I love typing 2008 instead of 2007. For some reason, or perhaps for many reasons, I am eager to be done with 2007 and push on into this new year. It could turn out to be the worst year of my life, but at this point the unknown possibilities are still more appealing than the all too well-known and survived past year.    It has been a year of change. The whole structure of the family business shifted with a fair share of growing pains. While my husband was dealing with those adjustments, I spent a month in Mississippi saying goodbye to my mom. In the six months since mom's funeral, we've begun remodeling our basement, my sister's divorce became final, Mara started walking, we had our second baby, Joe's grandfather moved in with Joe's parents after being diagnosed with liver failure, our church's senior pastor resigned, we started designing and maintaining websites as a side venture, I started putting more time into freelance writing, my dad got engaged to a wonderful lady, we hosted out-of-town family and friends, and we just returned from an amazing trip to Colorado over Christmas vacation.

I resist change even when it is good, as most of us do, so a year of change means a year of emotional stretching way past the point of comfort. Stretching hurts sometimes but it creates growth and brings in new experiences and new life. I need to start reaching for change instead of resisting it. Growth is, after all, what I'm after.