Beech Tree News Network

At the end of each year, I like to think back over the past months. While this year has been an eventful year, individuals are unlikely to remember it in the same way. Individual perspectives greatly affect the importance people place on events.

Some significant world events may include the following (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014):

 - The Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa killed at least 7,000 people.

 - In March, Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, a Boeing 777 airliner carrying 239 people, disappeared. It is presumed to have crashed into the Indian Ocean. In July, Malaysia Airlines Flight 17, a Boeing 777, crashed in eastern Ukraine after being shot down by a missile, killing all 298 people on board, and Air Algérie Flight 5017 crashed in Mali, killing all 116 people on board. Then this week, an AirAsia jet carrying 162 people crashed into the Java Sea (between the Indonesian islands).

 - Last spring, an estimated 276 girls and women from a school in Nigeria were abducted and held hostage; a Korean ferry capsized and sank, killing more than 290 people – mostly high school students; and terrorists in Nigeria killed 118 people. 

 - A Sunni militant group known as ISIS or ISIL began an offensive, aiming to overthrow the Iraq (Shiite) government. 

 - In late summer, Israel launched Operation Protective Edge on the Palestinian Gaza Strip, including missile strikes and a ground invasion, resulting in the death of 2,100 Palestinians and 71 Israelis.

 - In August, the United States military began an air campaign in northern Iraq to stem the influx of ISIS militants. Then in September, the United States and several Arab partners begin an airstrike campaign in Syria. 

 - This month, President Obama announced the resumption of normal relations between the U.S. and Cuba after not having formal diplomatic relations for over 50 years. And, this week, the U.S. and NATO’s 13-year war in Afghanistan officially ended.

Some world events in 2014 may be more notable because of the problems they represent.  

Closer to home, we have also seen changes:

 - Morgantown acquired a new Dollar General Market.

 - Highway 231 has a new turning lane and new sidewalks from the high school to the city’s square.

 - As a result of the November election, C. B. Embry will serve in Frankfort as the 6th District State Senator, and Billy Phelps will serve as Morgantown’s mayor. 

Of course, Morgantown has seen other changes as well. And, many good people in our community died during 2014.

Since we remember events differently, I asked friends and family how they will remember 2014 and why. Their responses are below:

 - A year of continuing change…. Everything that I have known, including personal and professional relationships, is different. And, in the middle of this tumult on the other end of frustration is the joy of a new birth that has made me realize why we struggle and get up every day to face what we call life.

 - Blissfully boring. And, that’s a blessing! No major changes, tragic or triumphant, have affected my family this year.

 - Heartwarming and challenging – marriage and two new little girls!

 - Blessed because of all God has given me. Fast-paced because it seems that every year goes by faster.

 - 2014 went by so fast. It’s hard to believe that it’s almost 2015. But, I have been so blessed this year. God has seen me through. Very grateful!

 - Exhausting, but blessed: kids growing fast; my son making good progress at school; I graduated (finally); project completed at work that saved $1.5 M; #1 ranking (2 years straight); and need to find a higher gear so I can keep up with everything.

 - I will of course think of it as a blessed year (The worst thing that happened to my daughter was getting teeth knocked out in a bike wreck, which is mild compared to most years.) and as a year of settling in (We got our house in our name the first week of the year and spent the year getting settled.).

 - I will remember 2014 as very fast paced. Christmas came and went quickly. It was a very short summer, considering all the snow we had last winter, and it seemed as though all the seasons ran together.

 - God is good, and God answers prayers.

 - Challenging, surprising. Certainly blessed and am thankful. Memorable for the new experiences.

Charles Dickens said, “Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many – not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some” (http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/blessings.html#tdJSlwoX2jPv1I...). The importance of events depends on one’s perspective. And, my perspective – especially in view of the world’s tragedies – is that I have been blessed. When I think of 2014, I will remember that the Lord blessed and protected my family, and for that, I am very thankful.

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Happy birthday to my youngest daughter who entered the world on New Year’s Eve 33 years ago!