January 2012

My New Year's "resolution" was to write at least one blog each month telling of the latest happenings in our life from the previous month. This idea came to me in late December or early January, because looking back through this past year, I can only remember the bad. Things seemed to be going just fine, then November hit, and it was the end of my world has I knew it. I suddenly couldn't remember the laughter or peace or happiness of past months. I don't want to ever do that again. I want to remember the good through the bad.


So.... here we go...


Our year started of with a kick in the pants and in the heart. We received several phone calls about Jared's Aunt Karen, who's been enduring cancer for almost four years now. We took off work, rented a car, and on December 31st headed for Oklahoma. We drove straight through the night and following day, making record timing with 17 hours from North Carolina to Oklahoma. Impressive - I know, right?


Seeing Aunt Karen was for a moment a bit difficult for Jared, but his spirit rose to see Uncle Doug and give him a hug. On our trip we were constantly reminded of how much we have to be thankful for. We were able to say goodbye; we were able to tell her we loved her; we only have one wish of More Time. I personally wished I could have been able to love this woman like Jared loved her. I wish I could have spent more time with her, to learn her secret of having such loving kids and a loving marriage. And where did all that strength come from? But all these questions have one utterly evident answer: Christ. She had Christ. She had faith and believed. So many are dying without the love of Christ in their life. What more could we be thankful than her relationship with our Father.


I don't know if we were much of a help while we were there; we went to give peace and support where needed. I think Jared and I also needed a little love and support ourselves since we hadn't seen any of our family since Uncle Joe passed away. I couldn't wait to hug each and every single one of them from Jared's family to mine. It was a short trip, and for the first time, we didn't have the urgency to get back to our home. We wanted to stay longer. I think that's why it took us 24 hours to get back rather than 17. We took our time. But we finally figured out that although we love the East Coast, our hearts will always be in Oklahoma. We are happy to go wherever God leads us; we just hope it's back home.


Since we've been back Jared has decided to go to Ukraine for a mission trip with our church. Things didn't work out with me going, but I'm at total peace, and truly feel the Lord telling me I'm needed here instead. We have also begun Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University, which the cool kids call FPU. We have been called to discipline ourselves to be diligent in how we handle what we've been given. Proverbs 21.5 says "The plans of the diligent lead surely to abundance, but everyone who is hasty comes only to poverty." I know this has a more spiritual meaning to it, but it's also truth in the physical sense. And it takes discipline in order to be diligent. God's definitely stretching us. Hebrews 12.11 "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." 


We discovered Downton Abbey. We have fallen in love with this show! I used to watch Masterpiece Theatre with my mother all the time. Jared and I started watching the first season on Netflix and are now on the second season which is currently playing on PBS. It's a brilliant show filled with drama, suspense, passion, and mystery. Jared at first, enjoyed watching it with me, but wasn't addicted, this is, until season two rolled around. Will Mary and Matthew ever get together? When will Ms. O'Brien and Thomas pay for all the trouble they've caused? Is Sybil going to run away with the valet or not?

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On the 27th, we got a phone call from Samaritan Ministries, welcoming us to the program! We finally have insurance!!!!! Well, it's not a technical "insurance"; it's a Christian organization of health care sharing. Needs are submitted each month from different families, and our monthly share (or payment) is directly sent to one particular family or person in need. Because Jared is also in a Christian school we get an added discount. The feeling of having any accidents or medical payments covered is just one of the best feelings in the world. And we're not breaking the bank to have such a security.


That evening, Jared took me to see the Old 97's. The lead guitarist Ken Bethea lived next door to my mom in Tyler, TX. His mom was my mother's teacher and had my mom babysit for them all the time. I can still remember my sister and I putting the two and two together when I started listening to them, and mom telling us, "Oh yeah, I used to baby sit Ken all the time." Small world. But finally, I was able to see them in concert thanks to Jared. We had a blast.

The past several weeks, I've been very proud of Jared and me. We've been eating well and exercising regularly. We haven't felt this good in a long time. We've lost weight, built muscle and have so much energy than before. He's been doing P90X, and I've been doing a little of that plus (now, don't laugh) some Wii workouts. Let me tell you, my quads have been killing me. It really does work. Plus Matt does some of the workouts and yoga with me. He's the cutest thing I've ever seen. We're trying to workout everyday together. It's been really good for the both of us. I'll have to take a picture of him doing the warrior pose. It's great!


Today is my friend Anna's wedding. I know this is supposed to technically go into next month's post, but I can't help but make mention of it. I wish so much that I could be there right now, but I know I'm where I am for a reason. I wish her and Micah so many blessings and have so much confidence that they will love each other with the love of Christ. Anna has grown to be one of the most loving people I know. She has always responded in kindness even in times of pain, and I can't thank her enough for love she's continued to show me.