Well, we did it. We survived 2020, one of the craziest, unpredictable years I think humankind has survived through in recent decades. And many of us have entered 2021 scathed and battered. We’re tired and exhausted. I have to admit that I’m one of you, if you’re feeling that way right now. 2020 was a bumpy road, filled with ups and downs. A lot of things could have gone better. But a lot of wonderful things have also happened that I’m very grateful for.

With each new year, we tend to create new resolutions to abide by. I know last year one of my goals had been to write one blog post a week here. I think for a good long while that was going pretty well. Then COVID-19 hit, and life became a lot less certain. My routines changed and I missed seeing the faces that I was always used to seeing. Now we were stuck at home unable to see each other, except through a camera. The school year was cut short early, which was both fascinating and disappointing to see as a teacher.

I won’t keep going on and on with what didn’t go right; chances are you’ve experienced many of those moments yourself. One of the things I was most excited for that happened last year was finally being accepted into graduate school. It was something that I always wanted to do, but the right criteria and programs never seemed to line up just right. Thankfully, God granted me the opportunity and the privilege to be admitted into an online Master’s of Education program that will help me learn how to be a better reading and writing instructor. The more I work with my students, the more I feel these skills I teach (and those I’m continuing to learn myself) are incredibly beneficial, and will help them in the long run.

One of my hobbies that I was excited to continue on in 2020 were my music lessons, and continuing to challenge myself with a variety of instruments. The problem that I continued to face throughout the year was time management, even with COVID-19 changing the dynamics of everything and shifting obligations. 2021 is a new year, though, and although there will be some additional obligations added, I’m looking forward to continuing to learn and study music on the side, and enjoying every bit of it.

I’ve also enjoyed playing at least 7 different video games to completion, including at at least three new releases. I hope to talk more about them in my next post, as there were quite a lot of them that I really enjoyed – some of which even stunned me on an emotional level. Video games continue to be impactful even during these difficult times. I enjoy sharing my thoughts and experiences while playing them in the hopes that others will see the many benefits gaming can bring, and not just the controversies that so many of them are known for.

One of my New Year Resolutions from 2020 that I was determined to fulfill was to read at least 30 books to completion, which I was successfully able to do and even surpass, with 33 books in total. I found the books I read this past year to be a bit more of a mixed bag in enjoyment than usual, although I was fortunate to find a few new favorites that I’ve fallen in love with and would love to read again in the future. I was also able to read and complete a couple of books that I’d been longing to read for quite a few years now, so being able to finally do so was a wonderful treat and I’m so glad I took the time to be able to do that. I hope this year to continue reading books that I have sitting on my bookshelf that I’ve never opened yet, and finally get the chance to see what those adventures contain, regardless if I’m able to complete 30 of them by the end of the year or not.

I’m also proud that I’ve been able to keep this blog Hope, Play, and Love going throughout the year. This June will mark two years since it’s creation, and it’s probably by far the longest continuous writing commitment I’ve given in my life. I’ve been so blessed to see the relationships I’ve built through this blog and the feedback I’ve received from those who have taken the time to read it. I love being able to write and share my thoughts with others, and continuing to grow as a writer has been a dream come true. I’ve especially been blessed to write on other sites and blogs about media and games through a Christian perspective, and building connections with others who are just as passionate about Scripture and these hobbies as I am.

That being said, the fact that I’ve been accepted into graduate school and will begin that later on this month means that I’ve decided to wind down publishing articles for Hope, Play, and Love to at least twice a month instead or weekly or bi-weekly. I’m still looking forward to playing and sharing my thoughts on games, films, and television shows and being more active on social media with the Christian Gamer community. I hope that my words will continue to positively impact others and that the love of Christ will be shown through them.

As I’m writing this entry, the beginning of new year continues to be remarkably dark and depressing. We’re uncertain what the future will hold in the world, and COVID-19 still has a hold on the world and our normal lives. I hope that through all of this we can continue to remain strong and hold on to hope. With God’s truth embedded in our hearts and hope in our future, we don’t need to be afraid of uncertainties in our circumstances. Through all the difficulties and all the loss that we may undergo, it’s vital to remember that this is not all there is to life. I hope we can be courageous in 2021 and be joyful no matter what curveballs life may throw at us. Here’s to 2021, that it may be a remarkable one!