As we enter into 2010 and I reflect on 2009 I see how much things have changed and how I have grown. 2009 was a rough year. It started out well. I loved working at Cutler Middle School. Don't get me wrong there were days that were rough, but I love working with kids. They provide so much excitement and adventure. Eric and I were blessed with taking a 5 year anniversary trip to the Riviera Maya in Mexico. It was an amazing time to enjoy an all inclusive resort and just simply spend time together.
After we returned from our trip things started to get more challenging.
1) Eric and I have always known and felt that CT is not our home and that we would only be here for a short amount of time. Just before the new year (2009) we seriously prayed through our future and believe that God was telling us our time in CT is coming to an end. We felt an unexplainable pull to Philadelphia area. We started to seriously job search and keep our eyes and ears open. After more than a YEAR of hard searching nothing was coming up.
2) My job at Cutler Middle School was coming to an end. My student was graduating middle school and Cutler was cutting the budget so I was no longer needed for the up coming school year.
3) In 2008, after joining Weight Watchers I lost 20lbs and was finally proud of myself and my body. I was able to keep it off for an entire year. Then I came off birth control in May. I gained 5 lbs in May, 1lb in June, and July, 5 lbs in Aug, 1 lbs again in Sept and then 5 lbs again in Oct. There was no reason. I was working out very hard, I was eating right. In fact nothing had changed since I originally lost the weight in '08 except for being off birth control.
4) We are trying to get pregnant. Instead I keep gaining weight.
5) Started to under go a number of tests: Blood work - lot and lots of it, MRI - to scan for a brain tumor, which there wasn't and many exams. I went from my regular Dr. to my OBGYN to another OBGYN for a second opinion and then was sent to a specialist - Reproductive Endocrinologist in New Haven at Yale Medical Center.
PRAYER is the only thing that got us through 2009. Eric and I kept our focus on God and his plan. I meditated on many verses that I collected throughout the year. The following are some of my favorites that I memorized!
Philippians 4:6 - 7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Jeremiah 29:11 - 13
'For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.'
Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
1 Peter 5:7
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He care for you.
"Thank you, Lord, for helping me grow and getting me through this rough year!" ~ Amen!
