Pretty zappy title from someone who has been AWOL (That is military for Away With Out Leave) for almost 5 months wouldn't you say? All I can say is thank you to all of my blogging friends and family for your words of encouragement and notes of "just checking in" which truly have made a world of difference to me. So many of you are fighting your own battles that are compared to mine are so much greater. I guess that is why two sisters are better than one. When one falls down, the other picks the other up. Now it is time for me to be a little more of a "picker up" sister.
To be honest a few short months ago I walked through the motions of the start of my new life in a daze feeling like I was not connected to earth and not really knowing how this was all going to work out. The past few months have been an amazing experience on where God continues to show up in the most unexpected ways.
Recapping this past 4 months which followed on the heals of a quite frankly hellish year which included but not limited to a lumpectomy, chemo, radiation and crazy maintenance drugs that I will be on at least for the next almost 4 years, loneliness, feeling crappy, a battle with depression, I am sure you get the picture :) Not fun!
To continue, starting in October, I lost my job, we put our house up in Asheville for sale and left everything that was familiar and moved to Charlotte. Challenges continued as I started reconnecting with my husband and family. Remember I was an AWOL mom, grandma, friend as well as a weekend wife living up in Asheville for almost 3 years. Gary and I did the commute thing for almost 3 years. Things are finally better as I so abruptly invaded not a "man cave" but a "man house" which belonged to Gary. Now I can say the "man house" is now "our house." :)
Next came some insane self afflicted pressure on myself to "get a job" which only made things worse. I continued to sink into a hole and finally reached out to get some professional counseling which gave me permission to chill and give my self some time to heal. That was a great piece of advice and I am happy to report I am feeling much better and slowly regaining momentum.
So what is God up to as His word says that God works all things out to the good for those who love and are called according to his purpose? Well, I for one am not sure, however I am going to name off a few blessings of encouragement that have come my way:
1. I have reconnected with my husband, daughter, son in law, and grand kids on this side of the world. My son and family still live in Seattle so that is a little more difficult. I didn't realize how much I was missing, a 5 year old's birthday party for one!
2. We have been blessed with a smaller house which is much easier to take care of and it is amazing how much of my "stuff" I really don't even need. Life is so much simpler.
3. We have connected with a great church called Elevation in Charlotte and are becoming active. (By the way you can listen on line if you just want an extra blessing in your day.)
4. I am reconnecting and meeting people I never believed possible. As part of my package from the company I received outplacement and have met some wonderful people in some job groups and have learned the powerful tool of linkedin for a professional network tool.
5. Yes, I am also volunteering at Pronet in Charlotte as a job coach since I have a career coaching background and a group called "Dress for Success in Charlotte" helping women with resume, interviewing and how to dress.
6. Friends have introduced me to potential job opportunities so I know the right thing will happen and God does have a job for me exactly where He wants me to be.
I am not going to lie and say things are 100% OK, but I will say they are 100% better than they were in October. I am learning so much. I truly believe God has a purpose and a reason for everything that happens. We may not understand it but to be sure God is for us not against us.
The realization has once again hit that my goodness we are only on the earth for a brief period of time, that goes for all of us cancer, other illnesses or perfectly healthy people. I want to make each day count.
I am inspired, being renewed in spirit and challenged each day to look around, to touch those who come into our lives in a way that lifts up not tear down, to bring hope and show the love of our heavenly Father to a world that sees so much junk.
Yep that is what I am learning. Blessings to you today.
Secure in knowing I am Running the Race with my Lord who picks me up when I fall down, carries me when I can't walk. Luann
