End of the Year Thoughts

     

I have started writing this several times now and I am not really sure what I am wanting to say here.  There wasn't anything that was totally life changing that happened to me this year.  I guess that is a good thing maybe.  A year of peace can be nice, but it wasn't necessarily smooth sailing.  I think that is the beauty of the journey though.  We are constantly growing and being challenged in little and big ways transform us into the people we are suppose to be.  The people God is shaping and growing us into. 

      

     This year was the year of ailments for me.  I have never in my life felt so broken physically.  From breaking my foot.  To achy ankles and feet and back.  To feeling like I was losing my voice.  All these things I use for my lively hood and to have them feel not secure was shaking me.  Challenging where I have placed my significance.  It was humbling and growing.  I know I just turned thirty this year but it was a sobering fact to think that I am getting older.  

     

    This year was also filled with people coming in and out of my life.  From dear friends moving away to maintaining the relationships with friends miles away back home in Missouri.  From setting up boundaries to walking away from relationships that needed to be walked away from to continue me on the journey I have been placed.  I value relationships more the most anything so this was probably the most challenging bit of 2016 for me.  To continue to build community in the new place I am living.  To put myself out there and be vulnerable in order to build authentic friendships.  To realize that some people are just out to use and discard what you bring, and others are there to walk along side and journey with and sharpen.  I have been blessed with some amazing friendships and also blessed with some amazing growing opportunities in learning how to be a better friend and how to not allow relationships that aren't healthy to stay.  

    

      This year I have have had the blessing of getting to spend some quality time with family visiting up in Pennsylvania.  I have been blessed to see my family through fresh eyes and the Lord has been faithful to restore and grow parts of those relationships that needed some help.  I feel like there is more understanding and more grace.  I am so thankful for the growth that I have seen in my Dad and I’s relationship.  Not that things were horrible but I think we are similar creatures and emotions can get lost in the mix.  Im blessed to be able to talk and share and journey with my Dad more than ever now.  

     

      I think overall those are the highlights for me this year.  I think the beauty of what the Lord does in our lives is that it most times is the subtle undercurrent the directs the flow of our lives and if we are sensitive to it, and not fight the direction it is prompting, we will see blessing and growth that is waiting.  I have fought that current at many points this year, no surprise from this stubborn man, but I am thankful the Lord brought me through this year and grew me for the better.  I am blessed with so so much and thankful for the Lords provision in literally every part of my life.  Cheers my friends to the end of this year.  I pray Gods blessing over the final hours of 2016 and pray that next year is filled with Joy, Peace, Growth, Learning, and Freedom!  You are all so Loved!  Rest in that!