Happy New Year 2018 Steem-ians!

I know I should have posted something here at the first day of the year, but I was actually so caught up with gardening and laundry and farewell dinner for my housemate by the time I am done, it has passed midnight!

So let me start with my **first day of work** instead.

Happy first work day of the year for those who have a day job like me.

![20180102-113041_800.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmYHjTGRJX7cnA5Lqoit7ZrjucxhtBCX7Fsj7EGcfHvZ28/20180102-113041_800.jpg)

Have you have noticed this picture, the moment I stepped in to the office, there was already meetings lining up waiting for me since my _project deployment work_ (which only my close friends in Steemit knows, **you know who you are!**) is now in live test phase, there has been tons of work to do.

Just a note: I chose a monochrome picture of it not because I feel gloomy, but I just think the black and white enhances the importance of the meeting in how my colleagues are concentrating (or at least trying to) when my director issue new year's new roles and the needs of getting the system up and running.

So I have relatively 9 days to get it all ready, including user guide and whole lot of patience to work with my end users, yay!

<center>_No, I am not whining, I am actually excited that this project is ending_</center>

And right before I started my first working day of the year, after doing my work outs (that my body so desperately needs) I actually came across this sharing from my colleague in her _WhatsApp Status_ 

Oh, how cool whatsapp is becoming, status with self destruct after 24 hours!

Ahem, back to the sharing, this is what I saw in her status and I have decided to screen capture it.

![S80102-115416-001.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmb8qzzzxd39KpoBPsdkBXz9dP3ho6317y7wZKh8HDiSRv/S80102-115416-001.jpg)
_Courtesy from @wordstionary in not sure where this was taken, but screen capture from my phone_ 

I find from my previous post at the final weekend of year 2017, [**_2017 – A Time to Reflect_**](https://steemit.com/steepshot/@littlenewthings/20171231t110757476z-post) this seems to be the best suggestion of the start of the year!

And this year is going to be quite a hectic year for me, not that I am whining, but I believe that great things are going to happen no matter what circumstances might come by.

Because, every single thing truly happens for a reason, and I believe that quote wasn't an accident as well when it was shared by my colleague.

So I have:

- my final roll out project running
- my mom's surgery
- my dad's MRI (and hopefully no surgery needed) 
- **new project planning** (woo hoo! This is going to very interesting because it is Steemit related!)
- looking for a house (to get my parents over), buy or rent
- more fine tune modular of my current project to wrap things up
- more writing in Steemit
- **Avatars to make** (Stay tuned, Steemit!)
- For once, try to follow the Bible study guide haha (hallelujah with audio Bible! I already completed day 2)

![20151113-poked_800.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVyhSWPbCaBN9hdpgviHKoWAcUBzxR6Y76JTDkvb6JURb/20151113-poked_800.jpg)

- last but not least, hopefully I get to see the one I care very much again this year, if he gets to have a break from his tour of duty.
_this was taken and "poked" by me at Brussels, 2015_

Therefore, loads of things plan ahead, with anticipation at the same time not too much stressful expectations.

Today, Michelle Qureshi shared something profound at [**NQMinistries**](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCepxnLs6GWAxAyI8m2U9s7A) as I listened to her Vlog today, and ever so timely has a significant connection to the quotes that my colleague shared:

> We can make our plans,
    but the LORD (God) determines our steps. 
Proverbs 16:9

This is such a humbling reminder that we can plan whatever we want for the entire year; but we also must remember to be graceful to ourselves when things do not go out as we intended, because you may never know, bad things that happened to us (as we feel) could be something that was _diverted_ from something even worse that could fall on our heads (sometimes literally).

So a little delay won't kill us. We just need to keep pressing on to our destination in life.

## So, have a blessed, fun-filled, progressive, fruitful, fulfilling, protected, healthy year of 2018!

# <center>Thank You for Your Time</center>

<center>[![help-promo-a2.png](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfJMJwus646c46YQihR1cDKTa7dZ3RHKtz5VLQJ5fZHri/help-promo-a2.png)](https://steemit.com/christian-trail/@littlenewthings/humble-prayer-request-god-will-make-a-way)
Please click on the logo to read why I have this project of 1000 SBD at the first place.</center>

Oh, and prayers are welcomed too!