McGrath Tops off 2005

Ok, so I really felt inclined to contribute my highlights of 2005! I've had a very memorable year and have a desire to record it in writing!

I finally jumped off the cliff so to speak, left my full-time job of 6/7 years, to pioneer and work part-time. I had naively thought that if I asked for Jehovah's help with this decision he would bless me immediately and everything would fall into place. Ha Ha......NO! 6 months later in 2005, I realised I would have to create my own circumstances in order for me to reach out for pioneering service. That was when I quit my job in March, stayed unemployed for a couple of months, started auxiliary pioneering, and then found my current part-time job! All very backwards! But a very valuable experience - Jehovah expects a measure of effort on our part before he blesses us. We can't sit around waiting for the ideal circumstances, the ideal time, the ideal job, to land in our lap, before we reach out in Jehovah's service. Sometimes its up to us to make the changes in our lives!

Every year is full of change, but particularly last year. Friends have moved away (no further comment required because its just too sad). Wedding number 1, wedding number 2....., 3....., 4! Seriously, I think I could give a wedding talk myself now! Oh, and I hope this year I get some wear out of all my wedding outfits, or I'll be highly annoyed!

I've had a hard couple of months, particularly September and October. My Granny died and then shortly after my brother had a motorbike accident, and is still recovering. Both events obviously not highlights of my year, being shocking and heartbreaking, but experiences like that can sometimes make us more aware of life, of priorities, of the hope we have in the future, of family ties, of family responsibilities, of how much belonging to a congregation is like belonging to a large and loving family. I knew all of these things already, but I think I'm more aware of them now.

Well, on a brighter note - Holidays! Crete, New York, Virginia, Paris, with the highlight being New York ('obviously' says Janina). Well, let me now admit my previous statement about my travelling: 'I will see the world first, and then the USA!' Sorry guys! You will be glad to know that this has now changed (but I still want to see the rest of the world!)

Field ministry. Whilst working full-time, I had done just enough ministry to hate it. Yes, it is possible. But deep down I knew I would grow to enjoy it if I spent more time out on the ministry. And its true! Of course, there are good and bad days, but those good times, good calls, encouraging studies, brave (in my eyes) new experiences, far outweigh the bad. I now see the seriousness of our commission to preach and teach, and feel that personal obligation to be involved as much as I can.

So, in order to steer away from the serious tone I have created, here are some miscellaneous observations I've made:
-I am definitely not a morning person
-I can sleep anywhere if I'm really tired (even in a room full of 6 girls watching a girlie film, a busy airport, a car, a train.........) The photo evidence is building up!
-I'm still mad about the colour blue (although red is creeping up in my estimation)
-Most of (in fact nearly all) of my driving mishaps have occurred in the morning (related to first point, largely because I'M USUALLY STILL ASLEEP!)

P.S. Apologies for turning this into an essay. I got a little carried away!