Happy New Year Everyone!

I have been dreading 2009 and also anticipating 2009. I was trying to figure out what my issue was. It boils down to being a little ‘gun-shy’ after the last 3 years. 2006 was a rough year. 2007 was a challenge to say the least, and well, 2008 doesn’t need a lot of explanation to y’all does it? So I’m thinking to myself, what in the world is 2009 gonna hold? I realized there is only one option –great things. Powerful, amazing things from the Lord. Even though the last three years have been extremly difficult, we have had some incredible blessings as well (the whole ‘don’t throw the baby out with the bath water’ saying).
I have felt sorry for myself long enough. We have been drowning in bills for long enough. It is time for change! It is time to step outside of myself and my situation and do something else. I don’t even know what that means for me this upcoming year, but I know that we are headed into a great year. I am excited and looking forward to what’s around the corner. Will it be perfect? No way! Perhaps it’s all in my outlook – and expectations. I know it will be tough. My lab work came back this past week and I have to double my chemo. Now. Yuck. More stomach upset. More fatigue. Less energy.

But what about the good stuff? My sweet Emily just turned 7! SEVEN! Wow! We have been through so much with her health and what a blessing that she is strong and smart and sweet. Eric and I are in our 13th year of marriage – and that is definitely a testament to God being faithful! Daniel is full of energy and humor, Eric has a job, he has started treatment for his autoimmune disease, we have a roof over our head, we have health insurance, we have a loving family, amazing friends, we have never gone hungry – been culinarily creative, but never hungry.

We are in for a great year, not because we ‘deserve it’, but because we need it. I have this sense of ‘pulling up my bootstraps’ and taking it on. I am tired of being in survival mode. I want to LIVE in 2009. Not merely survive. That is my prayer for 2009. That we live life to the fullest, take things in stride, and – again – choose joy.

God is good. Life’s not perfect. 2009 is gonna be great.