My Year in Review

Now normally people do most of the reflecting over the past on New Year’s Day, but this year I thought my birthday was the prefect time to do some reflection. You see this year has been filled with so many things that as I look back on it I’m amazed at it all.

Firstly I’m so thankfully I’ve survived another year. Well I’ve not exactly survived I’ve thrived. My health is the best its been. I’ve lost almost 40 lbs. and have dropped nearly 3 dress sizes. My stomach is acting and doing the things it should and I’m no longer taking prescribed medications. God has blessed me with a renewed love of my physical life. I’m even thankful for the aches and pains associated with being 44 because they remind me that there are others out there who are truly hurting, in pain and ill.

This year I’ve been blessed to discover I have another sister, 3 nieces and 2 great-nephews. This has been an amazing revelation. Here I had lived 43 years thinking I would never meet the siblings lost long before I was even born and yet through God’s grace here they are. My heart aches that I’m not able to meet them later this month with Camila and Korryne, but I know that God has even bigger plans for me. I know that we will meet one day and I’m focusing on that.

I came to the realization this year that God wants me to be a teacher. A couple of years ago he placed on my heart the desire to write a bible study. I did it, but never saw where I would be able to do it and to actually teach it. This is the year God decided to use me. I was able to do a sample run of my class and am now the lead speaker at a 1 day seminar sponsored and supported by our Women’s Opportunities Ministries. I have no idea where this is going, but the ride sure is getting exciting.

Lastly I’ve come to realize that my prayers for friends and family have been fully answered and I am very blessed. My life is fully of love. It’s not always easy dealing with relationships, but I love. I have never felt more apart of a family and a community as I do now. Some days the business of it all gets to me and I get really tired, but then I remember what it is like to be lonely and I forget all about being tired.

The most important thing I have learnt this year is that with great blessings comes great challenges and great responsibilities.