Farewell 2009

2009 was quite.a.year.

How to wrap it up- these 12 months that were filled with many profits, several losses, and was horrid and fabulous all in one? Here's some sort of attempt...

In 2009, my family had some major ups and downs. Our lives were changed semi-drastically more than once. My husband began a new job, my son began high school, my girls became pre-teens. We became more flexible, less confident, quicker to count blessings. And God was there.

I made new friends- most of them through this blog. I flew to Washington, Texas, & San Fransisco. Each time I traveled with/met up with several cool chicks that changed my life forever. I lost a dear friendship. That changed me too. I became more hopeful, less trusting, stronger, wiser, and quicker to pray and ask for prayer. And God was there.

We battled illness after illness after illness. My son went into anaphylactic shock. I was diagnosed with mystery asthma. There were lots and lots of tests. I didn't get cured but I became more patient and learned powerful lessons about dependence and non-situational joy. And God was there.

I lost 21 pounds. I hired a maid. I move around better in my home and in my body now, though I have far to go on both counts. I cried with friends who lost their fathers, friends who powered through amazing crises, friends that got bad news, friends whose children were desperately ill, friends who became desperately ill, family whose hearts were broken, and friends who were betrayed. I found that trials really do either kill you or make you stronger. I know some pretty strong women now. And God was there.

I love my family with more love that I knew was possible. I'm getting better at showing them that's true. My husband and I celebrated 18 years of a miracle of a marriage. And God was there.

The last bit of fun I had this year was with my two best friends from high school- we've been friends longer than we haven't- and I laughed and cried and thanked God for the gift of chicks that encourage me to lean on Jesus. It was a good way to end this crazy year. And God was there.

I have never been so close nor so far from God as I have been this year. I thank God that the one constant of the last 12 months was that He was there- even when I was off trying to fix things on my own. I praise God for who He was and who He is and who He ever shall be.

I look forward to 2010- I pray for each of you that you will have a year full of blessings immeasurable... and no matter what the year holds, that you will know that God is there.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?

Or where can I flee from Your presence?

If I ascend into heaven, You are there;

If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.

 If I take the wings of the morning,

And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,

 Even there Your hand shall lead me,

And Your right hand shall hold me.

Psalm 129:7-10

Quick Takes

Hello!
I'm still enjoying Christmas Vacation with my family, but I wanted to check in real quick with a few short items:

#1 CLICK RIGHT HERE to see my BFF's take on our day of adventures yesterday. What a breath of fresh air it was to have a whole day to just hang with someone who not just knows me so very, very well but who encourages and challenges me to follow Him. Oh, and as you'll see as you read, she's a hoot, too.

.

#2 If you're praying about joining our Safari through the Book of Daniel study, here's an update...
I've been working on the study all day today, and have determined that the plan to make it a 4 week study (each week having four units to study) is not going to work right... instead, it'll be a 12 week study (each week having one unit to study.)  I'm aiming to have the first week ready to go when my kids go back to school- January 11.  I'm really excited to see this all coming together, and hope you're not freaked out by the new timeline. Though we'll go much longer, I think it'll make it much more doable- less of a burden. The smaller bites and longer time should give us the opportunity to really dig in and study, rather than rush through so we can keep up.   Let me know what you think about this idea.

#3 I did, indeed, get my Vera Bradley laptop case. *Cue the Hallelujah Chorus* I am a spoiled girl. Thank you for rooting for me! I've never really been a designer bag gal, but I have to say my heart flipped a bit when I opened the beautiful box and saw this bit of fabulousness.

Okay, well, back to writing the study and enjoying my family. Tomorrow is going to be an amazing day of goodness... hanging with some people I love (S4J & ForceDotMom!!!!) and their kids at a local mini golf park, and then jammin' out to praise music. So.very.exciting!

Hope I can sleep tonight!!!  Happy Days after Christmas, my friends!

God the Father knew you and chose you long ago, and his Spirit has made you holy. As a result, you have obeyed him and have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ.
May God give you more and more grace and peace.
The Hope of Eternal Life All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.

1 Peter 1:2-4

Another Draft

photo from the Christmas Cards that never happened.

I have started and quit about 8 posts since I last blogged. So much is going on around here! Nothing exciting, just the day to day stuff- wrapping things up so that these next few days can be enjoyed without trying to fill last minute deadlines. I finished Christmas shopping early for a change, I abandoned the idea of sending out cards for my personal sanity, I wrote newsletters, went to meetings, and trained my little heart out. It's all finished, just in the nick of time. And now...it's time to focus.

Tonight I get to serve during our Christmas Eve services. I'm praying that I won't even for one moment look at it like it's work (even though it's my job as Children's Ministry Staff) but instead look at it as an offering... a heart that's fixed on serving him on the eve of the day we celebrate His birthday. The whole family is pitching in and somehow, it feels perfect.

When we get home tonight we'll hang stockings and open our traditional Christmas Eve gifts (every year we open new jammies to wake up in on Christmas morning) We'll read the Christmas account from the Bible, and then the kids will go to bed.  When we wake up, there will be new gifts under the tree, and the stockings will be overflowing.

Even though the kids are getting older now, they'll still look for the baby Jesus from our nativity set before they open even one gift. It's our little way to make sure we remember what we're really celebrating. We'll open presents, empty the stockings, and then have our annual silly string fight in the front yard. My family will come over for brunch later in the day. It's likely we'll never get out of our jammies, even when we go visit my Grandpa at the retirement center where he lives.

This draft could be last year's- it goes pretty much the same every year- but there's no guarantee that it'll be true in the Christmases to come.  The kids are growing quickly, and the times are changing even faster. I'm determined to slow down and enjoy our little traditions, to soak it all in, to be thankful. No matter what gifts I'll open tomorrow morning, (even if they have the signature of Vera Bradley herself-squee!), none shall be better than the gift that was predicted all those years ago-

For a child is born to us, a son is given to us.The government will rest on His shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

May God richly bless each of you, my friends.  If you could only know what treasures you are to me...

Merry Christmas-

Boundaries.

us: Well, you don't like our ideas about dating? What do you think the rules should be?

he: I think you should just trust my judgment.

us: BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

And thus started a new chapter in our lives. Life with a very independent 14 (and a half) year old boy. I have a jillion thoughts about boundaries. My son disagrees with nearly every single one. To him, boundaries are oppressive and offensive and unnecessary. To me, he looks like a beginning swimmer wanting to dive into the middle of the Pacific, confident he can make it to shore. And he wants me to trust him.

There's a reason swimming lessons happen in pools or in lagoons where the water is calm and there are lifeguards and edges. When you're learning, it's not safe to be where there are riptides and undertow and sharks... you need the security of the boundaries that are in place. even if they seem like they're holding you back.

Too often, I would see parents neglect to set up boundaries for their children and I would judge them. What's so hard here? I'd wonder. And then I got a teen of my own- and I got to see someone I love push and shove and test these boundaries. I'm done judging. I know why people don't do it...because though I'm sticking to my guns, and though I know it's for the greater good... it's hard. Holding back the current is EXHAUSTING and HEARTBREAKING and FRUSTRATING and....

excessively rewarding.  

Don't tell my kids I said this- but each time they try to knock against the rules we've set up here I know that means they're thinking for themselves. They're trying out their skills in these safe parameters where I can help them if they struggle- way before they drown.  I'm thankful they're doing this now, so they can build up the skills they need before they are out there- without me, without a lifeguard, without the walls of a pool or the beaches of a safe marina.

My only goal- my constant quest- is to make sure they know their Life Preserver- the only way they're going to be safe out there in that crazy, boundary-less world.

(oh, and hopefully, come out of this alive too... whew!)

When you go through deep waters,I will be with you.When you go through rivers of difficulty,you will not drown.When you walk through the fire of oppression,you will not be burned up;the flames will not consume you.

Isaiah 43:2

ps: I'm featured over HERE... stop by and say hi to Melissa at A Familiar Path... you'll LOVE her- and not just 'cause she has the cutest baby in the world.

Getting ready to Safari through Daniel

A few posts ago, I wrote this post asking if any of you would be interested in doing a Bible study through the book of Daniel with me. I've had some time to pray about it and work on it a little, and now I've decided that either I am a crazy madwoman for taking on such a crazy task, or I am about to see God do a miracle.

likely both.

Anyhoo, some of you expressed that you might be interested, so I put together this little introduction e-booklet that you can look over and see if you really want to be my guinea pigs.  In a couple of weeks, I'll release the start date and then will gather email addresses from everyone who wants to take a little 4 week journey through the book of Daniel.  You can view the e-booklet by clicking HERE.

I'm thrilled and terrified all at once... I'll keep you posted!

Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:7-9

All is calm, all is bright. (a long rambly post about topics which are barely related)

Oh, my friends, I wish I could take a picture of my view from this spot right here on my couch, but then I'd have to get up and I just can't want to. It's raining outside and I have the drapes pulled wide open. My tree is sparkly and my fireplace is burning. My son is working on homework next to me on his laptop, the beagle Sydney Bristow is sleeping on her dogbed, the girls are in the other room writing another one of their 'chapter books.' There's dinner in the crockpot (pulled chicken sandwiches) and I'm listening to Christmas music with my favorite blanket wrapped around my legs and my laptop on my lap. Upstairs I have a new book waiting for me to read tonight... and it's a bonus that it's written by the husband of a dear friend. I am totally jammified. I have this wonderful sensation that all is calm, all is bright.

Last night my brother and mom and my sister-in-love came over for fondue at our home. It was so nice for all of us to be able to get together and dip healthy food into unhealthy elements to make delicious creations. We had a Pesto Fondue, lowfat fondue, a steak fondue, a tempura fondue and a chocolate fondue. My kids were so happy, the menfolk were so happy, and the chicks- we were so happy. Really, how can you go wrong with cheese and chocolate? I highly recommend this activity! Such a good time!

I have noticed that my mood lately has gotten considerably better as the weather cools down, and the lights go up, and the days grow shorter. I know that it's really unfair to say that it's cold here when it's a balmy 43 degrees right now, but it's just cold enough to warrant cute boots and warm sweaters and NOT SWEATING. By the way, in case you're new here, my favorite weather is NOT SWEATING. Not sure why I'm here in the hotter-than-the-sun Inland Empire, but I do know this: I am REALLY enjoying this season.

There are changes afoot in the His Girl home. I blame it at least partly on hormones. (Not mine...I try not to blog about those in respect for my teensy male reader population) but those of the people formerly known as babies who live in my house. For example, the girls, once adorable toddlers, are now preteens in full force. For us, that means very very fun and sweet and intelligent and mature ladies one minute and OH MY GOSH WHAT ON EARTH JUST HAPPENED? emotional wrecks the next.

Also, My son, (who used to be the little boy who loved his Momma best of all) now has a girlfriend. A GIRLFRIEND! How did we get here already??? We are all as a family learning about trust and independence and privacy.It's a delicate balance and though it's really giving me grey hairs (and an emotional breakdown or two)- I have to confess I am loving this stage of life. I like working through these big life issues and getting glimpses of who my children are becoming. And though these early teen years are not even close to how perfect I hoped they'd be, they're nowhere near as bad as I feared. 

The best part is that while I am helping my children learn in this new phase of life, I am learning more about God in the process. I'm constantly mindful of my Heavenly Father as I talk to this boy about why we have rules and why we expect so much from him. I'm increasingly more aware of how unpleasant it sounds to God when I whine and argue and spaz out as I am trying to teach my girls about controlling emotions and letting things go.  I am blessed by His forgiveness and awed by His willingness to give a second chance, again and again. I'm discovering if I open my eyes, I can see God around every corner... and I think that's pretty cool.

Okay, this post has gone on far too long. I hope you found a little nugget for yourself in this rambly post today. Be blessed. Remember Jesus. Love without hesitation this Christmas.

Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us. And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement as we wait patiently for God’s promises to be fulfilled.

Romans 15:4

San Francisco...

Had a tremendous time in San Francisco last week with my BeFri, Brandy. The problem about not blogging about something right away is that you lose the momentum because, well, LIFE starts happening and then, well... you can't remember what you were so excited to blog about. That's what happens to me, anyway.

Which is why I'm going to post a few pictures (except I'm not because the pictures are on my old computer so I'll give you a link to the unedited ones over here at this location so I can post this already: LINK) and let them speak for the quick little 3 days I jetted off to SF, rode BART, chilled in a great hotel that HAPPENED to be named the POWell, had some great time alone with Jesus while Brandy was at her conference, ate some great food recommended by God's Guitar Girl (who is engaged! woo hoo!) near Chinatown, rode a cable car to Fisherman's warf and had yummy clam chowder, shopped, laughed, and enjoyed the sights, met up with Rob and Jen (friends from high school) and their son, Tristan, who live locally and generously showed us all the sights like Lombard Street, the Golden Gate Bridge, lots of beautiful old houses, Haight & Ashbury, and introduced us to Ethiopian food (quite enjoyable) and then took us to the airport. 'Twas a whirlwind trip, but it totally flipped a switch in me- from 'Mad Frenzy' to 'Reasonable Frenzy'... :)  Mostly, it was just good to see my Be Fri and get away for a while. Thanks, Bran... what a great time- and just what I needed!

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.

John 6:35