Welcome to my blog! This is a new venture for me. I don't really know that I will have anything valuable or earth-shattering to share, but I decided at the end of 2009 that I would begin my own blog in 2010. It's only the end of January, so I guess I'm not too far behind. (We will just omit the fact that most of my Christmas cards are still on my desk, unsent. Oh well!)

The year of 2009 was quite a doozie! It began like most years, cold, fighting the germs, doing some indoor home improvement projects, watching the Super Bowl, dealing with uncertain economical times, struggling with discontent in my own job...ya know, the usual "stuff". Then on February 6th, the carpet of my world began to slip out from under me and my world turned upside down. For those of you who don't know, I suffered a massive infection in my eye, caused by just a tiny little scratch...that infection led to my eye herniating. I had an emergent and extremely radical cornea transplant on February 13th. (Yes, Friday the 13th...good thing I'm not superstitious!) Thus began the struggle of regaining my vision, dealing with the loss of my independence and the feelings that go along with being the recipient of some one's organ (more on this another time), among other things. I thought things couldn't get worse...

I returned to my job at the end of February. I was officially given the title of church secretary, but I wore many hats...too many hats, even for someone with two good eyes. I quickly knew that I would not be able to perform my duties any longer. Along with my own personal trials, there were problems brewing at the church. A new pastor had arrived in July and brought with him some...well, interesting...philosophical ideas. I had noticed character flaws for a while, and working with him was not fun. So, all of that combined, I turned in my resignation at the end of March and told the church I would stay until May 1st or until they found a replacement. Tension continued to build between church members and the pastor and by mid-April, it was not good. I will write more about this situation later, but long story kind of short...On April 15th, after deciding to divulge some information I had about the pastor to a member of Pastor-Parish Relations, I was asked...by the Pastor...to leave my position and not come back. Yep, that's right, I was escorted out of the church like a common criminal. In other words, I got kicked out of church. Needless to say, the ride had only just begun...

This year has provided it's share of highs and lows...sometimes it feels as though God is unreachable, like He's turned His back on me and just doesn't care. However, when I really look, I see that perhaps He's holding me so closely, I just can't see Him! We've learned so much...I can't wait to share it all with you. My most important lesson has been He's strongest when we are weak...He's on the job all the time...He's never going to leave us unprotected...Through the tough times, we are refined...and Glory is JUST AROUND THE CORNER!!