of soaking up all things America, cherishing time with family and friends and celebrating Christmas.
(Christmas pajamas sleepover with my best friends).
December was full of sweet moments for me: holding new babies, slumber parties, roadtrips, cozy nights in front of the fire, and hearing the national anthem for the first time, in Allen Fieldhouse no less. I feel so blessed to have had such an amazing homecoming, surrounded by people who love me, who genuinely cared about what happened last year. I feel lucky to not have experienced too much culture shock, probably helped partially by the fact that I knew I only had a limited time in the U.S. before flying back to Asia.
(Rock Chalk Jayhawk! Taking in some KU basketball in the Phog).
Yesterday I flew from Los Angeles (after a couple of fun days catching up with my best friend from the Race in San Diego!) to Beijing, China. It was somewhat strange traveling alone internationally, after a year of traipsing through airports with a group of 35 people. I can't even explain the feeling of what it felt like to emerge on the other side of customs and see Caleb's face for the first time in 356 days.
We celebrated New Year's Eve with dinner on the rooftop restaurant at our hotel and a bottle of champagne I smuggled from California. I couldn't stay awake until midnight to ring in 2013, so we're hoping to find the ball drop on TV and celebrate at 1 p.m. today along with everyone in America.
(View of the Forbidden City in freezing cold Beijing).
After a 13 hour flight and a 16 hour time difference, here I am wide awake at 6:00 a.m. So I'm up, drinking my third cup of tea and reading my Bible and worship music coming through my headphones. A habit that became so familiar last year, but too quickly slipped away over the past month. Somehow being out of America again, I instantly feel closer, more desperate for God. And so it makes sense that He would wake me up early today, luring me out of the comfy bed to spend time with Him. That my first waking hours of 2013 would be given to God. A gentle reminder that He deserves my first, my very best. So this morning I'm reveling in His presence, letting His love fill me up. Reflecting on His goodness, giving thanks for the incredible year He blessed me with in 2012. The journey around the world He took me on to find Him and to learn what love really is.
And that's my prayer for you today, that you would pause to take time to reflect on what God did in your life last year. I pray that 2013 would be a year full of God's grace and blessings, that you would seek to know Him more and trust His plan for Your life.
Happy New Year from China!
Love,
Beth
