2010 started off as a great year. My wonderful husband surprised me with a gorgeous hotel in January for my birthday. We spend the weekend away and had a fantastic time.
In February, my highlight was our Valentines Day Retreat with other couples from our church. It was their first year hosting it and it was great to have time away to learn about how to better our marriages, spend time together and grow closer to the Lord.
A few of my sisters' visited me in March. Having family visit is always a precious time that I don't take for granted!
I don't remember anything distinctive in April, but I do remember my back being very bad at this time and I was getting to a point of desperation and wondering what I would do next. I was in therapy and we started to wonder if a more serious remedy was needed.
In May, my dad allowed my sister Mary to come and stay with us for a month. My back had gotten so bad (I had a severe herniated disk) that I could hardly lift my children or do housework. She was a huge help to me and it was that month that I was able to rest a lot and continue therapy. The Lord healed me. He taught me so much spiritually and I wouldn't trade that trial for anything. (In May, my little girl also turned 3!)
4 years of marriage was celebrated in June! Our official "Anniversary trip" was taken at the beginning of July. In the middle of July I visited my family and because my dad was also having severe back problems, I ended up staying for almost a month. I missed my husband so bad but I was glad I was able to be here as my Mom was at the hospital all day and my sisters and I were able to keep the house running and meals made. The Lord was so good and since then, my dad's back has also gotten much better!
August I was back home enjoying the last month of summer, in the 100's every day!
We had a big 1 year old birthday party in September! My little boy turned one after a year that flew by way too fast for my liking! We had a monkey themed party with his little buddy Greg. :)
October was a fun and very busy month! I shot my first wedding and had a blast, and my Mom and 2 little sisters arrived, followed by more family a few weeks later. 2 more siblings came after a Missions trip to Romania and my Aunt arrived to visit her son who lives near us. We enjoyed a full week of a fantastic missions conference at our church.
At one point, our whole family of 15, my cousin, Aunt and a friend were all staying in the house. To say it was a blast would be an understatement! I love my family!
Thankfulness was on my mind as we came upon November and Thanksgiving. This year I was just so full of Thankfulness to the Lord for all the blessings that we don't deserve. I felt overwhelmed by all the blessing he had bestowed upon us. My husbands family, my cousin and some friends joined us for Thanksgiving dinner.
December was the hardest month of my life. We got a call saying that a distant cousin, age 19, had died suddenly. A few days later, my old Pastor's brother had a heart attack and went to Heaven. He was in his 50's and it was very unexpected. That same morning, a great friend of our family and our church was tragically hit by a car as he was outside his vehicle trying to help someone who has slid off the road. He lived about 24 hours after he was hit and Jesus took him home. He left behind a wife and 8 children. It hit everyone very hard. The news of his death spread quickly and the Lord worked in miraculous ways that I cannot even begin to write here. On Christmas Eve I watched his widow and sons sing "When we all get to Heaven" with strength as I sat there and cried watching them. Please continue to pray for grace and strength for their family.
The Lord taught me so much, brought me through so much and I feel immensely blessed this New Years Day.
Happy New Year to you All. May God bless you in your resolutions or commitments you have made this year!
