“(said of God):If this is the way you treat your friends, it's no wonder you have so few!” St. Teresa of Avila
This quote in many ways sums of my feelings of this past year of my life and yet this is only looking at part of a picture and it is the one I am looking at from this chair in front of my computer screen. In other words I am looking at this picture one sided.
January was met with another semester of school to complete and as I started that semester I was struggling with learning and remembering things for a tests and completing assignments and getting through each day. Which even though a struggle I did get through and at this point I know it was God pulling me through as I was struggling with some depression, frustration, grief and down right I want to quit everything. I didn't quit, I still struggle with some depression and frustration and grief but I did make it through school graduating on May 3rd with an Associates in Arts and Science/Nursing (I still love writing this) and in August I passed my state boards and received my Registered Nurse license.
I was also blessed to attend a Vineyard conference in February, take a trip to Nashville over spring break to see my dear friends Matt and Sam Mulder along with my buddy Ethan and cute Fiona. I also was able to see Sam's mom and catch up with her and make a stop at Gracepointe church. It was then on to Indiana to spend a couple of days with my daughter Sam and her family. My return was the desire to move to Nashville again because I wanted an adventure and even though I have not moved and it seems it may be awhile before that becomes a reality I might be getting some adventures right here in Muskegon.
The summer was spent filling in some open shifts at NOCH and praying and searching to figure out my spot in nursing and even though I had hoped for a job in FBU that does not seem to be where I am going to be right now. Although this is disappointing because that was my big reason for getting my RN I may be starting one of those adventures I am looking for.
I am at Bethany Church and this fall I felt led to coordinate the Twice Fed Bible study meals and so far that has gone quite well. The chili cook off was one of everyone favorites and we have had a filling study as well as filling meals. I am also doing projection for Sunday services and I do enjoy that too. Gospel Choir on Tuesdays nights is a time of praise and worship for me and has added to our Sunday services.
In October a group of us from church attended Christian Community Development Association conference in Cincinnati, Ohio and this conference taught me that there are some people I cannot help, or fix but I can love them all. I know I can only love them all with Christ's love and not my own doing.
I will end the year at Urbana09 an Intervasity Missions conference as a volunteer and again wondering what I will learn.
Sam and Brian are still living in Avilla, IN, which is nice because it is a 3 hour drive from here and Sam is expecting another grandchild for me the end of March or first part of April. I am hoping the baby is born on April 1. Gwen is doing well in school and is at a Montessori based school and Ambree attends preschool at Calvary Lutheran where Sam directs the preschool and Youth group. Brian is job searching and transporting the girls to school.
Mike and Kary are here in Muskegon and Mike works at Port City finishing where there have been some hour cuts but mostly only one shutdown. Laben and Noah are enjoying school and Jaylee is one year old already.
Tim is at Ferris in Big Rapids and should graduate in May with a bachelors in Computer Information Systems. The winter semester for him with be school and job hunting and it will probably be in Indiana or Illinois.
I started this with a quote from St. Teresa so I will end it with this because even though I have and sometimes still am struggling with depression, frustration, hurt, grief it is all part of my restoration or the bigger picture that is not completed yet.
“Let nothing disturb thee; Let nothing dismay thee; All thing pass; God never changes. Patience attains All that it strives for. He who has God Finds he lacks nothing:God alone suffices.”St. Teresa of Avila
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friends be blessed.
