2018 was a big year for me. If you know me, you know I don’t do change. Same husband, job, house, church for 30 years or more. This has been a year of change for me. This time last year, I had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. It is hard to even wrap my brain around this. There is nothing like cancer to cause you to reevaluate life. It caused me to think about what is really important in life. For me, this means people. And rest. In 2018, God has taught me that being present in this moment is important. Being present in this moment and let God lead the rest. I have given him my daily to do list. If you know me, you also know how big this is for me.
2018 was about change but also about growing my faith. God is so good. His goodness overwhelms me. Cancer was hard to go through but His goodness and love for me were so apparent. My faith grew and I grew. He brought me through this and healed me completely. I had a completely clean slate at 6 months. It has been a hard year for health issues overall, but He continues to be faithful. Cancer definitely brought about big life changing decisions.
Retiring from USD 383 was a huge change. It was hard and so necessary. My ability to handle stress has changed so much along with my appreciation for sleep and rest. It was hard to leave my Eisenhower family and friends and I still miss them terribly. But I don’t miss the job, the stress, the frustrations, the pace. I can’t even imagine how I got up at 5:30 every morning and hit the ground running by 7:15 not stopping until at least 3. Now I start my day no earlier than 8:30, most days waking up without setting an alarm. And I have 4 day weekends every week.
The pace of being a therapist is a better match for me. I’m not saying that it isn’t challenging or exhausting because many days it is. But it is amazing. And right where God wants me to be. I love being able to pray with clients and share what He has done for me and all He can do for them. He loves through me. Connections heal people so it has been incredibly meaningful and inspirational to be a part of His healing for people. I have had to learn to trust His plan for each client but also for the ebb and flow of practice overall. I lean into Him hard for all of it. I am trying to be only as busy as He wants me to be. And of course, I love doing clinical supervision. I have a group of 4 ladies I meet with weekly and another gal I meet with about monthly. The plan is for me to move more into this role going forward.
It has been a year of growth and change for us with TRU church also. This year God did such cool things in Scott having him be a part of the board and the plans to build a building for TRU. And to bring him onto the worship team! I am still blown away with gratitude and joy when I peer across Dave and there is Scott singing his heart out on the stage with us. It is fun to practice here with Scott and Dave and to sing in the car with Scott. Our friendship with Dave continues to grow and we are so very blessed to have he and Mel in our lives.
Which leads me to MMM. I have always said that God knows my heart. Proverbs 3:5-6 says if we delight in the Lord, He will give us the desires of our hearts. God knew that I love to sing. My heart is so full of excitement and gratitude that we get to be a part of Midwest Meets Manhattan. What an unbelievable opportunity to sing professionally. We are just on the cusp on possibilities with these amazing people and I can’t wait to see what God is going to do with this.
Homestead continues to be a big part of my life. This has been a tremendous year as we continue to pour into the girls He brings through Homestead. Whether they stay and complete the program and graduate or move on, He plants and we water. I continue to be so blessed knowing every one of the women in Homestead. Right now, we have a whole group of gals ready to graduate and many of our current graduates have stayed in town and are part of my life.
Grand babies. This year our smart, precious Emmet turned 2 and we added adorable spunky Henry to the family. I love every moment I get to spend with these boys and their parents. I love having them live so close that they can come here and I can go spend a day whenever I can. Retirement has made it so that I rarely have to go more than a month without seeing the boys and Leah. Love them so much.
Hannah has continued in PT school and plans to marry Kent whom we love. And Joel started dating Molly, whom we also love and are looking forward to getting to know more.
Having Fridays and Mondays off has given me precious time to rest and to enjoy life and friendships. I have added meditation and essential oils to my daily regiment. I continue to work out and set fitness and health goals. I get to spend really good quality time each morning in gratitude, worship and prayer.
I am so excited to see what 2019 brings.
dianegclark 