My Reflections of a Rough 2014 (I still managed to find the blessings among the chaos)

 

Since yesterday we looked forward to 2015, I thought today’s post should be a look back on 2014. This was a tough year. Financially hardships, almost losing our home, my hubby almost losing his job, too many anxiety flare ups to count, relationships strained, trust lost, having to see an OBGYN office that I’m not fond of, having to sell our second car, etc. etc. etc. So much negative happened that it’s almost hard to see the good or the lesson’s learned. But I would be doing the Lord a disservice if I did not give credit to the blessings that have happened this year.

1. We found out we were expecting baby #4! Call me crazy, but I don’t care if it’s your first or tenth-babies are something to always be celebrated!

2. My husband and I have had the best year of marriage. Seriously! I have fallen more in love with that man through these trials than I could have ever imagined. We still have areas to grow in-but I can’t imagine this journey of life without being at his side.

3. I hit my one year mark of nursing baby #3. This was a huge deal. I was never able to nurse my first two babies, so this accomplishment meant a lot.

4. God has revealed many areas in where I need work. This could be looked at as a negative, but I am the kind of person who needs direction at times. I don’t want to go through life thinking I’m doing okay when I’m just not. I wanna work on myself. I want to strive harder each day for holiness.

5. I’ve gotten comfortable in my loneliness. This sounds pathetic, but please don’t take it that way. I’ve been out of the social loop for quite some time. No mama friends around here. I haven’t had a mama friend, or someone in the same stage of life as me in years. It used to really eat me up in side. But after reading the beginning of Jessica Turner’s Fringe Hours, I’ve realized that, “all things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.” Just because having friends to hang out with would be wonderful-it doesn’t mean it’s something I need in this stage of life. Our home needs work-in a spiritual sense-so that’s where I need to be focused right now. There will come a time where shopping trips and playdates will fill my calendar, but right now I have work to do.

6. Seeing my children grow in their excitement about Jesus. The older two are 4 and 5, and they have been at a point where they just love to read the Bible and pray for other people. London is only one, but he’ll exclaim “Amen!” after prayer. This excitement has really opened mommy and daddy’s eyes to how important our influence on little people really is.

7. I started on my manuscript. I’ve had this book planned for about two years. It has pressed on my heart in a big way. I just never considered myself a real writer, and that lack of confidence really held me back. I’ve been in love with writing since a child, but I never thought it would be a calling for me. Through the urging of my family (especially my dad, who is also writing a book right now) I began to label myself a writer, commit to writing daily, and commit to finishing my manuscript by the end of 2015. It’s been very liberating!

8. We had our first family beach vacation! My husband’s grandparents took us all to the beach for a few days. It was right after my morning sickness had curbed, so we needed this time together. Hearing my kids laugh seeing the ocean for the first time will ring in my ears for a lifetime.

9. We finally put our home up for sale. This is such a big deal. We’ve had the desire to move to Asheville for a for years, but were a bit timid to make the first step. Well, that has all changed! Our house is up and we are really seeking God to get us to the mountains!

10. My little sis had her first baby. This is definitely a BIG one for the year. There’s nothing like becoming a mama for the first time. I was giddy with excitement through her entire pregnancy. She lives in KY, so we texted through most of her very long labor. Now I have an extremely beautiful niece that I get to brag about. Praise the Lord!

So see-I can’t complain about 2014. We may have come out of this year a bit more battered and bruised, and even looking a tad more tired than usual-but were we still blessed, nonetheless.

How was your 2014?