2019 - A Year In Review

My Word for 2019 was "Word". Specifically I wanted to focus on The Word, Jesus! I wanted Him to be in, through, and around all that went on in 2019! And looking back, He was! I might not have focused as much on His word as much I wanted, but I grew, I depended, I looked to Him even more! But even more than that, as I think about "words" that would describe 2019 the first one unfortunately would be hard. Hard because 2019 pushed us farther in our trust, in our health, in our finances, in our time management, BUT I am also learning that hard is not the same as bad! So lets look back... Jan- Apr was like most other years except we didn't have a bathroom downstairs. We started what we thought was a simple bathroom fix, but when we ripped the floors up, found water damage down to the subfloor!! We ripped out what we could and hired a friend to replace the subfloor. Our thought was to fix it and get new floors as we could afford them and put it in ourselves. We continued on in our homeschool and life as normal. But it seems, looking back, that as soon as April hit, it was full force ahead! I finished our CC year at the beginning of April and closed out my time as director for F/E. What a sweet time the last 4 years have been as I have worked with the other homeschool families, but the Lord was calling me to move onward and upward. I was looking ahead to Direct Challenge!! The day after our closing program, we jumped in the car and traveled to Indiana! Kyle was to speak at a mens conference and I got to know some friends better. After a few days we left there and headed to the big city of Chicago! The rest of April, May, and June were a blur as P finished Challenge 1, S played baseball again and fell in love with another sport (his team was undefeated and S made All-stars!) E finished her sophomore year, Kyle traveled both to Banner again and Synod was in PA as they met with the RPs. In July I found myself back in Appalachia on the mission trip. I haven't been on this trip since Iz was little, but this trip has always had such a huge impact on my life, and it was great to experience this with Iz and Pete! After camp we traveled to VA so Kyle could do special services at Old Providence. (see a theme of traveling and speaking, which even though was great was taxing and not always relaxing/restful). BUT what came out of this trip was a stronger bond with who I now call dear friends! We both realized that yes, we are cut from the same cloth, but we also found a support and place of refuge that Kyle would later in the year rest on! August came in like a whirlwind as we took a quick trip to the beach to spend a few days with Iz before she returned to Due West, moved her in, but also at the same time found out that Kyle had a ulcer sore on his foot caused by diabetes. He decided to drastically change some things eating wise, but was still run down and stressed. So most of September was spent almost in a turmoil as he processed or tried to change things while still running 90 miles a minute. All the while, my 2 younger kids changed the location of their CC campus, S started challenge, and I hung on every week as I soaked in what I could for CH2 so I could hopefully be the lead learner and direct the conversations (this was time consuming and a lot of work, but so worth it!). Then came Sept 23rd. Kyle and I were so stressed. We had Finally ordered our new floors a week before (Yes, back from last Jan when first started the project and the thought was that we could slowly put them in over Oct, Nov, and Dec as time allowed. Ha!), but in the stress of that, tight finances, no time, his health, trying to get everything done with school, we were constantly bickering and fussing, even that morning. He left in a huff to go to a doctors appointment, which he found out that part of his toe had to be removed. So much to process...Now he was going to laid up for at least 2 weeks, when were we going to get the floors done, more bills now, that his brain frizzed! He had what they call a mini-stroke. I found out as I got a call from his mom to tell him to get in the ambulance (what??). The next few days was filled with tests, doctors, hospitals, starting to figure out whats important! The church was SO good to Kyle and really all 6 of us! The gave him a medical sabbatical to rest and process, AND to help us by hiring someone to come in and get our floors done and our toilet working downstairs so that stress would be off us (I am crying while I write this because that was SUCH a huge blessing!) Those next 8 weeks were hard still though as Kyle and I had to come to grips with how we process stress, how to cope, what is important, how we relate to each other during the ups and downs, where our strength and help comes from! God was so good and blessed us with many friends that came along beside us (1 of the things I learned was to look for the helpers and make sure that I can be a help to others too later as they struggle!). Meanwhile with all this, we tried to keep other things normal for the family. P continued with cross country, S played football (he made the All-star team for football too where they called him Slim Shady. He was so good and loved it!), M continued with piano and picked up cycling where she rode in her first race in Oct, and E did great in school, made ODK, and made the deans list! I am so proud of my kiddos! Kyle went back to the church in Nov and has done SO well both in handling/processing things, in eating healthier (he has lost 55 lbs so far), and in our relationship. I can honestly say that yes, 2019 was hard and busy and stressful, but we came thru it stronger, closer, more dependent, and thankful!! As I sit here and think about 2020, I am looking forward to it! My word for next year is going to be Still/Rest! yes, 2019 influenced that decision/leading, but it is more than removing things to do! It is looking to Him in the stillness. To be still in my soul knowing He is the author and perfecter of my faith. What better pace to be! I am going to take things as they come knowing that He is in control! I am going to "rest", be refreshed, and trust in Him so together I can do what He has placed before me! "I can do all things thru Him who gives me the strength!" just Be STILL and know that He is God!