2016 began, like many new years, full of promise and hope. We started off fairly well, the nearly year long custody case between Tim and his children's mother had come to an agreement just before Christmas, and for the most part, things were calm. Though, just for a little while. Sometime in March or so, our beast of a suburban broke down for good. Unfortunately, that put us in a spot we did not want to be, and that was a car payment. Yet, God hides his blessings, and not more than 3 weeks later, Tim found a good paying job.
My brother moved here in March as well, ending my 16 year stretch of not living near any of my family. In May, Tony graduated 8th grade and our summer started off well with us paying off a massive amount of debt. Things were looking good, positive, promising.
God has a funny way of telling you "not so fast".
In September, Tim rushed me to the ER after a few days of horrible stomach cramps. I was at the point where I could barely move and had not been able to keep food down in a few days. I don't like going to the doctor, so I of course tried home medicating myself. None the less, at the ER, I had a CT scan to see where in my digestive system things were going haywire, and inadvertently they found a cyst on my kidney. I was absent from work for a week, and followed by more doctor appointments, blood work and another trip to the ER (this time, the cyst had shrunk .2cm, and is moving. In case you are wondering that hurts like hell). All of our hard work getting on track financially was derailed. We are not out of the woods yet, I have an MRI scheduled for later this month to see what is going on.
Then right before Christmas, Ryan took a dive off his bike and broke his nose on the back of a pick up truck. He spent about 4 days in the hospital with his mom, for surgery and observation. He is ok, and will be fine once he is done healing.
Yet, in the midst of all that I was placed in a position at work that really showcases my talent. I would call it a promotion, but there was no pay increase other than the massive amount of overtime required. But, I love it and I am grateful to have a loving and supporting husband who has picked up the household management while I am working longer into the night. I am thankful that I have the flexibility to work around my schedule with my kids and that we have a great support system in our extended family.
"Finally, draw your strength from the Lord and from his mighty power. Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil. For our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the principalities, with the powers, with the world rulers of this present darkness, with the evil spirits in the heavens. Therefore, put on the armor of God, that you may be able to resist on the evil day and, having done everything, hold your ground. So stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." -Ephesians 6:10-17
-Liz
