I feel like 2011 has been the year of whiplash. Opposite extremes.
Firsts.
Lasts.
Death.
Life.
Heartaches.
and victories.
It's been the first year since I graduated 3.5 years ago that I haven't changed a job. I have had the same job from the beginning of this year until now which has been such a blessing. Aspects, components, even people have changed but my position has remained the same. My babies have been wonderful. Loosing monkey in June was tough but God blessed me with his baby cousin at the end of August and things are going great with me and Bo! He has been a blessing! Such a great baby! Ohmygoodness a great baby! My girl increased by one this year so I have virtual twins and a 2 year old! Man, I love my job!
In February I spent a week in TN with my very pregnant sister helping unpack her house to take up residence on the music capitol of the world. Toughest week ever! After saying adios to a very teary sister and confused nephew I spent the following hour being stared at by fellow passengers while I maybe not so softly cried off and on...alone. After take off all I wanted was to be home if I could not be back with them. God had other plans. I spent the next 8 hours in my connecting airport because my plane was stuck in Milwaukee!
Longest. day. of. me. life.
After such a long day I finally made it home! It was nice to come home to a fully planned 21st bday party my parents had thrown including awesome pasta, homemade banana pudding, the greatest friends, and fun games! Great way to have my primary celebration of my new year of life!
I also came home to...well, what was left of my car! Thankfully my God had protection around my sister driving but not my car! So, I said goodbye to my first car and biggest purchase! Thank God I had been taught from the get go to plan and save. I had been setting certain amounts aside for 2 years since purchasing my first car. So when the need arose I was prepared! Still didn't make it easy! I hate to spend money! HA! Now I carry full coverage on my car too...spending some money is important...I guess!
March and April were pretty tricky not to miss life with my sister and her family being here. No amount of privacy made a single one of those miles worth not having them here! Late April we made the 12 hour trek to spend a long weekend with them so that was a nice hold over! I hate this snack bite family time!
Beginning of July was the estimated time of arrival for nephew #2. Enter late June. Last weekend of to be exact and my sister calls with the beginnings of labor. After helping with a friends wedding we sped home so that Dad, Mom, Madalee, and Bean could speed out to TN the the following morning. That week was terrible.
I didn't have to do laundry.
I didn't have to do dishes.
I didn't have to prepare big meals and in fact we ate out most of the time.
I didn't have to clean because there was no one making a mess.
It was awful. I didn't like it one bit. Like I mentioned in my post I think the biggest reason I didn't like it was because they were all together and I wasn't there! Ugh! Mom's ultimate goal was achieved and she was there to help my sister with my nephew as nephew # 2 made his appearance! Highlight of my summer! Oh I love that boy! Quick surprise after too many weeks alone I got to go and pick up my mom and sisters and thus meeting my Poco!
In August I watched as my baby sister spread her wings a little bit. Right into the hearts of a family she never met. She flew half way through the states to spend a week being the hands and feet of Christ and a little girl she knew nothing about. Emotionally. Physically. Spiritually. STRETCHED. She is a changed little girl because of her past summer and I pray that God grows that desire in her!
In September my sister and her hubby and the boys came in for us all to enjoy a week at the beach. It was a great time away together. The first time we all went away together in almost a decade. Such a blessing to spend time with my family away from the norm. This beach trip also brought an addition to our family in the brother variety. Enter bro #2 by way of marriage when out on a mosquito ridden beach with not so friendly by standers my sister said yes to her almost Mr.! We are so excited!
October and November delivered a set of challenges I am not sure any of us could have prepared enough for. Meeting these challenges in the face was hard. Walking through confident and strong was harder. Rest came in short supply but thankfully encouragement didn't. I don't want to dwell on the negative so let's see if I can weigh them back and forth.
Some precious little girls that have wiggled their ways into my heart went through an extremely difficult event in early October and being strong for them was difficult. I wanted so badly to be mad at the person that hurt them. But I was the mature one. I had to pull myself up and encourage them to love and forgive.
Break. my. heart.
Mid November we had to say goodbye to my grandpa. First one of my grandparents to enter eternity. His death left us dealing with a lot of emotions. Watching my mom and uncles grieve was hard. It was stressful preparing for the funeral itself. I hated standing by watching as they had to figure out all the details. No one wants to think they need to prepare for this event but once it's here it's hard not to wish you would have.
Christmas was fast and awesome! It was nice to have some family time! Doting on my grandma! We did most all of our typical family traditions! Christmas parade, Bethlehem visit, Christmas Eve service, etc. It seemed to speed by fast this year. I had a week off and so enjoyed my time around the house spent with my family! I am so thankful that Christmas is not over. Because (way unfortunately) my sister was unable to come in we are all waiting until they will come in February!!!
2011 was a year of growth and change. It's still painful to hear about my Friday Friend that can't seem to grasp the Father's love for her...or her parents love for her. It's painful to see a family friend be so blinded by the enemy and desire the things she is. It's painful to see one of my teenagers fleeing her life here because it's not "fun." It's painful to watch as my grandma find her way without my grandpa.
It's exciting to welcome and watch new life grow! It's joyful to welcome 2 members to God's family! It's exciting to watch as friends obey God all the way into a year of unknowns to be His hands and feet! It's exciting to rejoice with my cousin as a medical scare left her with unanswered questions until just before Christmas only to discover that it was nothing. It's awesome to witness the growth of a family and the uncertainty in the whole process but seeing the end result come to play! It's exciting to be planning my sister's wedding with her as I watch her begin to fulfill the role she has been anxiously waiting to fill. It's a blessing to learn lessons from hard parts and turn around to teach others with them. It's been so cool to watch as the Lord has lead me to serve where I am and bringing me into places of ministry without my consent...and I am so ok with that!
God never promises that it's going to be easy. I am thankful for that. I know that I've done a lot of leaning on Him recently and I am confident that He is ok with that! His power is made so evident in our weakness! We mess ourselves up when we try to be our own power.
Thank you Father for a year of growth and dependence on you. I am thankful that your promise to never leave me or forsake me is so true. I thank you for growing me to become someone after You...someone excited to see what you have going on in her life. Thank you God for giving me opportunities to share about what you are doing in and through me. Thank you Father for additions of a nephew and brother in law. Thank you. Thank you.
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