Strength

Strength.

One word. Eight letters.

It has been a word I have kept coming back to over the past year. Call it my 'buzzword' for my life right now. There is a lot of meaning in this word as I think back over the past year.

I am getting this word tattooed on my left wrist on my birthday this year. It will be like the picture. I have always wanted a tattoo but I didn't think I would ever think of something I would want on my body for the rest of my life.

I happened to be on pinterest about two months ago and came across the above picture. It has stuck with me since then. This word, strength, is something my counselor and I have talked about many times in the past 6 months.

I think about how much I have been through in the past year and I am astounded I made it through. Granted I had my moments of doubt and not thinking I could but I have. I'm not saying it was easy, nor that I have processed it all, but I'm still here.

Recap this last year:
July 2013:
 - celebrated 3 years at The Cup
 - lived with Kate and Nigel
 - admin. assist. at 20Twenty @ ET

August 2013:
 - started new job at Evangel
 - left job at The Cup
 - moved in my own apartment for the first time in 3 years

October 2013:
 - doctors orders to be in an ankle boot until surgery can be scheduled

November 2013:
 - Carpal Tunnel surgery

December 2013:
 - Let go from job at Evangel
 - bad month.... that's all I'm gonna say.

January 2014:
 - start counseling
 - still no job
 - car breaks down and no money to fix

February 2014:
 - Get a job at Houlihans, 2 weeks later there is a fire, and it closes for 6 weeks
 - Still no car

April 2014:
 - Father passed away
 - Pastor of 4 years steps down

May 2014:
 - Start back to Houlihans
 - Step down from being admin. assistant at 20Twenty/The Barn @ ET

June 2014:
 - Start new position at Houlihans as managers assistant


Crazy!!! I told people a few years ago that I felt like everything was going to change... well it did. It just happened to all be in one year. And those are only the big things. There were so many emotions during the past year. To say that it felt like a roller-coaster would be an understatement.

Strength.

Strength I didn't know I had to face all the things that came up this year. Physical. Emotional. Mental. Spiritual. I never would have imaged I was strong enough to do half of the things I have done.

Strength that God has given me. This year has tested my faith. Not so much of believing or not believing, but questioning why so much can happen to one person.

I'm slowing learning the gift of suffering and pain. It's a part of the process. But there will be another blog about that coming soon...


Strength. My new favorite word.