We make our plans and God says...Really???

This has been probably the most interesting holiday season of my life...to say the least. It has definitely been different - not BAD necessarily, just different. WELL, some of it was bad but I can't really get into that part. So, I'll get explain the "different" part. ;-)

I am approaching the end of almost 3 weeks off. My last day of work was Thursday, December 18th and I only worked until 10am that day. I was scheduled to be at an office in Milwaukie and that was the day it snowed really hard in the morning. My mom called, concerned that I wouldn't be able to get the girls off her hill so I left work and went to take them home. By the time I got home, it was starting to melt, but I was nervous that it would start up again and I was traumatized a bit by sliding into my mom's driveway. I am NOT a good driver in the snow. I panic a lot and refuse to drive. SO, I kept the girls home and thus started my vacation...seven hours early. Little did I know that that would be my last time driving for almost a week and a half. The next time I ventured out on my own was the Sunday after Christmas.

The snow was cool. Trav and I both agreed we liked the snow because we liked the change it brought. We both tend to get really worn down with all the holiday festivities and it was sort of nice to have a decision made for you - to be stuck at home. The snow was SO pretty. It was just so refreshing to have a beautiful white fluff blanketing the earth. Yes, it was cold and the snow was too deep to even take the kids on walks, but it sure was beautiful. We managed to get out a little bit. Trav put chains on the car when it really started getting bad - last Monday, I think and we ventured down the road to Office Depot. We did little spin out's in the road and had a blast. Plus, it was DEAD in Office Depot and we let the girls get some energy out for a bit. Better there, than up and down our hall! lol.

All of our "pre-Christmas" activities got rescheduled. Some things were disappointing like my nieces Christmas pagent got cancelled and we couldn't make it to the Nutcracker. :-( But I think the thing I learned most with the snow is that I sure am not in control. I like to make plans - have a plan and call people and discuss the plan. With how quickly things changed, there was really no way I could make plans for even a few hours later without knowing what was going to happen with the weather. I really had to make a conscience decision to just go with the flow. The flow was happening, whether I liked it or not. I could either be a grump (which is often my M.O.) or just reeeeelax.

One thing that Trav and I both commented on - we usually go to my cousin Leanne's on Christmas Eve. That got rescheduled to Saturday night and we both felt like we had the most fun over there this year. We just felt so much more relaxed without thinking about all the upcoming events the next day - or even preparing for Santa to come that night. ;-) Change isn't always a bad thing. This year was definitely weird, though.

I got my Christmas decor down on Monday and Tuesday and all the Christmas presents "unboxed" and put away. That, was a feat in itself with all the ridiculous boxes and wrapping they come in. I still need to get my deep cleaning done, to feel like my house is really "in order" but I have to say, I think this is a record year for getting the stuff cleaned up. It is sort of sad to not have our pretty Christmas lights still hanging up outside, but I don't really miss the tree. With a house as small as ours - any extra stuff REALLY makes it feel cluttered, which in turn makes me uptight and agitated. The only reason I miss the decor is that it feels like Christmas came and was gone so quickly - even though I started listening to Christmas music in November. LOL. I guess I'm glad I miss it...I think I'll just look forward to it even more next year.

Well, as this new year starts, I think back to the blessings of 2008 and what I am thankful for. Number ONE is that my kids stayed healthy this WHOLE fall (THANK YOU LORD) - I prayed VERY earnestly every day for their health and kept up on the vitamins and hand washing. I know I turned slightly manic, but after such a hard year last year, any part I can play in helping us all stay healthy, I am willing to do it.

I am also so thankful for a warm and cozy house. It may be little, but when it was so cold outside - I thanked God for the shelter and provision He has given us. I am thankful that we never lost power or that our furnace never died - as it was running almost constantly!

I am thankful for wonderful friends and family to celebrate the holidays with and who invest their lives in mine and the lives of my kids.

I am SO thankful for God's faithfulness in Travis' journey with school. He has been amazing - opening doors so quickly and easily for OHSU...it was unreal. So much so, that we KNEW without a shadow of doubt that it was God's will. This will be our "pile of rocks" that we need to turn and look at when we have times of doubt or trials that will come with the rocky road of being in dental school and having a family as well as figuring out all of the financial aspects that go along with that.

I am also very thankful for the place God has me right now. We are all on a journey in our walk with Him, but for so long I have been prepping myself for this time of year. January is not a good month for me. In 2008, January's depression spiraled into 6 months of really hard times. The last half of the year, I have tried to do some spiritual "training" to get my mind and heart in a good spot where I am not motivated on external forces but with an inner passion that is fueled by my relationship with the Father. I feel like it has paid off - so far. Granted - I am not even one full day into January (lol) but I feel like I am in a much better spot than in years past. NOW, if this year, I can add PHYSICAL training into the mix, I will be in a good spot all around. Baby steps, I guess. I need to start with my heart condition and then move to my fat condition. LOL!

I believe 2009 will be a year of growing our faith and strengthing our passion and desire to follow Him with all of our hearts.

Here's to a new year!