Goodbye 2014!

It's the end of 2014 and it's been a pretty tough year for me and my family. I'm not sorry to say goodbye to this year, at all! I am so hopeful for the new year and am praying for a better year all the way around.

When I look back over this year, there are so many sad moments. I lost little Holly

 

and sweet Sammy 

I've had 5 surgeries, countless infections, several hospitalizations, and new health issues. It has truly been one challenge after another.

I've learned a lot about people and about myself. I have weaknesses in areas I didn't realize I have and I have strengths I didn't know I have. I've learned that my husband is a tireless giver and care provider, who loves me beyond measure. I've learned that my children are selfless and caring even when I'm falling apart.

I've also had some really sweet and special moments. I have this new little girl who gives me such joy!

Miss Mitzi

I've been blessed with a core group of friends who have checked on me all the time and given me so much love and encouragement. You find when something like this happens that you'll have people who give of themselves tirelessly to love on you, and I have been so blessed by these women in my life. My family and I had a wonderful Thanksgiving and Christmas and it did not ever leave my mind that I might not have been here to celebrate with my family.

Most of all, I have seen the hand of God in my life throughout this whole year. From the moment that the orthopedic surgeon cut my artery, God was there, with His mighty hand on me, orchestrating me to get to the best vascular surgeon in my state to have a bypass done, which in turn saved my leg and my life. I've also been blessed to have this same surgeon take care of me and help get me well.

Yes, 2014 has been a tough year in so many ways, but to see all that God has done for me and how He has worked in my life, was amazing and awesome. I am thankful to have been here for 2014 and I'm looking forward to all God has for me in 2015!

Happy New Year!!

Blessings - Julie

My Phrase for 2013

Today is the end of 2012. For my family and me, it's been a year of very high "highs" and very low "lows".

The lows were the diagnosis of my husbands prostate cancer return, my son's continued pain, my continued pain, having extended family issues and betrayals, being hurt by friends, financial difficulties, and more.

The highs were the easing of some of my pain, my husbands "cure" from prostate cancer, being back at church and serving, having some sweet time with friends, both my sons doing so well in school, and lots of other blessings.

At the end of this year, I'm noticing I'm focusing on the lows. I'm not sure why...it's not really normal for me to do this, however, I think the lows have come all at once and I'm feeling really over-whelmed by the lows. However, it has really been on my heart that the Lord doesn't want me looking backward.

At church this weekend, one of our Elders gave a message about God's will for our life and the one thing he said that really stuck out to me was "DIE TO SELF". I realized that in thinking about all the hurts, focusing on the betrayals and and hard times, is not dying to self. I'm thinking about myself above all else. I'm chosing to sit and think about how hurt I am and not moving forward. So....

for 2013, I have decided that my phrase will be Die To Self. A lot of people choose a word for the year, but I want this phrase. I want to be so focused on the Lord and so unaffected by what others do to me (or my family) that I don't take my eyes off the Lord. I want to stay focused on Jesus. I can't fully be in God's will if I'm so concerned about the past, I'm not looking forward to what God has for my future.

For 2013, I will have God as my center, beginning and end. He will be in everything and I will react to what happens AFTER I pray to the Lord for wisdom. I will resolve to look at people as He looks at them. I will see people and circumstances through the eyes of Jesus. At the end of 2013, I pray that I am closer to the Lord, know more of His Word in my heart and that I never look back, except to see how much He has blessed me in my life.

Happy New Year, my dear friends. You have made my life so sweet because of your friendship, your loving comments and your encouragement. May God bless you in the new year abundantly!

God bless you - Julie

New Year

Happy New Year!  Yes, I'm a little late with this greeting but it's heartfelt, nonetheless.  I hope you all have a blessed and joyous new year!

It's been an up and down week here.  New years eve morning, I woke up in horrible pain.  Not exactly how I wanted to start out the new year.  I've been having more pain but this day was especially hard.  My husband helped me to another recliner (sometimes changing chairs will help) and I took my pain meds, had my heating pad, and just relaxed the entire day.  I did have some "feeling sorry for myself" moments, I must confess.  I didn't want to think about starting out the new year with this kind of pain again. 

New years day, I felt a bit better and have been feeling a bit better each day since.  I did schedule a back injection for the middle of the month in hopes that it will help me.  I really don't want this year to be all about my pain or health issues.  Of course, I will accept God's will for my life but I am praying for a better year in both of these areas. 

Now on to other things.  I've been continuing to work on my goals for this year.  I didn't get everything all written out yet.  I'm not going to stress out about it and put pressure on myself.  I've already started implementing some of my goals into my life and it feels really great! There's nothing like working on your new goals to make you feel good. 

Our Christmas decorations are put away (pretty easy considering there wasn't much out - lol) and the Valentines decorations are out.  I've been going through paperwork and the "nest" around my chair today in hopes of bringing some kind of order to my area.  I tend to get tons of books, magazines, notebooks and such around my chair and then I have to dig out and keep the things I'm really using at the moment.  I have a large Longaberger basket that I've had for 25 years that I keep on a stool next to my side table and in it are my Bible, prayer request book, devotionals, and so forth.  Sometimes this basket gets quite full of things and I have to go through it.  I do love having these special things at my fingertips, though. 

I've signed up for the new Bible study that's starting at church in a couple weeks.  I do pray that I will be able to go as I've missed being involved in the studies so much.  I picked up the study at church before Christmas and it looks like it's going to be a great study.

Many blessings - Julie