Year End of 2011

I am sitting here on New Year's Eve of 2011. I started this blog about this time last year and many things have changed since then! Just in the amount of time since I've last blogged (September) many things have changed.

I am still dealing with my back & pelvis injury, but praise the Lord it is getting better! It was this time last year when I fell. To think my injury and pain has been ongoing for a year is baffling. However, this Spring I could barely walk and couldn't stand longer than 5 minutes. Now, I can stand for about 30-45 minutes and can walk a decent pace. I can't exercise like I was able to prior to my injury, but praise the Lord I am able to start doing some light walking and that's a start, right?! God has been so faithful through my fall. I have learned to let go of unrealistic expectations, to trust that my husband is capable of keeping our household going.. even if it isn't the way I want (he still does it well!), and to know that my children are very compassionate to others who are hurting because they have seen firsthand how I have struggled this year. God has been so good to me!

In October I began selling Pampered Chef! That's a big change for us, but it has honestly been fun and I have been able to replenish my kitchen with some great new things!! I LOVE to cook and come up with new recipes and try new things.. so it's been really fun to be in the kitchen so much... cooking for others and helping new friends shop for kitchen products! The best part is that I am getting paid really well for it too! The greatest gift that has come with this is that we weren't sure how we would pay for Christmas this year. Financially this year has been a bit difficult. Praise the Lord, as Pampered Chef was re-introduced to me and I began selling in October we were able to pay completely for our Christmas and not go into debt at all.. and have a nice Christmas too! God is so faithful-- even in the small things like providing Christmas for our family!

We served in a church plant this year and God taught us so much as we did this. I have learned to share Jesus with people more and to invite people to church more! We met many wonderful friends, grew closer with existing friends, and served eachother wholeheartedly! God had us there for a purpose. It may have been to help our friends who began the church, it may have been to help get the church started, and/or it may have been because God wanted to teach us something. Whatever the case may have been (and only He knows) we felt called to return to our former church. So as we begin 2012 it will be at our "home" church. I call it home, because I was saved (after many years of thinking I was saved and realizing I wasn't) at this church and I was baptized at this church! God has been faithful as we followed His will for us in ministry! We choose to serve Him and we have to go where He leads us in order to effectively & joyfully serve! I definitely learned that this year!

As 2012 begins I have many questions for what God will do this year. I am praying about many things for this year and I am curious to see what the Lord will do! I am excited as we begin the journey of a new year.. and prayerful that this year will hopefully be a better year. The year 2011 has been a difficult year, but it hasn't been without blessings & lessons learned.

Psalm 27:13-15 "I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."