Happy New Year – 2012
Borsch.
I know most of you immediately think of that jar of watery, vinegary pink broth with floating hunks of slimy ex-cabbage. That stuff should be outlawed. No self-respecting Ukrainian would even try to call that Borsch.
No, real Borsch comes in as many forms as there are Russian cooks. Each one makes their Borsch a little differently, and as an honorary Russian/Ukrainian (by the grace of my children), I am no different.
My borsch is an amalgamation of at least three different recipes, taking ingredients and techniques from each, and getting a little better each time.
The latest improvement: thanks to Alex Krutov, my New Year’s Eve Borsch was a vibrant red — my beets don’t bleed anymore!
This might not really take the award for the top achievement of 2011, but here are a few more highlights:
Lena
School
This spring, after being in America for just 15 months, Lena scored above district average and passed the ISTEP (state standard testing).
Lena finished middle school and “stepped up” to the Freshman Center, a dedicated wing of our 2,000 student high school, dedicated to helping Freshmen make a smooth transition.
Masha started her sophomore year, moving from the Freshman Center to “Real High School.” Moving up to the 10-12 building was intimidating, but she’s an old pro now!!
The Arts
Masha
Masha discovered a love of photography that we always suspected, and took a field trip with her photo class to Chicago to visit the Art Institute and several galleries.
Lena discovered a love of the stage. Last spring, she performed with the 8th grade show choir “MC Singers,” and in the fall, she appeared in her first stage role as a Nubian slave in Aida.
Work
Mark has continued as IT Manager for Elwood Staffing, and is taking on the additional responsibilities of developing social media strategy for them as well as a web portal for customers.
I am wrapping up my 11th year in Project Management for IKON/Ricoh, and this year my focus was to stand up a global web platform to allow our teams in 197 countries to collaborate on projects.
Life
We took a mission trip to Mexico that changed us.
We rested a week at the lake.
I revived my dream of writing. I got a lot more intentional about actually writing instead of just dreaming about it.
Alex Krutov came to visit.
I listened to some amazing stories of how good can come from adversity and awful things in people’s lives.
I felt a deeper call to care for the fatherless around the world; the millions of kids who have no chance to be adopted, but deserve a chance to build a life.
Mark felt a deeper call to care for the fatherless locally, and is kindling a passion to engage with the foster system; he’s exploring a really exciting project for 2012
Next year
I have a few specific things I have committed to finish in 2012, including a short ebook about the global orphan crisis (coming in February), a manuscript of our adoption story by the end of the year, and at least one short story (fiction).
But in general, my theme for 2012 is to:
- Tell more stories
- Be a better wife
- Be a better mom
- Be a better friend
- love more
- laugh more
- stress less
And become better friends with the real Jesus; try to be more like Him and less like me.
What’s your theme for 2012? Leave a comment!
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About Christine
I am a writer, a project manager, and a corporate refugee with a heart for orphans around the world. My two daughters were adopted from Ukraine at ages 12 and 14. I post about writing, chasing dreams, and making a difference in the world, and sometimes I share fun snippets of fiction in-progress.
Loved the review of the year! My theme is “Trust God and love people”. Definitely stress less and let Jesus take and stay behind the wheel. Help me remember that, k? Happy New Year!
Love that theme, Linda!! You know I’ll keep reminding you…..
That’s a good theme!
Along with being intentional, my theme would be about living in the middle…. it seems that’s where most of us are–in the middle. Not 100% sure how that’s going to work itself out practically, but it’s about loving and living in the now, not the yesterdays or tomorrows.
The middle days.
Wow….today must be a day for profound thought (rested minds, clear of the stress of the real world).
“…loving and living in the now…” that’s so hard and so important. Great theme!
Your writing got me thinking! That comment about living in the middle ended up as a blog post today.
The theme lives on! Thanks for inspiring.
Honored to be the at start of such a beatiful post!! http://zahndrew.com/2012/01/04/between-start-and-finish/
you had a busy year Christine, that’s crazy! so excited to see what the Lord has in store for your family in 2012. My focus or theme this year is to look deeply into the meaning of “believe”
Keep Being Great
Chris, Believe is going to be an amazing journey for you; I love your enthusiasm for your life and your faith, and understanding the depth of belief will make you that much stronger an influence for others.
Very cool, Christine! My theme for 2012 is discipline. I’m taking on personal journaling, and focusing in on some other new spiritual and physical disciplines as well.
Great theme, Stephen! Wonderful way to tie the specific goals together into something so meaningful!
my theme is simple… make 2012 better than 2011… shouldn’t be too difficult 😉
Lis, you already have an amazing jump on it. 2012 is going to be great for you!
Wow–you have done so much already and have such great plans for the coming year! You and you family are definitely inspirations on many levels.
Thanks for sharing your heart through your words.
Becky
Thanks, Becky! That means a lot coming from you!