Every year in December, I take time to reflect on the past year. I look through journal entries and notes, scroll through past social media posts, and think about significant experiences that happened. This practice helps me to step back and take a deeper look, recognize what I learned, and embrace the coming new year. Here are some of my reflections as I look back on 2020. 

1. What was the best thing that happened this year?

Absolutely the best thing that happened this year was that we adopted our son Austin. He has been a gift to our family since we began fostering in 2019, and we finalized his adoption in summer of 2020. 

2. What was the most challenging thing that happened?

What WASN'T challenging this year? This year was marked by COVID-19, and the endless ways it disrupted every part of life. I suppose the most challenging thing for me personally was discerning how to adjust to so many changes, and how to help our kids through those adjustments at the same time. Navigating school closures, not gathering with anyone in person, finding new ways to connect with community, etc. was incredibly difficult.

3. What was an unexpected joy?

I found so much life and joy within a few relationships with family and friends. Since relationships were distilled in this season, I feel like I had to work harder to lean into my tribe of people, and in turn, I appreciated these connections so much more. Our family of 6 grew in intimacy, with date nights with my husband, family games and hikes, and parent-kid one-on-one excursions. We gathered with extended family for regular Zoom hang outs. Friendships were nurtured through texts and phone calls. This year forced a lot of stripping away and pruning, which ultimately resulted in deeper, more powerful relationships. 
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4. What was an unexpected obstacle?

Grief. In the spring of 2020, I began to feel grief in different ways and for different reasons. I believe it was catalyzed by the effects of the pandemic, but I also felt layers of grief related to the deaths of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. Grief because of loss and isolation. Grief because of human evil. Grief because of fractures in our world. I did not expect grief, but it came. 

5. Pick three words to describe 2020.

Loss. Survival. Liberation.

6. What were the best books you read this year?

The Very Good Gospel: How Everything Wrong Can Be Made Right by Lisa Sharon Harper

Black Theology and Black Power by James Cone

Theology of the Womb by Christy Angelle Bauman

7. What did you do in 2020 that you've never done before?

I got my real estate license, and joined an incredible team of real estate professionals. I love the people I work with, and the many opportunities I have to steward resources to bless our community in Hawaii. Another first was Steve launching his own mortgage company, Ohana Mortgage Solutions.

8. Did you keep your New Year's Resolutions, and will you make more for 2021? 

I cannot recall if I made any 2020 resolutions, so that says something. As I look ahead to this year, I'm committing to these things:

• Walk into liberation. I am disentangling from patriarchy and white supremacy and colonization. Easy and simple, right? I feel so grateful to have resources to do that - books, friends and mentors travelling the same path, my spiritual director and formation coach, etc. I already feel so much freer than I did one year ago, but know that there's way further to go.
• Cultivate intimacy with my husband and kids. This means weekly date nights with Steve. And one-on-one times with each kid. Four kids is a lot, y'all. So it takes intentionality to spend time with each of them. But every time I do, it really does grow our vital connections, and develop trust and communication.

9. For what are you most grateful?

I'm grateful that we have a good God. I'm grateful that God pours out joy and beauty in the midst of pain and sorrow. 

10. How did you change this year?

I feel more comfortable and alive in my unique, female, Asian, almost 40 year old self.

11. What moments were most memorable?

• Engaging in a prayerful, powerful Black Lives Matter protest.
• Austin's adoption court hearing via Zoom.
• When I poured out all my angsty questions and thoughts, and my spiritual director responded, "Oh yes, that's midlife." And then she went on to calmly explain and interpret everything.
• Celebrating the election of Kamala Harris as the United States' first female, Black, and Asian American Vice President.
• A sacred, transformative experience with Mother God. 

12. What were your greatest discoveries?

• Instacart grocery delivery
• Schitt's Creek
• Reclaiming My Theology podcast
• Liquid eyeliner
• Bookshop - shop books online, and support local bookstores (divest from Amazon!)

13. What are you looking forward to this coming year?

Healthier leadership in the United States. Hopefully an eradication to COVID-19. Turning 40 in January!

14. What was the most significant thing you learned this year?

I learned how desperate I am to be part of creating shalom and wholeness in the world.

What are your reflections on the past year? What are your hopes for this coming year? Feel free to use the above questions as a way to do your own reflection. 

P.S. My blog posts are rare. Older posts are archived on The Larissa Monologues. If you are on Instagram, I'd love to connect there! @larissalmarks

This morning I rolled out of bed, put on clean-ish clothes, and went through my morning ritual of making my pour-over coffee. I fed my almost-2-year-old daughter her breakfast, checked email, and as an afterthought, turned my awareness to God. It was like a silent, "Hey there, God." An acknowledgement of his presence with me, a welcoming him into the ordinary-ness of my day.

On mornings like this, when life seems so normal and routine, I am thankful that God is present in the ordinary. I am thankful that God isn't only in the flashy and extraordinary. Because if that were true, my mostly ordinary life would seem to be missing the mark. So I am grateful. But I also recognize that I want more of this. I want to know and encounter more of God in my actual life. So I invite God in. I ask him to help me see him and hear him in the ordinary.

After I pray this, my daughter asks for a snack. So we toast some bread, and take our morning snack outside on the porch. We sit together for a while, my daughter is thrilled by the passing airplanes and garbage trucks. Then she turns to me, "Mama, kiss?" She plants a sloppy toddler kiss on my face. And in this moment, I sense God delighting in the moment with us.

I wonder how our lives would change if we became more aware of God's presence? How might we react to the interruptions? How would we treat the people we unexpectedly encounter? How would we experience our errands and household chores?

I am learning how to welcome God into my ordinary. I invite you to do the same.

ACTION & PRACTICE

Take a moment to simply be with God. Turn your awareness to his presence with you. Invite him to reveal himself right now. Ask him to help you see and hear him in the ordinary today.

How aware of God are you in your daily life? How do you encounter God in the ordinary? Please share in the comments.