Remember when we were in school and teachers would call roll and we’d answer with the ubiquitous, “Here?” Sometimes I was present in body but my mind was in places much more romantic and adventurous like Thornfield Hall from Jane Eyre, Green Gables with Anne Shirley or streets of London with Oliver Twist. While daydreaming is a common pastime of children anxious to be outside the four walls of a classroom, it’s not such a productive pastime for a wife while her husband is sharing what keeps him up at night, or for a mother whose six-year old daughter has had to repeat her request to play a dozen times or for an employee whose boss is laying out next year’s strategy.

At this time last year, I was present in body, but my mind was often everywhere but where it needed to be, and I vowed to “be present and still” to enjoy the moments I was given versus the experiences I imagined I could have. Last year when I left what I thought was my lifelong career, my boss encouraged me to forget what was behind and to press on towards fulfilling the purpose for which God had created me. It was another reminder to be present. I strive to continue this goal of being present and grasping the joy in front of me, but if there is ever a time where it’s acceptable to look behind, it’s on January 1st, right?
So for this moment, let me share what I learned in 2012, and then I can go about the business of pressing on…

• January 2012- I began the year as a full-time working wife and mother who was neither present for her family or her job.

• February 2012- I was a full-time working wife and mother who stayed still long enough to know that life was about to dramatically change.

• March 2012- I was a full-time working wife and mother who tendered my resignation with no plan in sight and acting on the absolute faith that God intended something greater for my life.

• May 2012- I became a stay-at-home wife and mother for the first time in a decade.

• June 2012- I became a stay-at-home wife and mother who enjoyed being a stay-at-home wife and mother and saw that as my future career path.

• July 2012- I became a stay-at-home wife and mother who felt the tugging of wanting to go back to work.

• August 2012- I became am interviewing wife and mother who questioned whether going back to work was the right decision.

• September 2012- I became a wife and mother who felt peace about accepting a new career path without hesitation.

• October 2012- I became a wife and mother who took her family on the road for eight weeks of relocation and traveling for my new job.

• November 2012- I became a full-time working wife and mother who was fully present while at work and fully present while at home.

• December 2012- I became a person who woke up every day in awe of how God guides us and provides wisdom when we choose to “be present and still” long enough to hear Him.