Out with the Old, In with the New

As I reflect over the past year I realize that I have many things to be thankful for. I have the everyday ordinary things; family, health, friends, etc.

I have been blessed with a wonderful, caring, loving and supportive husband and two beautiful daughters. As a matter of fact we will be celebrating my youngest 5^th birthday on Saturday. Now this isn’t just a celebration of birth. This is a celebration of life and health. You see Nessa was born 6 weeks premature. I know that is small in comparison to many. But at one week she became VERY ill and we didn’t know what was going to happen. There were also a few other health issues pressing on this small gift from God. Today you would have NO idea what-so-ever of her struggles.

My thankfulness of health goes way beyond just being healthy. It is for being alive, for being healed, for regaining my strength, my emotional and spiritual stability, and more. I could not have overcome the illness I had without God’s healing hands and guidance. It was this time last year that I was beginning a relapse of my illness and contracted reactive arthritis and got to the point I couldn’t walk. My ankles were so swollen and so painful. Again God was there and healed me. If it hadn’t been for my ankles I could have been right back where I was two months before. I am thankful that God was not ready for me to leave this earth yet because He has more planned for my life.

I’m thankful my husband was healed when he was sick this past fall. Again God came through and used His healing hands.

God has given me so many friends many of them that fill in the gaps that my parental family have left open. You never really realize how close you are (or aren’t) to friends till you really need them. Especially, if you don’t have family to help you; not because they live to far away but because they just don’t want to be bothered. Sad, yes, but the friends that have been put in my path more than make up for that and can be much more than a family to you. I only hope that should one of my friends need anything that I can be there for them they way they were for me.

I’m thankful for a church family that was also there for my family and me when I was sick. Between friends and church family we were well taken care of. Dinner was provided for at least 3 weeks. We were taxied every we needed to go, till I could drive. So much more that I could tell you about but they are things I keep in my heart because the love behind them was so wonderful and powerful. This is not the first my church family has been there for us. They were there for us before any of them, except one, had ever met us. When prayer was needed for Nessa they prayed and when we were able to make a second visit, to the church, we were greeted with open arms and hearts. The relationships have only grown from there.

I could probably go on and on about all that I am thankful for but I think I will leave it at that.

So what about 2008?

Well, I am praying for God’s will to be done. We have struggled, financially, for too long.

I want this to be the year we finally work things out. I want to take Nessa to Disney like we were able to do with Vic 6 years ago. Heck, we need a family vacation in general. LOL

I have been given an opportunity to interview for a position in one of the elementary school in our district. I have been praying, along with many others, for God’s will to be done here as well. If I’m meant to return to work I want Him to show when and where. Granted I’m really drawn to this position. It will give me the opportunity to fulfill my passion of helping others and more. I also don’t want my husband to have to work so much.

So many changes are taking place in our lives that I really feel that things are going to change and that God’s will is going to happen, or at least start to happen because I know it can’t all happen at once.

The last big thing I am seeking God’s will is with the healing ministry I have worked with my church to start. It has been a slow go and right now I’m feeling a bit confused as to what God has really called me to do but I found out tonight that I have someone willing to help me re-organize a bit and make it more understandable and welcoming to others. I can only hope and pray this is what God truly has in mind.

My thoughts on what I want 2008 to be could go on forever too but I think it might be best if I left it as is now and fill you in as things come together and happen.

I hope and pray that you can find things to be thankful for and things to look forward to in the new year. I pray that you and your family will be greatly blessed!

Happy 2008!!