Happy 2012!!

Well saying that 2011 went by quickly is an understatement. While this past year I had every intention of writing more life got in the way. 2011 was a year of excitement, joy, and fear. I was excited to spend some much needed time with family I haven't seen in over seven years. Joy for the fact that this year marked 5 years since my Dad's life threatening accident and he is still with us today. And fear of the unknown.

This is my mom's hometown of Kemnath, Germany. In September I had a very emotional phone conversation with my Oma (grandmother) and I couldn't stand the thought of her giving up on life. So after some prayer and conversations with my amazing husband, he gave me the approval to go. I know this decision was not an easy one for him either because we made plans to travel to Germany in 2013 so he can meet the rest of my extended family. This Christmas while difficult for other reasons was one of the best Christmas I've had in years. In the span of two weeks I spent some quality time with all of my family. I was able to spend some much needed time with Aunts, Uncles, Cousins, and even meet some of my Cousins kids who I have never had a chance to meet due to the distance.

This year marked five years. October 26, 2006 is a day I cannot erase out of my mind. It was the day I almost (PRAISE THE LORD) lost my Dad. I was a sophomore in college and about to enter the ring to teach my portion of the lesson when my phone rang. I looked at the caller ID and noticed it was my sister so I figured I would just call her back and ignored the call however not ever a minute later my phone rang again. This time I knew I had to answer. Out at the therapeutic riding barn the reception was not great and while I don't remember much from the call I remember finding out that there had been an accident at my Dad's work and he was airlifted to Tampa General. All I knew was that he was really badly burned. We still don't know all of the details today of what happened that day. He sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns on 38% of his body, all from his waist up to his hair line on the front part of his body. However this isn't about the accident this is about the miraculous recovery my dad made in the months that followed.

We spent that Thanksgiving at the hospital and we all had the skepticism that we would be spending Christmas there also. However one of my dad's nurses thought otherwise and with his determination he came home on December 21, 2006. Five days short of two months for injuries that many remain hospitalized for six months. I'm able to look back and see all that my dad didn't have to miss out on; birthdays, Christmases, my wedding (picture of me and him above), a trip to Germany himself last summer, and so many other events. It brings tears of joy knowing that my dad is still here and has been able to be so much a part of my life. He is a person I can count on... when I have car troubles he is always the first person I call and not only with car troubles. I remember him always saying "don't let the door hit you on the way out" but I always knew with him that the door would close on the way out but it would never be locked if I needed back in.

This year also marked fear of the unknown. I cannot describe in detail but those who know me, know what is going on. This is a territory I have never been in, sure we did the long distance dating for four years while we were in school but we always had a break to look forward to and never did we not spend a holiday together. I'm so grateful for the person he is and the devotion he shows, not only to me. He is a remarkable man who I pray for everyday and I'm so thankful God has blessed me with him as my husband.  I try not to allow myself to get wound up in what is happening now but to look forward to the future and in the meantime occupy myself with school and friends!

I can only imagine what 2012 has in store for us but I'm looking forward to new adventures and pray that whatever path God has planned for me I can stick to and follow his way.

"In all your ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct your paths." Prov 3:6 KJV

Two Years

I can honestly say the past two years have flown by very quickly! I remember first moving to Georgia and being bummed about being here. We even went back to Florida every chance we could. I never thought positive about living here and I always looked forward to getting out.. I still do! But living here has taught me many things.

It as taught me about looking for the positive in everything. While I haven't been able to find a job in my career it allowed me to spend some quality time with my husband. We won't always be able to have that time together since the always dreaded D word can happen at anytime. I spent almost a year and a half unemployed but that was time we were able to spend just the two of us. Which after our previous four years apart we needed the time to get to know each other again.

I learned I wanted more in life then to be a Therapeutic Riding Instructor. I started going back to school this summer to get my prerequisites to apply for a Doctorate of Physical Therapy program. My ultimate goal to to really help people improve there lives while doing their therapy sessions from the horses back! I want to know more about the human body and helping people to develop/redevelop muscles to accomplish tasks that many of us take for granted. Even if it is only freedom from a wheelchair for 30 minutes a week. I know that my journey is going to be tough but I also know that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to. This also means I have a bunch of classes I need to take since I didn't take them for my BA.

One of the perks of being here has been the distance to family. I am extremely close to my family! I rarely go a day without talking to my Mom once if not more. Being in middle Georgia gives us the opportunity to go home over the weekend if we want. I was thrilled that we could go home to watch my Nieces first dance recital. I have always loved spending time with my Sister, Niece, and Nephew and miss being able to drive ten minutes to see them. They are growing up so fast it is hard missing some of the things they are doing.

And last but definitely not least is the great people we have met here! I know I will have some friends for a lifetime. We have spent some fun nights with people, nights I will never forget!

Letting go

This past year and a half for me has been all about God teaching to me let go and to really place everything in his hands. In a previous post I talked about my story and the disappointment I had when moving to Georgia since I was not  able to use my degree. Believe me it has been a true struggle but God has taught me it is totally possible and he does reward those who wait for his timing.

I've been working in my new job for about two and a half months. While it isn't my dream it does have a few perks.. but this isn't what this post is about! About a month ago I was approached by a lady who I respect not only for the person she is but also for her complete trust and faith in God. She wants me to help her dream come true! Which coincides with my dream!!!!! Funny how after only three months God has once again given me the hope of my dream coming true.

It was three months ago that I really let go of my dream and allowed God to place me where he needed me and I cannot believe how fast he has worked to bring someone in my life that not only can help me but I can also help her. Not only can I help her but my dream of teaching those with disabilities to ride is going to come true! I'm thrilled!

Not only has it been a year of placing my trust in God and letting go of control over my dream. It has also been a year of me learning to forgive and let go of the grudges. I started to wonder if God can forgive so many people including myself of their sins why is it that I cannot forgive the few who have hurt me. Isn't forgiveness at the root of being a Christian and showing love toward one another. Along with love comes forgiveness. Man was this a revelation in my life. I had people I needed to just forgive and move on; friends and family. It wasn't necessarily they had asked for it but because of the grace God has shown me. Following the example that Christ showed us so many years ago has really allowed me to be free of the grudges I held onto so tightly for many years. I wanted to be free of the anger because I knew deep down I loved and cared for these people.

I'm grateful for the lessons God has been teaching me this past year because I believe they make me a better person. God has never failed me so why should I not trust that he will show me the correct way of living my life.  

Never would have thought

It has been two years since I graduated with my Bachelors degree. Two years since I wrote my last essay and all throughout school I HATED writing. I was always the person who would wait to the last minute to write an essay. That meant at the end of the semester I would spend many nights awake typing out my essays that were due the next day, as many college students do. I remember during my sophomore year I had an extension on one of my papers and one of my friends sat in the room with me to help me stay focused and finish the essay, talk about a good friend! In one of my classes we were required to write a one page essay; many times I would forget about them until thirty minutes before the class started.  Yes, I would finish them in twenty minutes allowing me ten minutes to get to class.

I was also never a great writer and grammar always killed me. I'm more of the chemistry/math type than the reading/writing type. So it boggles my mind now that I am actually enjoying writing these blogs. I guess I have always been that way when it came to school work. I always did very well in school but I hated reading assignments and struggled with finishing them. However if I pick up a book I choose to read I will finish it in a day or two.

I think this is something I have come to accept with myself. I have always disliked being told to do something whether it is reading, writing, or yes even cleaning. When I choose to complete tasks I become obsessive compulsive about their perfection. My husband will make fun of me when I make the bed because I do not like to have wrinkles in the sheets and once the bed is made I hate it when he sits on it because it messes up the the comforter. I have told him in the past not to sit on the bed after it has been made. Call me crazy, I know!

This morning however I couldn't wait to sit at my computer and start writing. I was not sure what I wanted to write but I knew I wanted to write. I still do not know what the main topic of this blog is and I have a feeling I may do a bit of wandering until I can find a topic I can sit down and continue to write about on a daily basis. There are many blogs out there for and about military life so I know I do not want to head down that road since they usually become repetitive. I'm sure God will tell me eventually what to write about but until then I will continue to try out different paths and enjoy doing something I never would have thought I would like!

Which direction should I take?

When it comes to blogging I'm completely new and I am not quite sure which direction I want to head with this blog. I have also never been the best writer.

So I will start with a short introduction about me. I have always loved horses and from the time I was a little girl I always wanted one for myself. The one Christmas present I always asked for as a kid. No I never received a pony for Christmas but in the end I am quite thankful because I would never been able to give it up. Instead of having my own horse I took riding lessons from the time I was 10. This gave me my weekly dose, during the summer daily, that I needed. If you think I am crazy about needing a dose of horses ask someone you know who loves horses and they can explain it to you.

I always wanted to work with people who have disabilities for as long as I can remember and at first I wanted to use dolphins but being from Florida I knew I did not want to stay there and I sure didn't want to move to California. What was the next best option, well the same phenomenal creature I had been working with for so many years... the horse. So it was decided I wanted to become a therapeutic riding instructor.

Next step was how do I accomplish my goal since therapeutic riding is not a college major that you find in most schools. As a mater of fact I only found two or three at the time I was looking that allowed you to study it in a class. Only one had it as a major, luckily it was on the east coast. Went and toured the school and fell in love with it. Well that is where I spent the next three and a half years of my life.  I loved everything about the field I was entering into. To me the cons were minimal.

I accomplished my goal and I loved my line of work. I was excited to get out into the work force and actually put my degree to use. However besides my career there was another part of my life that had always been more important. God had brought a man into my life during high school that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. He had decided to join the military and attend one of the military academies. We were engaged right before our junior year of college and had to wait til he was finished with the academy to get married. And yes after 6 years of dating and 4 of those be long distance we decided to get married the June after his graduation. It was by the the best decision of my life. I love him dearly and I appreciate all the sacrifices he has made to serve our country along with providing a better path for our future.

However as with the military, you go where they send you and I was not willing to choose long distance any longer. So when we were picking bases we were hoping to get TN since it is such a beautiful state and not to mention there were two centers within twenty minutes of the base. I had gotten my hopes up so high. However those hopes were shattered when we found out it was not TN or anyone of the other ten places they had allowed us to chose from but one we never even thought of... Georgia. The one state we never wanted to be stationed in.

So of course I started looking for jobs and a place to start my career. Nothing.. at least nothing within an hours commute. I would have to commute over 2 hours to get to the closest therapeutic riding center. Now I love my field but I did not want to spend 4 hours alone on the road. I quickly figured out that the area of GA we are in is pretty much a black hole for the equestrian world. Practically nothing in the area. I hit an all time low.

I hated not being able to put my degree to use because lets face it they are not cheap. But what I hated most was not contributing and with the economy at it lowest point finding a job was not a piece of pie. I applied at lots of places had a few interviews but nothing came up. At the time I thought it was because I wasn't good enough but I had to realize it was not me it was all in God's plan. I had to learn to put everything in his hands and trust that he will give me a good job when he feels I am ready. And after a year and a half of being unemployed I have been able to find a job. I am finally in a place where I am not angry for being in an area where I can't pursue my dream but I have entrusted him with my life and I know that when the time is right he will give me the perfect opportunity that fits my needs.

I am excited for the future that God has planned for my husband and me. I know he will not give us anything we cannot handle. I will always strive to make lemonade when things are not going as I planned because in the end it is not about my plans.