a look back and a glance ahead

I'm not sure how many blog posts I've stopped and started this month. It's probably a high number. One reason I haven't written much is because some of the things going on are a can of worms I haven't felt like opening on a blog. Others are too personal. Other things...well, we're still seeing God move, so I wasn't sure when I should share the latest goings-on in our lives.

Still can't believe 2011 will be over this weekend. It's been a crazy year for us. So many ups and downs, path changes, and we're ending the year with more uncertainty. I remember saying at the beginning of the year that I wanted to see God move...and I sure did. But it, as it usually happens, He didn't quite move the way I expected. Nothing is ever easy with us :) But we know He didn't call us to an easy life. We also know He's never left our side through all of this.

We praise Him for continued great news about our friend who has healed remarkably well after surgery to remove a brain tumor. In the process, they've been able to enjoy some time in the States and celebrated both Thanksgiving and Christmas with her family...the first time in 10 years for her and the first ever for her husband and little girl. I'm sad to see them go back (being able to chat on the phone was a nice change for our communication), but I'm glad that my friend is doing so much better. We continue to pray for her healing as she goes back to China this weekend.

We praise Him for a blessed Christmas with my family and some close friends. Raul and I sang with our church's choir on Christmas morning, and the whole service was really special. We also sang on Christmas Eve with my dad at my parents' church.

We praise Him for my 4.0 GPA after my first semester of grad school. At the beginning of this year, I never knew how that would all work out, and here I am...1/5 of the way through school.

We praise Him for Raul's completion of his CNA course and pray and trust that he will be able to find a job soon after applying at 5 different places. He applied right before the holidays, so we know he may not hear back for another week or so.

We pray for our future plans. We're taking a huge leap of faith and looking into moving to Florida. Yes, Florida. Raul is looking at a PTA program at a school in St. Pete/Pinellas Park area, and we'll start there. Not sure how it will work out...we'd need a miracle with housing, a newer car that could make the trip to Florida, and jobs for both of us. Lots to work on.

And on top of this, Raul's visa renewal is still in-process. This is pretty frustrating for us, and hopefully some more bank statements/evidence and reference letters will take care of it when we send them in, hopefully next week. Please pray with us. People often ask why we have to go through this at all, and though I understand why...it doesn't make it any less frustrating when you hear things are delayed. And when I hear people gripe about immigration laws while we are going about things the right way, spending all this money to make sure my husband can stay in the country...you can imagine the amount of screaming I want to do sometimes. Yet, I try to stay optimistic and believe that God has a plan for us. It's hard though.

So that's where we are at the end of 2011. A year of many blessings, a year of many unanswered prayers, and looking ahead to what next year may hold.

I pray all of you have a very blessed new year.