THE NEW YEAR!

I have been pondering about the past year and looking forward to the new. Counting my losses and delighted where I have found freedom, and like all, pondered: What can I do different in the coming year? What can I do to make a difference? What can I do to improve my life and the life of those around me?


2008, yes, I know, I'm cheating, 2008 as far as I can remember was a great year for me. I managed to loose 35 lbs. train for several races, run a 1/2 Marathon, I looked and felt better than I had in years. My husband got a new job mid year, one that we had been searching and praying for for 2-3 years (me, more like 4-6 years).
In the summer
We went on Vacation to Destin with my family. I LOVE the beach!!!



And then, we ended the year and began the new on a fabulous cruise with the entire Harms
family.



Here I am with Isaac in Cozumel.



and with my honey on the ship.


Well, as soon as 2009 hit, I was hit in the head or something. For some reason I felt like my world was falling apart. Really, nothing happened, I just went crazy, and stopped running. (That is, after my attempt to train for a second Marathon and burnt out.) Gained 30 lbs. back, and almost had a nervous breakdown by the end of the school year. I quit my job, started taking anti depressants, began counseling,sent the boys to public school and wept OUT LOUD the entire way home with this cloud of guilt hanging over me even though I knew without a shadow of a doubt that this is what I and my family needed at the time. The Lord's blessing was still upon me and I moved forward.

But here are some highlights. (note that they only begin after school was out, the previous months are a blurr)
I climed Mt. LeConte in May with my friend Keith, who wanted to check it off of her bucket list.






Went to Texas for 10 days on Vacation to be with the Harms clan.




Managed to go to a Rangers Baseball Game.



A FC Dallas Soccer game.



The stockyards.



And eat all kinds of wonderful yummies at real restaurants!



I turned 40!



I thought 40 was the new 30, but I feel like I was falling apart ever since. I have gotten sick time after time. I had not been sick in years!

Got a new puppy.


(I need to take a picture of her. She has grown so much!)

And spent the day after Christmas with my Clan. The Geigers.





Not having a job was a HUGE load off of me, a tremendous blessing and a special gift from God himself. My house was clean, counseling was going great and God was beginning to heal me. Then out of the blue, like God just decided to wave his magic wand at me and said, OK, I think you are ready. Here is the job I have for you. By the way, I had other job opportunities come, jobs that would pay well, and well enough to send my boys back to Cornerstone Academy (the school I had worked at), but the peace had not been there. He just said, wait, sit, be with me. As "fate" would have it, a position miraculously became available at the Cornerstone Academy, a part time teacher's aide position. My ears perked up so high. What? A Part time position? One where I can just show up, work, and go home, no burden, no grading, no planning, I'm done when I'm done? PICK ME, PICK ME!!! Of course they picked me, God had reserved that place for me!


First day back at Cornerstone Academy



So as I close off this seemingly bad year, I have a GREAT job that I love, my boys are back at Cornerstone, and I have been rescued from the PIT I was in. Antidepressants are almost gone and I can now look ahead and decide. THIS will be a GREAT year!

MY list, you ask? Oh yes. I'm inspired to move on and bring the world along with me to Celebrate.

1. Build an altar.
As I crossed the desert, and arrived on the other side of the Jordan, I feel this need to build a mound of stones. One that will always remind me of how sucky 2009 was and how slowly but surely in His so predictable faithfulness has helped me reach his love, his beauty, his creativity, his promises. I don't have any idea what this will look like, but it needs to happen, I need my children to see it and ask, I need to tell my story, never forget it.

2. Blog at least once a week.

3. Learn to be a better writer.

4. Continue to tap into God's creative being, and be a reflection of him.

5. Continue to tap into God's beauty and be a reflection of him.

6. Learn how to paint furniture, cabinets and the such and begin by painting the boy's furniture.

7. Loose those 30 lbs!

8. Begin to run again, and run at least one race this year.

9. Learn to minister and serve my husband better.

10. Learn to minister, serve and teach my children better. Pray for them more often.

11. I will be a more giving person.