it's 2009 and I'm in Kuwait??

So, yeah ma. I will get to see camels here! haha. Here we were, just a driving down the street/highway/i don't know some road, and we had to almost completely stop for this herd of camels. Is it herd? Maybe it's a team of camels, or a bunch, or gaggle, or a pride. I dunno. But there was this large group of camels being herded across a completely dessolate desert. I mean there is NOTHING here! And by here, I mean Kuwait. NO-THING. As we went along, though, we saw a lot more camels and caravans of Kuwaitis that apparently herd these hump-backed mammals for a living. Very interesting! I kinda like it, and I would really like to ride one. haha. Oh, and you know what we got for a new year's present? A mouth-full of sand. :) mm mm. That's right...the wind picked up and everywhere you go, you eat and breathe sand. Oh, and it gets in your ears like nobody's business!

So happy new year to everyone! I was actually eating breakfast when you all were doing the good ole countdown! And some of us even watched the ball drop in NYC on the tvs in the dining facility at breakfast! I didn't make any new years resolutions this year though. Mostly because I didn't even realize it was new year's eve until about 9pm. It's just so different here. But then again, new year's resolutions have never been my focus for the new year. I figure if I'm going to attempt to make any big changes in my life, I'm not going to wait for that one day to do it. I'll just do it! But I am glad it's 2009, I'm glad I had-and have-awesome family and friends to spend 2008 with. I'm glad for a new opportunity in this 2009 year and for the challeges it will bring. I just want to leave you with a couple of verses that have been the foundation for what God is doing in my life right now...

...but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and Sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:12-14

In some ways 2008 was both excellent and horrifying. I want to forget it and not let the past weigh me down. But instead, I choose to look forward to the future and press into the only one who can make me whole. Jesus.