One Year Gone...Another Beginning

Here we are on the eve of a new year...and, as many others are certainly doing, I've been reflecting on 2014.

It was a BIG year...a crazy BIG year.

Probably the biggest year for me since 1996.

In January, I wrote a post on a word that God had given me for 2014 - TRUST. And let me say, this has been an interesting journey.

At the beginning of 2014, I had plans. Plans for the year. Things already in the books. Dylan's graduation, follow up trip, leaving for college, etc.

But I could not have even FATHOMED what 2014 was actually going to bring.

Nor how much I would be leaning on that word TRUST.

When my heart was breaking because I just knew that Dylan would move far, far away from me for school...I whispered "trust".

When I looked at my bank account and wasn't quite sure how we were going to make it to the next week..."trust".

When I was lying in bed mulling over every little thing in my life at 3am..."trust".

And just like that...God came through every time.

The school thing, I admit, was the hardest for me. How in the world could I imagine the person I had wrapped my entire life around for 18 years living 9 hours from me? I remember grieving over this thought before the decision had even been made.

And finally, one day, I just had to give it up. I had to trust. I had to say "God if you want him in Florida, then I have to know that You are going to make this OK for me."

Although, I have to say...I'm extremely thankful that God & I were on the same page about keeping him in North Carolina. ;)

Ultimately on the school thing...I just prayed that God would make it crystal clear where He wanted Dylan.

Boy, did He.

I don't think I'll ever forget the day that the envelope came from Wake Forest...I didn't even open it...I gave it to Dylan to open it. He just looked at it...didn't say a word...and handed it to me.

Oh, by the way, he had already committed to High Point University. We'd paid the deposit.

I looked...and couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Basically after it was all said & done, his college would be paid for. With very little loan money. All grants.  All scholarships.  I basically couldn't afford to NOT send him to Wake.

It took a little more time for everything to process for Dylan. For me, the final decision was made. For Dylan, he wanted to consider. But a day later, he said "get the deposit back from HPU" and...here we are.

Dylan has completed his first semester at Wake. He has made friends. He has adjusted somewhat (I think there's more of that to come). He did well in his first semester. And in about 13 days from now, he'll start with his second semester.

Sometimes trust is easy...but often times it's hard. It's hard to trust that everything is going to turn out OK when we can't see the end. This year, I've definitely learned a lot. And my God has never been proven un-trustworthy. Which I kind of knew...but needed to be reminded.

I don't know what my word for 2015 is going to be yet. I have a few rolling around in my head, but I'm waiting to see what word God gives me.

But I do know that I can't wait to see what it is...and what He has in store for me this year.

Happy New Year!

30 Day Blog Challenge - Day 6

HAHAHAHA!  I know what y'all are thinking...30 Day Blog Challenge? 

It's Ok...we all should've known that a 30 day blogging challenge for me would actually take about 45-60 days. 

BUT, I'm determined not to quit!  So, you will at least get 30 blog posts.

Sorry for the delay...soon after the last post, my work exploded...this week both of my bosses are on vacation...so I've been able to get caught up.  Being busy at work is good...being so busy that I can barely breathe is not good.

Day 6 - What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

I thought this was actually Day 5's topic...and I already had this post written in my head two weeks ago...so here goes.

The day before it had stormed...nothing horrific...just a regular, ordinary summer storm...lightning, thunder, rain.  I woke up the next morning and just marveled about how beautiful the morning was.  The sun was out...the birds were chirping...everything looked clean and bright.

And that's what I feel about the hardest things I've experienced.

I could make a list of them right here...but in my mind, the hardest things that I've experienced have been some of the greatest joys...once the storm passed.  Maybe I'm avoiding the topic, but really and truly I don't want to relive them...in real life or here in this blog.

I want to focus on the beauty after the storm...the warm sunshine...the beautiful song...how everything looked clean and bright.

Focusing and reliving the hardest things in our lives will only continue to bring us sorrow, grief, pain...but when we focus on the morning after the storm, we can find the joy that comes after the sorrow.

I'm always thankful for the sunshine after the storm.

Have a great weekend, my friends!

Where the Heart Is...

My heart is...

Snuggled down in my oh so comfy bed with a good book or a favorite movie

In a brown eyed boy who has grown up way too fast

Buried in the notes, lyrics, melodies and harmonies of a broad range of music

Between the pages of my favorite books that line my bookshelves...and some that are stacked here and there

Within the walls of my little yellow house

In a quiet, snowy morning

Around the corner from my little yellow house in my momma's kitchen...where I've been fed so many times - both physically and emotionally

In a musty, old auditorium at Fort Caswell where I gave my heart to Jesus

In the smiles, giggles and chatter of a blonde haired, hazel eyed 2 year old little boy

With my Aly-gator

Beside my best friend...in our laughter...and our tears

In the mountains of NC...and on the warm sandy beaches

Pieces and parts...left here and there...

Thank you to my friend Jen who let me "borrow" this idea! :)

Monday...it's not so bad afterall! :)

I know...to each their own...but today is Monday and for me, so far, it's not been too terrible.  I can't complain too much...and really, do you want to hear all my whining and complaining?  I think not.  I mean, you listen when I do whine and I appreciate it...but that's not really what you want to read from me all the time, right? ;)

Anyway, my weekend was spectacular.  Friday was bright, sunny, warm...high of 70-something...flip flops on...it was an all around beautiful day.  And I spent a bit by myself in the office, which meant I could open my window and enjoy the fresh air.  I'm blessed to not just have an office with a window, but an office with a window that OPENS!  My enjoyment was shortlived, though, because soon my boss returned and insisted on air conditioning.  Party pooper!

Friday evening I went to my BFF's sister's house for a Scentsy/Premiere Jewelry Party...which also turned into a 31 Party since her sister sells 31...and the girl who does the Premiere is one of her best customers! :)  Fun times...and I'm looking forward to some new Scentsy stuff!  I got a new warmer for my office and some summer-y scents to enjoy while I'm here at work! 

Saturday I woke up to more sunshine.  The temps weren't quite as warm as Friday...but still upper 60's.  I laid in bed for a while...watched Step Mom, Can't Buy Me Love & Sixteen Candles!  It was a great morning on ABC Family!  And...I began my taxes...which is looking good and I'm hoping to finish today...because I need that money! :)  Well, not really...but I'm looking forward to it.  I caved and told Dylan I would pay for half of a PlayStation 3...because I'm the best mom ever! ;)  Plus, it looks like I've also been swayed to the iPhone camp.  My upgrade is due in a couple of weeks...but I think I can pretty much upgrade any time.  I wasn't going to go the iPhone route...I was completely sold on the Droid phones...but then my co-worker got one...and my sister got one...and they are in love.  And it's just so cool.  And I haven't heard any complaints.  So, I think my decision is just about made.  There are a few other practical things I want to do with my tax refund...so I'm looking forward to seeing it hit my account!

Saturday afternoon was a little windier...which made the temps feel a bit cooler.  Dylan has started Spring soccer.  We were overyjoyed to find out he has the same coaches as he did last year when he played rec soccer.  And his coach seemed to be happy to have him back too.  The team isn't the same, but it didn't look too shabby.  So, I'm excited for another soccer season beginning.

Saturday night we went to dinner with Zac & Ashley for BBQ...and stopped in at Krispy Kreme for some doughnuts.  Krispy Kreme is headquartered in Winston-Salem...so we have a lot of stores in this area.  Most of them have a window into the kitchen so you can see the doughnuts being made & glazed.  Their trademark is the "Hot & Now" doughnuts...which are absolutely to die for.  They melt in your mouth.  So, while we were watching the doughnuts travel down the assembly line...fried...shuttled up on to a belt...glazed...and on around to be packaged...we noticed that the conveyor belt ended...at a trash can.  We watched an *overjoyed* (not TREMENDOUS) sarcasm take some of the doughnuts off the belt toward the end and put them on a tray...but then she walked away...and we began to wonder what was going to happen to the doughnuts when they reached the end...and the big trash can.  Ashley was APPALLED to see doughnut after doughnut fall off the conveyor belt...and in to the trash can!  It truly was amazing to see the waste...and we are all now wondering WHY these doughnuts didn't make the cut...and does that happen often???  Life's little mysteries...

We also celebrated Christmas...yes we realize we are almost 2 months late...but we are very busy people and this was literally the first time we could get together to do Christmas!

Sunday was an AWESOME day...Church was incredible...then Dylan spent some time at Seth's house...I went to Kohls, Target & Wal-Mart...came home to catch up with my DVR.  It was GREAT!

In the afternoon, Dylan called to ask me to bring him some suitable "Nerf war" clothing...and I was on my way back to the church to drop the clothing off...and I began to think about our services on Sunday...and my own story of how God has so richly blessed me...

You see, Sunday morning we heard from three of the seven students who gave their lives to Christ over the weekend we were in DC.  And I was so thankful to be a part of both the weekend in DC and the service yesterday (I do our Children's Church every other month...this is my month off).  Each was baptized and we just celebrated these decisions Sunday morning.

And not only was I thankful for that, I was thankful for all that God has given me...my son...my parents...my family...my friends...

I began to cry and just thank God for all this.  Because I know that if God never gives me anything else in my life, I'm FULL.  That's the only word I could use to describe how I felt yesterday - FULL!

This feeling doesn't take away my desire to meet someone, get married and have more children (hopefully). 

But, it does make me content.

And I think that's what I need for now...to be content.

That full-ness has poured over into today...

And I couldn't be happier to be alive...to be able to enjoy this sunshiney, spring day...and to know that I have a God who loves me...and continues to bless my life.

Happy Monday...I hope yours is as good as mine has been so far! :)