7 Questions to Review the Year + {A FREE printable}

It’s hard to believe that this year is almost over. I don’t know about you, but 2018 went really fast. Next week, the year 2019 begins. Before you jump into the new year, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on 2018.  In today’s post, I am going to share seven questions to review the year and my answers to each.

At the end of the post is a FREE printable of these seven questions for you to use. Feel free to take as much or as little time to fill this printable out. When you take time to reflect on your year, it is a way to slow down and remember all that happened this year. The good and the bad and how it shaped you into the person you are today. As you look back, you are also able to see the ways God has been working in your life. I can’t wait to hear how you use this printable.

What are four words you would use to describe this year?

The four words I would use to describe my year are fast, rich, stretching, and celebration. This year went by so fast. It feels like the year just started. My year was filled with so many rich experiences. Every month had special memories with my family and friends. Some of my favorites include trips to Pennsylvania and Ohio in a van with no air conditioning, the She Speaks conference, going to a Cleveland Indians game in Chicago and doing a day trip to Chicago with some friends.

Stretching is another word I would use for this year because I grew a lot in my writing, parenting and also in our marriage. I also see friendship in a new way. Celebration is my other word to describe this year. Besides celebrating our kids’ birthdays, I really enjoyed celebrating my husband Jonathan’s 40^th birthday. I also loved celebrating my 40^th birthday. Jonathan takes the day off for my birthday and it was a great day. My amazing friends planned a day trip to the beach in Michigan the next day. It was a special day filled with lots of fun.

What new things did you discover about yourself?

Something new I learned this year is I am capable of a lot more than I realized. Too often in my life, I feel like I didn’t have what it takes or I am not good enough. This comes from old thought patterns that God continues to uproot. As I look back on all that I accomplished this year, God showed me that I do have what it takes because I am living in His strength.

During this last year, what characteristic of God did He use to encourage you the most?

His Faithfulness. God is always there for me no matter how much I mess up. He provides the wisdom and strength I need for every day. God is ready to fill me up with whatever I need for the day. I can always count on God. Even when situations don’t make sense, I choose to remember how God has been faithful to pull me through and He will do it again.

What Bible verse impacted you most this year and why?

Psalm 108:1 which reads “My heart is confident in you, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!” This verse impacted me the most this year because it was the Scripture verse for my word of the year. It reminded me to praise no matter what and remember all the ways God has been faithful.

What was your favorite moment spent with your family and/or friends?

My favorite moment spent with my family this year was our trips to Pennsylvania and Ohio to see family. Our kids did amazing with all the travels and we had a lot of fun connecting. My favorite moment with Jonathan was our 18th-anniversary trip and going to the Hillsong concert.

My favorite moment spent with my friends this year was my 40^th Birthday trip and celebration in Michigan. I felt so loved and celebrated. God has blessed me with some amazing friends. I also loved the day trip to Chicago with friends from my Mom’s Group. The Christmas decorations were so beautiful and I enjoyed getting to know the ladies more.

What was the most important lesson you learned this year?

The most important lesson I learned this year was the importance of REST. I know that rest is important but until this Fall, I didn’t realize how much I needed it and that it was perfectly fine to take rest time. I felt guilty for resting when there was so much to do around the house and other people couldn’t rest.

Through God’s word and a bible study called Breathe, God taught me that He created Sabbath as a gift. And when I take Sabbath which is creating time for rest, I am obeying Him. I am excited to see how this coming year will be as I continue to rest.

What is one thing you would do differently and why?

One thing I would do differently is to embrace and fully engage in time with whoever I was with. Too often my mind would wander to what needed to get done or the next big thing happening. I stressed too much about the details. I want to be fully present because I always want to communicate with my family and friends that they are more important to me than anything.

Thanks so much for taking to read this post. I really enjoyed reflecting on this past year. I created a printable for you to use in reflecting on your last year.

Click HERE to download. I would love to hear about your time of reflection. Please comment below about how using this printable impacted you. Thank you!

P.S. Check back on the blog in a few days. My husband and I have been working on Your 2019 V.I.P and we are SO excited to share this with you all!!