Favorites of 2020

Favorite Books

1. Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (nonfiction) | Read My Review
2. The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller (nonfiction) | Read My Review
3. A Man Called Ove by Frederik Bachman
4. Everybody, Always by Bob Goff (nonfiction)
5. Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (fiction)

Favorite Songs

1. “Constellations” by Ellie Holcomb
2. “Coming Alive!” by Joel Figueroa
3. “Be Kind to Yourself” by Andrew Peterson | Read Why I Love This Song
4. “How to Be Yours” by Chris Renzema (really, anything by Chris will knock your socks off)
5. “No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus” by Stephanie Gretzinger

Favorite Destinations

Two-thousand-twenty was a bit lackluster in the travel department (as was my blogging about said travels). Nevertheless, I discovered many wonderful places this past year that I recommend!)

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1. Breckenridge, CO – was able to hike a bunch! I highly recommend heading just outside of town and hiking the trifecta 14ers; Mt. Democrat, Mt. Lincoln, and Mt. Bross. My mom and I went with the goal of hiking just Mt. Democrat. However, I had time to tack on Mt. Lincoln. I would have done Bross as well (it was actually faster to return from Mt. Lincoln via Mt. Bross), but there was inclimate weather rolling in.
2. Red River Gorge – I camped for the first time in over fifteen years. I’m now a strong advocate for sleeping in a hammock versus a tent. It was a game-changer!
3. Delaware, Ohio – “But wait,” you’re saying to yourself. “You’re from Ohio, aren’t you?” Yes, that’s true. But this year, my family and I discovered a wonderful new trail just a few minutes from our home. It’s quite extensive and I’ll be frequenting the Rocks and Roots Trail a lot this next year in order to more thoroughly explore it!
4. Brown County State Park (Indiana) – I’ve been to Brown County before, but I was able to do a lot more hiking during my visit this past fall. It’s a wonderful spot and, on the day I visited, it was very quiet. I’ve heard that’s far from true on the weekends though, so I recommend visiting on a weekday if possible. We went on a Friday!
5. Shades State Park and Turkey Run State Park (Indiana) – I’m lumping these in one listing because I visited them in the same weekend. If you’re an avid hiker, I recommend visiting both spots, as there is a lot of excellent hiking! If you’re planning to camp, do so at Shades rather than Turkey Run. The latter is the most popular state park; its trails (and campgrounds) are known to be jam-packed during peak season.

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Favorite Scriptures

These are the Bible verses and passages that have marked 2020, for me. Each has been incredibly impactful for different reasons, during different times of the year.

1. Psalm 46:10 – “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted on the earth!”
2. 1 Corinthians 6:12 – “‘All things are lawful for me,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful for me,’ but I will not be dominated by anything.”
3. Psalm 32:7 – “You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance.”
4. Psalm 57:1-2 – “Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me. For in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by. I cry out to God Most High, to God who fulfills his purpose for me.”
5. Romans 8 – Halfway through the year, I began memorizing Romans 8. It’s a slow but steady process (I’m up to verse 28 as of the time this article was published). I love committing Scripture to memory by song, and that way: it is in my head forever (hopefully!)

As I reflect on 2020, these are some of the highlights. This is just a small list. God also taught me quite a few helpful lessons along the way, and one large reflection which I shared in an article titled, “2020: The Best & Hardest Year of My Life.”

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What are some of the things you learned or enjoyed this past year? Let me know below!

Love,

Han