Farewell…2015

2015…was a year filled with new opportunities.  A new camper, new career, new travel destinations and new friends.

New opportunities are usually the result of a change in your current circumstances.  The biggest change of 2015 was my career change.

For the past 9 years I was the Director of the Welcome Ministry at a mega church. I organized the cafe, bookstore, greeter and usher ministry teams.  There were over 500 volunteers at 3 campuses.  I worked with the lead Pastor on special projects designed to help people experience God’s Word in a way that is relevant to their life. I also, had the absolute plesaure of assisting with the annual womens event.  I helped with the selection of the speaker, decorations, food and the swag bags that each attendee received.  I was also the book and gift buyer for the church bookstore.  I wore many different hats and I wore them well… I loved my job!

Ministry work is incredibly rewarding.  You are a part of something so much bigger than yourself. You “get to” walk with people thru all of lifes events…babies, birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, divorce, illness and death. You “get to” love your neighbor…you “get to” be the hands and feet of Jesus.

But working in ministry has a couple of “have to’s”. You “have to” work weekends. And you “have to” be away from your family on Easter weekend and Christmas Eve. You “have to” agree to avoid certain socially acceptable situations.

Overall the positive far out weigh the negative. But, for me the tide turned. I began to feel like I was missing out on too many family get togethers, either because I was working or too tired after work to enjoy spending time with family and friends. Thats when I knew it was time to make a change.

The career change has been a challenge. For no other reason than the pace is much slower. The upside to the change…I now work with my husband and son running our very succesful small business. I have weekends and holidays off, time freedom to plan and attend parties. And I can now blog about whatever tickles my interest.

2015…was a year filled with opportunities, changes and challenges. All in all it was a very good year!!! But all good things… Farewell 2015!

What was the biggest change in your 2015?

My year (2015) in pics…

Durango, Colorado…Purgatory Ski Resort

Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo…Luke Bryan Concert

Somewhere in Texas, Poker Night…Families that play together make memories.

Austin, Texas…South Congress Ave. Photo OP

Angleton, Texas, Rayzurs 6th Annual Best Batch Crawfish Cook-Off…

Bowling Green Kentucky…Corvette Museum.

Nashville Tennessee, Antique Archaeology

Cave City, Kentucky, Diamond Caverns Campgroud…1961 Shasta Airflyte Reissue

Cave City, Kentucky,  WigWam Village, …Teepee Hotels do exist.

Hammond, Louisiana…celebrating another blessed year…Birthday Cake made with love by my MOM

Manvel, Texas, New Hope Church, Going away party…a bitter sweet end to a decade of doing God’s work

Lake Palastine, Texas…spur of the moment camping trip.

Houston Texas…Uchi Sushi Restaurant

Roundtop, Texas…Antique Week

Somewhere in Texas, Spooky Ghosts for the Trick or Treaters…

Somewhere in Texas, Party on the Patio

Somewhere in Texas, Christmas Eve Eve, Champagne Punch

Lake Jackson, Texas, New Years Eve Celebration

the first blank page…

Today, is the first blank page of a 365 page book... What will this book say about your life a year from now?

2015...is here and with it comes opportunities for each of us to make a difference in our little piece of the world.  Some opportunities will present themselves in what appears to be small inconsequential moments; a warm smile offered to a passing stranger, holding the door open for a woman wrangling an active group of little’s, or paying for a cup of coffee for a total stranger.  Some opportunities will present themselves in ways that have the ability to impact someones world and change the quality of their life; giving warm clothes and blankets to a homeless shelter, helping raise money to build water wells in under developed countries, adopting a less fortunate family for Christmas.  I believe that when we give with a joyful heart our hearts are filled with joy and our life is better for it.

The bible tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning, Lamentations 3:22-23.  There is no need to wait until the beginning of a new year to make changes in our life or the lives of those around us. However, we embrace the opportunity to do just this every January 1st.   We make lists of resolutions; being more organized, eating healthier, getting more exercise, read our bible everyday, drink less, quit smoking, learn a foreign language, wake up earlier, get more sleep, visit family, and on and on and on!

Sure, today is the 1st day of the new year and there is no time like now to make a change for the better.  So DO IT!  Choose one thing to change today…Turn off the TV and read a book. Get up off the couch and go for a walk. Throw out all of the Christmas sweets and replace it with healthy snacks; fresh fruits, veggies and nuts.  Start today…it’s the first day of the rest of your life. Then tomorrow do the same thing…choose one thing to change and just DO IT!

Every day of our life is the 1st day of the rest of our life. We don’t have to wait…we can make the change now. If you didn’t start yesterday then today is the day.  No need to make a resolution…just make a change and live the life you’ve imagined. What will you write on the blank page today?