New Year New Me

Looking back on 2010, I am almost speechless. So many things occured from once in a life time opportunites to things I would never wish upon anyone. I remember in January I was preparing for a mission trip to South Africa that I knew would change my life forever. At the time I had no idea why the Lord wanted me to go, but I knew I was to obey Him. As January and February passed, I then realized it was March and I was only a month away from leaving. I will never forget on Monday, March 29, 2010, we received the news that my dad was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma cancer. My world came crashing down that day. I thought why our family, this cannot be real, I am going to wake up and it all be a dream, why MY dad? After it all set in, I thought there is no way I can go to Africa after this. I knew dad was going to start chemo around the time I was leaving and I just could not miss that. I needed to be here for him. It was when I was driving in my car a few days later that the Lord reminded He knew this was going to happen even before He told me to go to South Africa, so I knew at that moment that all my trust was to be in the Lord and that He would take care of everything! The trip completely changed my life. I could go on and on and tell stories for days. God revealed Himself to me in so manys while I was there and did things to let me know He IS mindful of me and that He is faithful in every situation. During my journey there I was informed that my dad while in Atlanta, was told he only had stage 1 and not stage 2 or 3. Tears began to pour and I remember feeling overwhelmed with God's love in that very moment. When I returned home it was hard..very hard, emotionally physically and spiritually. I remember when we first landed in the Atlanta airport back in the U.S. for the first time since leaving SA, feeling like I was going to be sick, literally. Looking around at just the airport and all the food places and shops was enough to not even have to look at the people and what all they have in their possession. In months after God just continued to show His grace and love for me and my family. It is crazy to say that we are thankful for this journey with my dad's cancer. It has made us draw so much deeper and closer to God and our relationship with Him. I have seen the infinite grace be poured out over and over again from the ultimate healer and great physician who is our Lord. In our weaknesses, God is our strength. I have become so much stronger through all of this, my trust in the Lord has grown tremendously, and my faith in Him is so great! In June I went and had lunch with a dear friend who has always been so inspiring to me with her walk with the Lord. We ate at Panera and just talked and talked and caught up on each other's lives. She began to tell me that she was about to start the Aveda Institute at the end of July. Well there I was working at Children's Hospital in the NICU thinking that Nursing was for me. Well, I was wrong. I had been having some doubts the last few months I was at Children's, but just continued to pray. When I left from having lunch with my friend that day, I just started praying that God would show me what I was supposed to do. I went and toured Aveda a few days later and FELL IN LOVE! I cannot explain the total peace that came over me that day the whole time I was there. Long story short, I filled out the paperwork, turned in my two weeks at Children's, found out that the financial aspect of it was over half covered and the rest in loans, and started two weeks later. Hair and makeup has always been my passion. There are SO many things to do in the beauty industry that I just did not realize until starting Aveda. My journey there thus far has been amazing! Words cannot even describe how happy I am every single day going in there to do what I love! I love making people feel beautiful not just on the outside but on the inside as well. I am using my talents and gift that God has given me to glorify Him daily! I have met some of the most incredible friends ever who are always encouraging me and lifting me up and giving amazing words of wisdom. God has blessed me far beyond what I could imagine. As months went by it was then time for Christmas, which was a little different this year. My grandpa started getting really sick and so on Christmas Eve morning we all packed up and drove to Sarasota, FL. This was the first year ever that we were away from home on Christmas Day. My grandpa ended up passing the night before New Years Eve. It was hard, especially for my dad, but God is a God of peace and comfort and things have been much better. I ended the year with a great trip to Fort Lauderdale, FL, yes I went back to Florida! Maybe I should move there:)I am praying that in this new year God continues to show me His will for my life. I have huge goals and dreams I want to achieve after finishing at Aveda. I am SO excited about this journey I am now and each day I want to grow closer to Him meditating on His word. I want to be a light in so many people's lives around me daily in showing them God's unconditional love. I know this year is going to be great and I cannot wait to see what God has in store for me!! Here's to 2011...

Isaiah 61
The Year of the LORD’s Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes,
the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD,you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion,
and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance.
And so you will inherit a double portion in your land,and everlasting joy will be yours. “For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing.
In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.” I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God.
For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness
and praise spring up before all nations.