Hello 2010

I know today is the 10th day of this new year 2010, but I've been reading everyone's resolutions & recaps of 2009 and I feel like I want to too. I seriously can't believe how fast time has passed by. When I think back, I feel as if I haven't succeeded in anything in life & 2 years have passed by. But I've been thinking & I feel like although I may not be in school, furthering my education, I'm doing what I love for God.



Learning
This past year I've learned to become a better person (still working on that), I'm learning to LET GO of the good things & the bad. I'm learning to love myself more than I ever did. I'm learning to balance things in my life (God, Family,Work,etc.) There was so much that happened this year & I just cant believe how fast we're already moving into the new year.




Life-Changing Experiences
This year I had a lot of life-changing experiences. We have a woman's group at church & our coordinator for this past year planned a wonderful woman's sleepover/getaway for us. We ate, we cried, we laughed, went on a hike, dressed up, shared our feelings, and found sisters. What more could I have asked for. We learned to become better wives & how to love our husbands more than we ever did. We learned to understand men, which I'm pretty sure every girl is curious about. And so much more.




A couple weeks after our woman's getaway, we also attended a Woman of Faith Conference that was taking place in Portland. Not too far from where we all live, but we decided to seize the weekend & make it a sleep over. That weekend was just incredible. There were so many great woman there speaking to us. They shared their most inspiring stories to us & it just touched me so much. I especially loved Sheila Walsh's story & testimony. I've been going through a lot in life, I know I'm not alone, there are tons of people who are going through probably the same thing or even worse. But I just really needed that push & encouragement. Sheila Walsh just really opened my eyes to see what was beyond what I could handle. She showed me how I could lighten my shoulders from burdens that I was holding on to. To just let go of even grudges & pain I didn't even know I had. She was just a HUGE inspiration. Check out the video below if you feel the same way I do.



During the Woman of Faith Conference, I felt something. I felt a change in me. Something, or someone tugging at my heart. I then knew that God had sent these wonderful ladies to open our hearts & not just that but also our eyes to see the world much more than our own backyard. We were all introduced to World Vision & I just knew I had to do something. I never felt in my life that I was doing any goodness. And this was my chance. So I am now proud to say that I am sponsoring a little girl in Bolivia named Aracely. We have just begun this new adventure & I'm so excited.

Then not too long after the Woman of Faith Conference, I was asked to chaperon our churches youth group as they go to The Revolve Tour. What that is, is a Conference made for Youth girls. It's made to reach out to our girls of today & what they are going through & what they will be going through. They talk about how to deal with boys & that boys are different from girls. It was an awesome bonding time with the girls. I, along with my sister-in-law & cousin went along as chaperon's. I hosted the girls at my house & we would stay up both nights & discuss what we've learned. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to grow a closer relationship with these girls. Again, we laughed & cried & poured our hearts out. It was so life changing to see how the conference impacted their lives. We were so excited to find out that a girl that we had invited to go with us had accepted Jesus Christ & we were over filled with joy. We decided to make plans & make sure this year we will fund raise & work hard so that when the next Revolve Tour takes place again we can sponsor more girls to go with us to hear God's Word & we also want to donate money to World Vision "a Christian humanitarian charity organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice." I was just so amazed at how inspired each and everyone of these girls were. I can't wait till next year.




Family
Like I said earlier, I was going through a lot in 2009. So much pain & stress. There were so many times that I would find myself lost & alone. But after Woman of Faith, I learned to Let Go of all that & reunited with my family. After over a year of no contact with my parents & most of my family, We finally started talking again & seeing each other again. I can't say we are doing swell. But I'm willing to slowly work it out. And I'm happy about that. We were able to spend Thanksgiving & Christmas together which is always wonderful. Not just that but God also gave me opportunities to reunite with family that I haven't seen in years. During the summer I was able to attend our HKM Annual Church Conference in Sacramento, CA and I was able to meet up with a whole bunch of people I haven't seen in years. That itself was just a blessing.




Love
My loving husband and I have gone through a lot this year. I know not just us, everyone does. But we had our ups & downs. There were times that God truly tested us. But I'm glad that we surpassed them with His help. I wouldn't be the person that I am today without him. My husband and I are working together each day to become a better spouse to each other. He has his moments and I have mine. But I think there's been so many life changing experiences for me, that he has changed along the way too. Thanks hun, if you are reading this, I love you very much & I can't wait till we hit our 5 year mark. I also can't wait to spend my eternity with you. Love you so much & thanks for dealing with me. You are my everything. And I am excited to go through another adventure with you this new year.




God
I can't say enough, do enough, or type enough, how thankful I am to have Him in my life. I thank God for everything I have. I know I am not a perfect person. I have my failures and my sins. But yet he never fails me. He accepts me & loves me no matter what. Through those times of pain & sorrow & loneliness, He loved me the most. He lifted me up & took my burdens away. Everyday He is teaching me to love Him even more. Thank you Lord, You are my Abba Father and You are my all in all. Thank You for creating me & guiding me in my every way. You are truly amazing to me. You've closed some doors but every time You do, You open another one. You truly show me Your ways. Thank You Lord. You give me the strength & the courage to do things I've never thought I would. You've showed me how to get passed my fears, & struggles & pray that You continue to. Thank You Lord.




Quick Resolutions for 2010
-Get my license
-Register for Beauty School
-Be Organized
-Finish reading the Bible
-Spend less & Save more
-Eat healthy & exercise
-Help the homeless & Volunteer
-Keep in touch with Family
-Grow closer to God
-Smile more