Happy New Year!!

Can you believe it is 2011? I've got a feeling this is going to be a good year! If you've read my blog at all then you know I am a pretty positive person. However, the last couple of years I've not been very positive which is why I've not blogged very much. Since 2009 life has given me a lot of lemons and I forgot how to make lemonade so for the most part I've wallowed in self pity. I've had people tell me that it is normal to be depressed after all that we've been through, and that has almost enabled me to continue being down in the dumps. No More! That is my New Year's Resolution! I will be happy! Even in the bad times I'll remember that God is in CONTROL!

Romans 8:28 (KJV)

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

My Pastor quotes the verse above often. I know he has been preaching to me for several months about letting God be in control, to have faith, to trust in God, and to remember that all things work together for good to them that love God! I'm sure he'll have to keep on preaching so that I'll remember all these things but maybe, just maybe, he'll not have to preach to me as often!

I already know that this year is going to have a few trials, but I'm am more prepared. I am going into it the year with prayer and asking God for guidance. No more wallowing in self pity! I am going to find the blessings in each and every trial!

This year I will be starting a new job! Yes, on January 5th I will be going to work in Oak Ridge as a goverment contracted secretary! I am very excited about this because the pay is great & ultimately the benefits will be too! I can't believe I've changed jobs 3 times since 2008 but I've finally been offered the job that I'd like to retire with. I will be working 4 days a week, Monday-Thursday, 10 hours a day. That will leave Fridays open for anything I want to do! The 10 hour days will probably be hard for a sleepy head like me but the reward is great!

In May my baby is graduating! Yes, both of my children will be out of high school this year. Can you believe it? It seems like life goes by so quickly. I would love to turn back time but we all know that is impossible. Now I want to enjoy every day, every moment, that they spend with us. Thankfully our kids still like to spend time with their parents! Just last night both of the kids chose to spend New Year's Eve with us. We asked them what they wanted to do and they both said just stay home with y'all and watch a movie or something! Can you believe it? My 17 & 19 year old kids just wanted to stay at home with their parents!

The biggest change to our lives coming in 2011 is that we have decided to sell our house. We currently live in Farragut which is basically West Knoxville. Our church is in Claxton which is Northwest of Knoxville. It takes us about 25 minutes to get to the church and our lives revolve around church. When we moved to Knoxville in 2003 Charlie wanted to live in Karns or Powell. We looked for houses in that area but we just couldn't find anything. My parents lived in West Knoxville so we gravitated there or should I say "I" did. Charlie never wanted to live in West Knoxville. Now that both the kids will soon be out of high school and in college we are going to try to move closer to the church. Our plans are to rent a house in a community close to the church until we decide if we want to buy a house or not.

With just those few things we know that life is going to be a roller coaster during 2011, but I am prepared! God is Good! I know that he'll be with us through it all!

Happy New Year!