2013 What a Year

2013 was a very big year for me. A lot happened; some good things and some bad things. I think that it is safe to say that after this year I will be forever changed.

I started this year finally taking my LPC licensing test and passing the test the first go round. Praise God!!!!! I dread that test for 3 years and I am so thankful it is over. Lord willing, I am done with taking major test in my life. I am so over studying for test.

One of the major things that happened was losing my Mamaw. She got sick at the end of March and passed away on April 18^th. It was hard. I love her so much. She has been a very important person in my life. She made so many sacrifices for me. She was a wonderful Mamaw. I can’t ever remember her being mad at me or me being mad at her. She was gentle and loving always. I had the privilege of spending the night in the hospital the night before surgery. It was a hard night. There was a lot of pain for her, but she remained sweet and a little sassy. She made me laugh several times during that very long night. My aunt and I were the last two to “spend the night with her”. She was in ICU for the rest of her life. It was hard for me knowing that she would probably not make it. But I am so glad I was there. And when Jesus came to call her home I was praying her into heaven and she was surrounded by her children. I got to pray at her funeral. She wrote the family a letter and she asked us all to meet her and Jesus in Heaven. We have had a lot of first without her this year: Mother’s Day, her birthday, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. I miss her terribly. But I am comforted to know she is home with Jesus, and that is exactly where she wanted to be.

I also had a major career change. After 4 years (1 internship and 3 as counselor) at Brentwood Hospital God called me to move on. When I started working at Brentwood it was my job dreams come true. In school all I wanted to do was work inpatient psychiatric. Well I did it. It was not always easy, but the exposure and experience I gained was priceless. I was not even looking at moving on. I had actually considered sticking around for a position that would open up in a few years when someone retired. But God opened a door that I had to go through. I am still a counselor, but now in a very different setting. I am at a Maternity Home. It is a Christ centered ministry serving unmarried pregnant females from ages 11-23. I am absolutely in love with all my new coworkers and the girls I am working with. The best part is I get to talk about Jesus, all day long!!!!! Since I got here in June I have had amazing growth personally and professionally. I cannot wait to see how God moves in this ministry.

I have gotten to be a part of a new ministry launch. It is a monthly worship experience for women of all ages from different churches in our area. It is really cool way to connect with different women. The older I get the more I want to spend time with women that have experienced more life than me. I want to soak in some of their wisdom. I also have the privilege of posting on social media for the ministry. It is no secret that I love social media and have prayed for God to use it for his glory. This opportunity has been a gift for me. Through this I have also gained a spiritual mentor. I don’t know why I waited so long. My relationship with her is pushing me to dig deeper and grow. I know she will be honest with me. I also know that she will continue to push me out of my comfort zone. I really need that. I can’t wait to see what happens now that I have this coach/cheerleader in my life. Plus I just love being with women that love God!!!!!

The most exciting thing that happened to me this year is that I became an aunt. My sister gave birth to a healthy happy baby boy on September 6, 2013. His name is Tayton Dale and I could not be happier that he shares my name. I love that little boy so much. I can honestly say that I have never loved someone the way I love him. He lights up when he sees his Tia and his Tia lights up when she sees him. He is so much fun. I cannot get enough of him. I love watching him grow and learn. I love to hear him laugh. His whole little body shakes. He has the most precious smile. And boy does he like to babble. I have no idea where he gets it from. J He is the spitting image of his daddy, but when people say he favors me I feel warm and fuzzy all over. I cannot wait for all the years ahead where I can spoil him rotten.

The biggest thing that has happened has to do with my decision to move. I have lived in the most perfect home for 3 ½ years. I loved everything about it (even the rent). It was the first place I felt at home in a long time. It was mine. I loved living alone. I enjoyed having my own private corner of the world that I didn’t have to share. Well God sure did come in a change that. Through those God size changes I now have a roommate. I moved in to a friend’s house the week before Christmas. But being roommates was not the intent of the move. Although it is a nice perk. My friend and I have decided that we are going to be Foster parents. We will be a specialized foster home. The way that we got to this decision is an amazing testimony in itself. It will require its own post. We will start our training in January and hope to have a child by March. It is such a big decision to make, but we are both very excited to see how God uses us. 

Reading over this post I am again amazed at what God has done in this year. 2013 was surely a great year. Looking back over the past 5 ½ years each year continues to get better. So I cannot even imagine what God will do in 2014.