HAPPY NEW YEAR 2016

Hey Blog Reader,
I want to officially say Happy New Year to all.  I am so excited for the possibilities of 2016.  I remember that 2014 was a really tough year for me with so many life changes and needs.  We ended the year with no job and no income.  But God was good and blessed us and met our every need.

2015:  started and I was on shakey ground.  My faith and trust was being tested at every turn.  I believed in my heart that God was in control yet sometimes my head was louder than my heart and my head wanted me to take control and get everything under control.  That's the thing.....I had no control and that was making me crazy.  I had no choice but to give it up and let God finally be in control since I could do nothing to change things.  The more I tried.....the more I was tested and the more frustrated I became.  In Feb of 2015....I started attending a support group because I really thought I was close to losing my mind.  Starting that group was the best move for me in 2015.  I learned alot about myself and how "I" was getting in my own way of having peace in the midst of chaos.  It gave me tools to redirect my thinking and to change my focus back to God who, as I said, was really in control of everything.  And I WAS NOT!  I finally had the peace of God that passes all understanding again and I was able to surrender control to God that I couldn't or wouldn't fully do before.  NONE of my chaos changed nor ended but I no longer fretted over it and was constantly reminded to keep turning it over to God.

April.....Larry got a job with a good company that was growing by leaps and bound.  I felt a sense of relief and gratefulness to the Lord for once again providing where I couldn't.  My mental attitude was in much better shape and the gift of the job was the cherry on top.  I could now move on to other things.
We were able to take our 35th ann trip to Disney that we postponed in 2014 due to the loss of the job.  We had a good time and really enjoyed getting away to live in fantasyland for 5 days.  We returned home and immediately reality came crashing in.  We were forced to replace a water heater the day after we returned from Disney.  Blessings were all over the place on this situation but we were not expecting an expense of this kind at this time.  But ...still God took care of us.

Then....my world took a nosedive again.  The 2nd week after returning from Disney (Oct), Larry's brand new job created for him was eliminated!  We were once again jobless and without income...just after 6 months.  So grateful that we had stayed pretty firm on our budget and I still tried to find deals and coupons. We didn't eat out alot even though he had an income and we were still trying to maintain a frugal spending lifestyle.  That company's finances were not doing well and they had to eliminate Larry and several more people.

That really caught me off guard.  I never dreamed we would be in this position again so soon.  God was getting my attention in a new way this time.  I really feel He was teaching me to TRUST IN HIM  and not some job.  By now....my support group attendance was a normal bi-weekly event.  I really am grateful that I have learned so much from the group.  God placed me in that group with that special collection of people to walk with me through the ups and downs of life.  YES...my Small Group has been with me every step of the way and they been huge encouragers and prayer warriors.  And YES my church support has been phenomenal and the elders and pastors have prayed over me and my family so faithfully.  So...God had placed me in the right places for such a time as this.  For that I am eternally grateful.  I wouldn't be able to have any sanity if it weren't for my Lord and His protection/grace and mercy.

Back to the strict budget and coupon clipping again.  We were once again taking it one day at a time.  People try to give you encouragement and I really appreciated it....but until someone has been in this situation....sometimes the words don't help and sometimes peoples' helpful offers are not the solution.  It has taught me to have compassion on anyone who have found themselves out of work.  I have determined to be a listener for anyone in this same situation.  I may not have any answers but I can have empathy and I can listen.  Many times that is all I needed....a good ear to let me vent and then move forward.  I plan to be that listener  in 2016.

December 2015:  The week before Christmas....Larry started a new job.  WHAT A GOD THING!  How many times have you heard that a person gets a job in December?  WE know that this is from God and all of our waiting and praying had led to this particular time.  I am grateful for all of the people who were faithfully praying for us and checking on us.  Those didn't go unnoticed and I know that God heard and saw everyone who were praying and checking on us.

WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?   I have learned to trust in God....and not the security of a job.  My security can only be in my Lord and not my husband and his job.  God gave me Larry and I am blessed for that....and Larry now has a job which is another blessing.  But....I will NEVER rest in the comfort of the job....I will rest in the comfort of my Lord.   He is the one who provides the job and He alone is the only one who can be trusted to take care of us....no matter how much I try to take control myself....He is in control.

I will strive to be a listener and have an eye out for people hurting in this situation.
Thanks for reading....
Here's to a fantastic new year in 2016! I am ready for new beginnings.