Happy New Year… maybe. According to almost every bit of news these days, 2009 is going to be one heckuva downer year. Without downplaying all the difficult events this year may hold, here are 5 things about 2009 that I’m looking forward to.
- An elderly missionary in Bolivia once told me that it takes at least 3 years to begin feeling at home in a new country. I’ve come to believe this to be true about almost any move. But the 1 year mark is also a biggie and I’m looking forward to that day in May when we’ll have been Chicago residents for 12 months. I’m happy to say that I love this city more today than the day we moved.
- On June 5 Maggie and I will celebrate 10 years of marriage. Dang! It’s true what they say: the years really do fly by. And what good years they’ve been. Here’s looking forward to the next 10.
- In a few weeks we’ll be making the long drive to Washington DC with our close friends, Michael and Dawn, for the presidential inauguration. There are a bunch of reasons I’m looking forward to this trip, particularly the chance to be in DC for this day with these friends. (Back in April Michael wrote a guest post on this blog about his reaction to the national focus on race in the wake Obama’s candidacy.)
- Maggie and I have talked about adopting a child for a long time, since before we got married in fact. After almost 10 years of marriage we are finally taking some very concrete steps to welcome a child into our family. We know that adoption can be a long and complicated process, but we’re hoping and praying that 2009 will be the year that Team Swanson adds another member.
- The upcoming year holds a lot of interesting challenges for our church. Perhaps the biggest and most exciting of these is our plan to plant a church on the city’s near southside. Church planting is something I have little experience with, but much interest in, so it’s gratifying to be able to participate in this new adventure.
And you? What’s coming up in 2009 that you’re looking forward to?
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David W. Swanson 
Looking forward to meeting the new Swanson team member!
Seeing you in February!
Experiencing God in the questions and answers of 2009!
Going to Thailand with WOTH!
Being with family in Chicago, Taipei, WA, and wherever we meet up!
Congratulations with the baby. She (or may be a He) will have some really eclectic parents.
God bless you.
1) chances to grow in hope as a son of god/kingdom heir
2) write music
3) work in colombia
4) maggie and david getting matching tattoos 😉
Wow, adoption is a thrill everyday, We adopted 3, and sometime down the road may adopt more. We will be praying hard for you!!!
I too look forward to cheering you on in the adoption process. JR Briggs
http://brokenstainedglass.typepad.com/broken_stained_glass/2008/10/were-looking-to.html
and Darrell Johnson (preaching professor at Regent College) and Rod Wilson (president of Regent College) are pastor friends who have adopted.
Amy and I celebrate 10 years on July 10. 🙂
andy
Thanks all for your warm wishes and prayers regarding adoption. I’ll keep you updated on the process.