Reminiscing on the old

I can hardly believe that we're about to cross into 2016.
I am amazed over the past two years just how many changes have taken place in my life. I ended up at almost the exact same place that I was at the beginning of 2015 but I've been around the world and I am such a different person. But not. I've learned so much and experienced so many joys and tears.
As I look back over the past year I am so, so thankful.

I got to travel to Africa! Some people dream about that for their whole life. I made so many sweet Mozambican friends, learned a new language, and now have a family there after spending ten months of my life with them. I also got to experience the grace and mercy of Christ in a new context, in a culture that has a simple but intensely deep faith. I want that. I look back over my videos and pictures and cannot help but get a huge, dorky smile on my face as I remember the goofy smiles, the English attempts, the dance lessons, and races down the slide while feeling great sadness that I will never see those sweet people again until we all reach heaven.

I got to return home to my incredible family. They gave me a fabulous greeting at the airport with a host of smiling Polcyns complete with signs, balloons, flowers and too many tears of joy. I spent some time with them and then drove up to Ohio and spent time with my family which was only possible because my sister got me a nannying job. I had so much fun watching three little boys and our days were active and fun as we toured all the parks in the area and spent a lot of time at the splashpad park. My sister got married also and we are so excited to welcome a new brother into the family... (He's not in the picture, but all of the siblings are present except one who was not able to get the time off from her teaching job in Korea).

I returned to Texas at the beginning of August and returned to my receptionist job that I had pre-Africa. It was nice to come back to a job and co-workers that I already knew. I also got an apartment not too far from work and get to see my family very often. Its an incredible blessing that I am soaking up because I never know what God has in store for me next!
We never know what tomorrow holds. That is the adventure of life. I read sometime recently that 'attitude is the difference between an adventure and an ordeal.' The challenge is that when life turns out different than I had hoped or planned, to bounce back as quick as possible and move on. My prayer is that I would have my eyes open and be prepared to be obedient to God as I navigate life.
Some days the decisions and interactions felt really hard. And they were. But looking back, I can see God's hand in many of them and I trust that the others will make sense some day. But I also continue on with hope.
"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:22-26