As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. -Psalm 71:14

It can be difficult to see the possibility of change and blessings in such dark times. Last year sure was a ride! And while the pandemic has turned our lives upside down, it doesn’t mean our future has to look bleak. What are you hopeful about this year? Here are 21 things I’m looking forward to in 2021:

1. Drawing nearer to Jesus
2. Finding creative ways to spend time with my family
3. More game playing
4. Growing closer to my husband
5. New adventures
6. Increasing my trust in God
7. Coming up with fresh content for my blog
8. Cooking with our girls
9. Teachings from God
10. Being more present
11. Reading the entire Bible
12. Writing more poems
13. Capturing Alaska with my camera
14. Observing Alaskan wildlife
15. Catching fat salmon
16. Writing my book
17. Continuing to heal
18. Finding other ways to serve God
19. Canning salmon and veggies
20. Moving to the beach
21. Collecting seashells at the coast

Even when life hammers us, and we aren’t sure what blow we’ll take next, let’s continue to put our hope in Jesus. Let’s praise Him and enjoy what we have been given. Find and cherish the small joys. Sometimes it’s just a matter of wiping enough of the fog from our lens to clearly see all that we have to be grateful for and the opportunities that await us.

So I commend the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a person under the sun than to eat and drink and be glad. Then joy will accompany them in their toil all the days of the life God has given them under the sun. -Ecclesiastes 8:15