Thanks For The Ride 2018 | Let’s Do This 2019!
2017 was a great year for the books. Not an easy year for sure, but definitely a good one.
Warning: This post is long and it’s personal. If you’re curious at all about what inspires me and my art, grab some coffee, snuggle up with your blanket and read as I reflect on 2018 and share my desires for the year to come.
Honestly I feel like the past 3 years have been a time of God preparing me. Most of you know 2016 was a year I’d like to not remember to be honest. For those that are new here, that was the year I found out about my thyroid cancer and had 2 surgeries within less than 2 weeks. Just months later my Dad tragically committed suicide. Now as bad as 2016 was and as weird as it may sound, 2017 was worse.
Worse because 2 surgeries and the removal of your thyroid makes your body whack! The thyroid regulate’s the body’s metabolic rate as well as heart and digestive function, muscle control, brain development, MOOD and bone maintenance. UM… that means it pretty much affects your whole body and mind. So all of that combined with the trauma from my Dad just kinda caused me to shut down.
However, I don’t believe it was wasted at all. Don’t get me wrong, I was sick of myself… being depressed also puts you in a self-absorbed space. Yet I was hell-bent on using that time for something.
I stumbled upon this post from Priscilla Shirer on Instagram.
“Hindsight is a gift. It opens a window of clarity not accessible in real time. Shows you that no part of your journey was wasted. Then it invites you to trust that today’s mess is tomorrow’s message and masterpiece.
It tells you that He meant what He said – All things work together for good.”
Because of 2016 and 2017, I was stretched and pulled and tested in many ways. Because of those trials I chose some self-reflection, I went to therapy, I chose not to live in the lies the Enemy was throwing at me one after the other because he takes advantage of us when we’re down.
I learned so much. So so much! About myself and about God. About how God see’s me. About how even though for almost forty years of my life I never believed I could have or achieve all the things because that was meant for other people. But by making one choice and taking the first step I can do the things, have the things, be the things!
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So 2018 was a great year! I came out of that season into a lighter one with knowledge and tools. In 2018 I took the first steps. I said “yes” to things that scared the you know what out of me, things that were so out of my comfort zone. I learned to take my dreams and make them goals. I’ve had my own business for a long time but in 2018 I decided to focus more on my personal art. I studied and researched. I was a student. 2018 was a year of God equipping me.
So here we are at 2019. I’m not sure what it holds but I do I plan to make things happen.
I do know God has created me with a purpose – for his purpose… and I won’t waste it.
I also turn the big 4 0 in 2019. A new decade.
I became a wife in my 20’s and Bart and I walked the hard road of infertility together. In my 30’s God told me he was going to do big things and he sure did. We chose the road of adoption and after waiting 7 years Brennan was born months after I turned 30. We moved to another state and then moved to another state and we were still waiting… God brought us True through a roller coaster of a ride and then He surprised us yet again just 8 months later with Hayes. Last week as we wrapped up the year, we finally were able to finalize Hayes’s adoption. A whole decade filled with God delivering his promise! In a totally unexpected and unimaginable way. A season of waiting, of unknown, of hurt and also of joy, surprise and the realization of God’s overflowing love.
I walk into a new year and into my forth decade this side of heaven in a brand new season! I can say with all certainty that I enter 2019 with big expectations and with the full belief that God is able. Whether hard or easy, I only want what God wants for me and therefore I can trust him to make it happen.
Geez that was long! Thank you if you got this far.
I’m so grateful for your presence and support; whether you simply read the blog, follow me on Facebook or Instagram, have purchase my art or for whatever reason brings you here, your support of my work means I get to keep doing what I love.
May your 2019 be full of God’s abundance.
