Wow!!! I have being meaning to post for some time now as I knew it had been awhile, but had no clue it has been almost a whole year!! My last post was April 2012. I guess that is really proof on how time truly flies by. So now I have a whole year to reflect on. When I look back through this past year the general theme in my life has been "Blessed Beyond the Curse." Why, you may ask? The answer is actually very simple. No matter how hard the world tries to knock us off our feet, our foundation is so rooted in Christ that I can not help but realize how blessed we are even though the circumstances are against us.
Last April was a generally happy time, my husband and son were back home, we were on track to buying a new home, and life seemed like it would start looking more "normal" for our family. However our worst fear at the time, was coming true. Steve's mom was getting sicker and weaker and it was obvious that aside from some sort of miracle, she would not have much time left with us here on earth. Being that we had known for over a year that her body was full of cancer, I had the idea that as hard as it would be to lose her, that we were somehow more prepared because we had known for so long. We lost her June 7th, and then I realized how wrong, very very wrong, I had been. More than 9 months later, I am still struggling with the loss. We had grown very close in the couple years before this, especially when my husband was out of the home. We talked daily, sometimes for hours, as well as skyped so her and the kids could "see" each other. (Side note: She lived 5 hours away, making real visits less possible than we would have liked.) She was my second rock (God first) throughout the horrible nightmare we were stuck in. Even though that was over, she was still the person I called along with my own mom, every time there was anything to share, big or small. That is one of the biggest things I struggle with, not being able to call her when I normally would have, that piece will always be missing I am afraid.
We were fortunate to spend Easter with her, along with about a week in May over Mother's Day, and I will always cherish that time. During all that we were finalizing the purchase of our new house, which had been basically a big surprise Gift from God. June 1st after we had closed, we called to tell them the good news, and it was then that his Dad said that she had been put on hospice just that day. We had such a joyous day planned at the new house, had a picnic planned with the kids there to celebrate. It was so hard to deal with two very different emotional events at once, and to keep it together for the kids. We then managed to get somethings started at the new house (we had to be out of the rental by end of June so was push-shove) so that Steve could go back up to spend the final days with his mom. Then there was the trip for the funeral, as well as the funeral close to home for my uncle that passed unexpectedly 2 days before my mother-in-law. It was a mess. When we were back home we worked our tails off to get the house ready and to get all moved in within the time frame, we literally moved the last of our things from the rental on the last day possible!
In the midst of all of this, we were so blessed to find a new church home that was pretty close to home. (Yes 13 miles is close when you live in the middle of farmville!) It was amazing how we just fit right in. Very small, spirit filled, and a handful of large families. May not be everyone's dream church, but it is ours. One of the best parts? Meeting my now bestie and hitting it off like we had known each other for years. I had prayed for a friend like this since we had moved down here, that was almost 3 years! I had friends sure, but not THAT kind of friend. The kind you can tell anything to without fear of judgement, the kind that knows you are not perfect but doesn't care, the kind that will pray for you without second thought, the kind that every time you talk you realize you have even more in common with, the kind that makes it a priority to check in with you if you haven't talked for a few days, the kind that makes you KNOW that you are truly loved and blessed. God knows are every need, our every desire, and he has yet to leave me hanging. I am so thankful that he brought Lisa into my life, and not a moment to late.
This is just a part of why we are so Blessed Beyond the Curse and I plan on this being a several part post as there is so much more. Happy Spring!!!
