DECEMBER 2022!

 QUOTE OF THE MONTH:

"400 years of silence.  And then, "in the fullness of time," a baby came to save the world.  If you are waiting and it feels like God isn't speaking, He is working 1,000 details into motion for your good and His plans.  Fullness of time... the people, the time, the places, the story all had to be in perfect position." 
~Jennie Allen

DECEMBER MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• Chet's 2nd annual Bougie Charcuterie party!
• My first experience with the flu - physically worse than COVID for me, but I feel like God timed that to help me slow down and rest when I reeeally needed it
• Worked hard on some final papers and exams, and finished my first semester of grad school with all A's!
• Great talk at Los Cabos with Lindsay 
• IUI + negative test + finally writing about all of that openly
• Two cold-but-fun walks through the Midwest City "Holiday Spectacular" with the kids!
• Taking down my Christmas stuff with Mom and Triston
• Hanging out with T-man while J&K were with Josh during the break!  
• LIFE-GIVING:  Having my first (well-timed) real break from school work since August!  Genuine support and encouragement from valued friends - Chet Lee, Kristin W, Sarah, JEM, Kelly, Lindsay, Laura, and Tiffany!!  Little words of confirmation and comfort from God... choosing to trust Him!  Mom feeling good enough to join us for the Christmas festivities!  Praying for my niece and nephews and doing my best to be there for them.
• LIFE-DRAINING:   The flu, particularly that day one headache (when I couldn't take Advil).  Another difficult  medical procedure and negative pregnancy test.  Fretting over the next step before choosing to rest and trust God.  Learning Mom's cancer is back. Letting myself get too upset by the choices of others that I cannot control.  Questioning my parental worthiness (briefly - done with that now).

HAPPY LISTS

I Listened To:

• I Thessalonians - Revelation!!

• Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

• The usual favorite podcasts

• More Christmas songs and worship music than usual

I Watched:  

• Violent Night in theaters (wouldn't recommend it - mostly saw it for my nephew)

• Harry and Meghan on Netflix

• Everybody Loves Raymond on Peacock 

I'm Celebrating:  

• My amazing friends and family - I feel very blessed and grateful!
• I'm proud to have taken some risks this year, even the ones that did not pay off as I'd hoped
• God's love and His authority to time things perfectly

My quick walk through the Christmas Chute

This December felt more like a year than a month for me.  Despite having the flu during finals week, I finished strong in my first semester at CCU in early December - yay!  I had my fourth and final IUI appointment on the 3rd then took a negative test on the 18th.  I pushed through some anxiety and decided to write about my journey and was met with genuine love, support, encouragement and kindness!  (Thank You.)  We learned that Mom's uterine cancer is back and her surgery is now set for January 12th - praying!!  And of course, there were several fun holiday events with Christmas cheer and meaningful memories scattered in there with all the emotional fog and seasonal chaos!  

I feel READY and grateful for a fresh start in 2023.  Very much looking forward to celebrating New Year's Eve with friends tomorrow at Jeff and Kelly's!! ❤

"May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of the
Holy Spirit be with you all!"

~2 Corinthians 13:14