Starting year 5

A lot of things can happen in 4 years. It's amazing to think the same time I spent roaming the halls of Calaveras High are equal to my time in Texas. 

Yesterday marked my 4 year anniversary. 1,460 days creating a life, learning, thanking God for all of this. 

I think what stands out to me me the most is where I was 4 years ago. I was unemployed. In my last year of graduate school. Living in the back of someone's house. 

And it's not to say that the I just found a job and started over but to truly know how much God has carried me through it all. How much he has done and continues to do every day that I walk this earth stops me short. 

Not only was I given a job but I was given an amazing opportunity doing what I love in a stable city, full of opportunity and growth. I was given the chance to spread my wings, challenge the status quo and rise above what was left. 

And than you add in the last year and there's no way you can know my story and not wonder about the God I believe in. My dream job since my early college years has always been simple: to be a city manager one day. And at the age of 28 I was blessed with the amazing opportunity to work for a man that knows the ins and outs of city management and has been the absolute best mentor I could have dreamed of. He has pushed me, lifted me up and from day one has been in my corner. I hope day to be the type of leader he is. He sees the big picture but pays attention to detail, fights for what he believes in and always has your back.

But four years ago I had no job and my last unemployment check to my name, a car loaded down with my life and a dream. 

To follow God wherever he calls. 

Year four was blessed with grace and faith and an unwavering support from those closest to me. 

If you don't think that God can change your life in a few short years think again. I am nothing but living proof.

The first of 2015

They are coming for me. 

I read the text message and then I read it again. My mind started to race and I could feel the tears streaming down my face. They had just told her merely an hour before that she was having surgery today and now they were coming to get her? I couldn't wrap my mind around what was happening. I was upset at the hospital that they hadn't given us more time.

I knew my mom wanted someone there before she went in and I knew being an hour from the hospital that wasn't going to happen. I could hear the what if's swirling in my head. I sat in the bathroom for a few minutes and prayed. For wisdom and peace but most of all- patience. 

5 hours later she emerged from surgery with a new heart valve and is currently recovering in ICU. 

Even though she was asleep I was able to see her in ICU and leave her a note. Thankfully her surgeon was there and I was able to talk to him. We talked about her surgery, her heart and her recovery.

And then he says I thought we were going to have to send her home, I didn't have any openings for 2 or 3 more weeks. I looked at him confused. She had been in the hospital for almost a week waiting to have this surgery and you were going to send her home? And then he says but then there was an opening all of a sudden and I took it. He had done what only he could do and he scheduled her for surgery. 

I let the reality of what transpired today sink in. I realized how much of our lives are out of our control but how much God is in control. I was upset this morning because they were messing with the schedule that I had in mind but instead God's schedule happened. What He already knew was going to happen happened. 

The first five days of the new year have been difficult and hard. They've been filled with taking care of my Grandma and worrying about my mom and what the future looks like for her. I'm thankful that I was still in California when this all happened and was able to be here.

I'm most thankful though for my sweet friends and family. They have prayed and called and been there whenever I needed them. And today one of my sweet friends even drive 2.5 hours to sit with me while my mom was in surgery. I am blessed by some of the most amazing God loving people in both of the places I call home. 

So to those of you that have called and prayed and texted - thank you! Prayers are appreciated for my mom's recovery.

Here's to a bright and healthy 2015. 

Remember you only get one shot at this thing called life, make it count.