December 2004---started blogging, had an awesome experience thanks to friends we've never met, Christmas came to our house! Had a great visit with my dad and step-mom, the kids loved having Nana and Papa at our home for Christmas.
January 2005---Jerry took three trips for YM interviews, none of which panned out in the end. Though we did have a fun trip to SC, a mini family vacation at least.
February 2005---Both of my children had semi-monumental birthdays. Nick turned 10 and Elisabeth turned 5. Wow, time does fly!
March 2005---Frustration at waiting to see where God would lead us. Many phone interviews, and a few "in person" interviews. It was also the "anniversary" of Jerry's resignation from our "former" church. Rough times...
April 2005---Jerry was offered, and accepted, a full-time YM position. We were so excited to be going to this new place.
May 2005---Jerry started his new position, I was a single mom for the month, and we packed to get ready for a move, all while working full-time, tutoring and holding a part-time job! Elisabeth graduated from preschool too!
June 2005---Moved to our new town, started getting to know the youth. By the end of the month, I really fell in love with our church and our youth. Nick broke his knee cap during VBS/Youth Week while playing "wall ball" in the gymnasium, and played all afternoon in the wicked waves caused by a lovely summer thunderstorm at the beach.
July 2005---Very stressful month. Once things started going downhill, it just got harder and harder to enjoy life. The plus for this month was our Mission trip to Charleston, WV! My mom got to come and stay with the kids, and we had an awesome trip. So many "Green Tea Moments"!!! Another great thing this month was meeting Chet and Derek---you guys wrok!!!
August 2005---Kids started school, attended for two weeks and we moved! Back to the Tampa side of the state, started jobs and found out how great friends can be once again!
September 2005---The month from hell, from our era from hell! We ended up in homeless limbo, stayed with friends, stayed in a hotel, stayed in an RV....yeah, that wasn't fun. There were some very stressful moments this month! Finally did find a place to live, after Nick ended up with some major allergy/asthma problems from one place! Oh, we did meet Jeff and Heather, that was a good thing!
October 2005---Finally got into our place. It wasn't without flaws, that's for sure! No furntiure for the entire month, everything in storage on the other side of the state. Major vehicle problems, don't even want to rehash them! No A/C, nasty water, leaky faucets and pipes---yeah it wasn't a smoothe move. Cool thing though, Nick was voted VP of Student Council, and he received an invitation to go on a "People to People" trip as an ambassador (though it costs too much for us to swing).
November 2005---Got our "stuff" finally!!! Jerry almost broke his leg (moving said "stuff"). Started really feeling the stress, had a couple of major meltdowns/shutdowns. Got our van back, though far from perfect. Thanksgiving was awesome, church hopping came to an end. Started attending St. James UMC, for the time being at least!
December 2005---I discovered the perfect analogy of our situation..."It’s always winter, but never Christmas. It seems this curse just can’t be lifted. Yet in the midst of all this ice and snow, Our hearts stay warm cause they are filled with hope." I haven't had any more meltdowns, but the stress has definitely gotten to me. We've had a great Christmas together as a family, and I'm hoping that this great holiday is the start of something new for us.
After 22 months of almost constant stress, I'm ready for a new year!!! New opportunites await, new roads to travel. Continuing good jobs, kids in good schools, kids playing soccer, involvement in new ministries, starting work toward finishing my degree, a wonderful family, children who are awesomly flexible and resilient....yup, good things have got to be ahead!
"'Cause when it’s always Winter, but never Christmas, Sometimes it feels like you’re not with us. But deep inside our hearts we know, That you are here and we will not lose hope."
"For I know the plans I have for you,...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. I will be found by you," declares the Lord. --Jeremiah 29:11-14a
