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Thursday, December 31, 2009

2009 Reflections

2009 was the first time that I have handwritten in a journal through an entire year. I flipped through my entries and made a list of topics and admit that some noteworthy events at the time were ones that I would have forgotten by today.

New Things
Maybe 2009 should be remembered as the year things broke. Have you had a year like this?

Oven broke...purchased new stainless steel appliances (range/oven, microwave, refrigerator, dishwasher). A bear to keep the outsides clean and polished...grrrrrrrr.

New water heater (hot water for everyone!!)

Told Wonderful Husband I needed a new computer and keyboard, but the monitor was fine. Days later monitor broke...got the "full enchilada."

Modem broke, purchased replacement. Good thing since I was having technology withdrawals!

New Experiences
I am typically a creature of habit, very comfortable with life as planned. 2009 brought some unfamiliar encounters and I believe I adapted well. Are you like me or more adventurous?

Was offered my old job back that I left in January 2008. OK, it would have been half the hours, half the pay and not all the work I used to do. After stressing, praying and talking Wonderful Husband's ear off, I turned it down. I think it was one of my best decisions of 2009.

Heard an immigration story from one of my Bible Study Buddies. She and her family came from Cuba in 1967 when she was five years old. Such courage to come to the U.S. not speaking English, the airplane landing in Miami and the family relocating to PA to become solid, productive and thankful citizens!

Family vacation to Southport, NC -- never been to NC before......loved it! We're keeping NC in mind for future retirement years.

Got called in for an interview (my first interview in about six years). I was very nervous yet I believe brilliant in my responses. (I'm the type who could replay the entire thing and in the past would have thought, "Oh, I should have said this instead of that.") This time I would not have changed a thing. I didn't get the job and looking back over the work environment, must say that I'm thankful.

Facebook. Daughter helped me set it up, explained the different aspects of it, became my first friend. Toward the end of the year, she deleted her Facebook account...I lost my first Facebook friend!

Life Happens
2009 was the year of many events. Some good, some sad.

Daughter crumbles one week into second semester at Bloomsburg University. Wants to quit, doesn't, poor grades. Decides to transfer to West Chester University for Fall 2009. Two weeks in wants to quit, doesn't, poor grades. I see the pattern now. Spring semester starts in January 2010, already paid for...the future is now.

Sister gets divorced after 12 years of marriage. So sad for them and their five year old son.

One nephew gets married. Wonderful couple, wonderful wedding!

Friend from college comes to visit. We catch up with how life has been for the past 20 years (since we've last seen each other). I've never talked so much in my life over the 2.5 days that she visited!

Another nephew and his wife expect their first child. Our nephew is diagnosed with adrenal cancer. I attend the baby shower (haven't been to one in years). Our grand-nephew is born in September. Our much loved nephew (his father) died in December. A blessing with the gift of new life and great sadness over a life ending much too soon.

Son graduates from Bloomsburg University the Saturday before Christmas. Celebration!

God Spoke
After years of hearing other people say how they heard God speak to them...I finally figured out that although I don't hear God's voice, He speaks to me through Scriptures. 2009 was finally the year that I was quiet enough to see 3 examples of God pointing scripture out to me...then it would finally click in my one good brain cell...Hey! I read that yesterday/an hour ago/etc.! It happened over and over again throughout the year. God is good and He is patient!

The One Year Women's Friendship Devotional received from my Maryland friend. We read a week's worth, called each other on Thursdays to talk about them and answer the questions. It helped us focus on our faith. She is a friend with a calm demeanor and personality who after the phone call ends always makes me feel better about life. Do you have a friend like that?

Philippians Bible Study

"To Live Is Christ" - Study of Paul by Beth Moore

Adult Vacation Bible School

Holy Spirit Summer Bible Study - Based on "Relying on the Holy Spirit" by Charles F. Stanley

"Believing God" - Study by Beth Moore

Do you have a New Year's Resolution(s)?

Mine is the same one I've kept for the past two years. I am a card sender. I will continue to send cards of encouragement, sympathy, hope, etc., to people who I see in need of reminding that they are thought of and prayed for.

I believe that 2009 was the year of patience and waiting for me personally. 2010 is the year of hope for me. I am hoping to find a full-time job.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Have a Happy and Hope-filled New Year!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

GPS

This year I received a Global Positioning System (GPS) as a Christmas gift from Wonderful Husband.

I am not a tech-savvy person. I am a geographically-challenged person.

The first time I spread my wings and moved from Dallas to San Angelo, Texas, I tried to read a map to find my way to my new job. I took every wrong turn possible and a 10 minute commute turned into a 30 minute adventure. (It would have been longer but San Angelo in 1980 was a small town).

I have fortunately been married to my map-reading, directionally-accurate Wonderful Husband for 27 years. He would look at a map then give me directions that I could write down in "layman's terms" (right on this street, left onto that street) and voila! I could travel from Point A to Point B (and back to Point A of course).

So years later, there was MapQuest where I could type in Point A and Point B and print a map (useless to me) and also the written directions. Handy dandy! Yet after a few times of doing MapQuest myself, I started asking Wonderful Husband to do it for me.

And now I've been gifted with a GPS. Now I wonder if this gift was for me....or really for him.....Ha!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Peace and Joy to You

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace.
Micah 5:4-5

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you: he is Christ the Lord."
Luke 2:10-11

May your Christmas be filled with peace and joy!

Sunday, December 20, 2009

An Early Christmas Gift

Yesterday our son graduated from Bloomsburg University. It was a 4.5 year journey with only one change in his major from Secondary Ed Chemistry to Secondary Ed Math early in his academic career.

For his last semester, he was student teaching at a local middle school. He taught Pre-Algebra and Algebra to five classes of 8th graders. It was a learning experience for him as well as for the students.

In the auditorium, we listened to his name being announced and watched him walk across the stage to shake multiple hands and then receive his diploma. My heart swelled with pride.

My tears came later when the president told the graduates to "move the tassel from the right to the left side of their caps."

Our son's achievement is our early Christmas gift. After the ceremony, I hugged him and said, "Thank you."

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Thank you Nick

I have a nephew who was born on Christmas Day a few years ago. His name is Nick. On Thanksgiving Day this year we were talking about technology. Facebook in particular. And I told him that I wanted to also have a blog but couldn't come up with a name. He suggested "Aunt Cindy." It was a good suggestion since that is what he calls me, yet I wanted to come up with a really creative and thought-provoking name for my blog.

Once again, I was over-thinking the situation. I do that a lot with situations and conversations. It's something I work on constantly with thoughts swirling around in my head. Then I finally will turn the problem over to God. My thoughts calm, peace once again envelops my soul and all is right with my world.

So although I didn't go with a blog named "Aunt Cindy," I kept it simple since I am Cindy and live in PA.


Thank you Nick.