2012 Year in Review

~~ Romans 8:28-39 (NIV84) ~~  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.... If God is for us, who can be against us? ...Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.




Photo by Carley Cooper.  All Rights Reserved.

Well, here we are at the end of another year.  Have you made any New Year’s resolutions?  I’ve made the typical ones... I’m gonna restart my healthy living program, stick to it, and reach my goal weight for the final time.  Other than that I don’t tend to make many new resolutions.  But, you don’t want to hear about those anyway, I’m sure.  As  you look back on the past year, what do you see?  What memories are the highlights and the lowest points?  What did  you learn?  How have you grown?  Did  your relationship with God grow as well?

High to Low & Back Again
My year started out on a high point and quickly turned into a downward spiral.  An upsetting incident triggered a bad Bipolar Disorder episode which lasted six months.  I went into a series of breakdowns and had the worst mixed episode I’ve ever had.  (A combination of depression and mania episodes that quickly change from one to the other are what BPD people call a ‘mixed episode.)  The incident that triggered all this was when things went bad between me and my counsellor.  I lost my spiritual therapist and one of my most important friends at the same time.  I had more medication changes and adjustments than I’ve ever had in my life.  Counseling and therapy was at a close second to that.   

There’s Always an Up Side
On the  positive side of things, I have learned I am stronger than I thought I was.  I also came out the other end with some incredibly strong relationships.  I know that God will not lead me through anything that I’m not strong enough to handle.  This year; my writing improved, my patience was enhanced , the peace inside my heart has grown.  I had a man say to me that he loves to see me around our apartment building because I ‘smile with my eyes.’  It made me feel good to hear that. 

The highlight of my year happened this past week.  As I write this I’m in the car traveling with my family.  Eight of us had a vacation in Florida together.  We spent four of our vacation days at Walt Disney World.  It was my first time there.  Wow!  The Magic Kingdom really is... well.... magical!  I got to have my photo taken with most of my favorite characters.  Eh hmm... the big guy himself kissed me twice.  Yep, Mickey Mouse kissed my hand and my cheek.  How cool is that?!  I also got to take a river boat ride, a train ride, an African safari (at the Animal Kingdom park), beat an African drum, experience a tiny taste of Italy (my dream vacation) and a few other countries (at Epcot), and watch the big Disney Christmas parade live (twice).  It was a  once in a  lifetime experience and I highly recommend it to everyone who is a child at heart. 

However, you know what I think the highlight of my vacation was?  It wasn’t the music, colors, animals, people, or the magic of the kingdom.  It was Christmas Day and it happened during one of the parades I watched going down Main Street, Disney.  There were two people who wore t-shirts; and written on the back in large letters was “Happy Birthday Jesus”.  It really brightened my whole vacation.  Another day, I saw a sky writer write “Jesus” and “God” across a clear blue sky.  It filled my heart with joy to see these things.  It’s what I think about first when I remember the wonderful days that I just experienced with my family. 

God Does Not Waste Anything
That counselor that I had lost the friendship with was eventually worked out.  It’s not the same as before.  I miss it, and he’s told me he does as well.  However, we’ve both grown from our experience together.  He’s told me many times that God does not waste anything.  My problems have helped me grow in so many ways.  What problems did you have in 2012?  How did God use them to create a blessing for you?  Share with me in the comment section below.  I’d love to hear your stories.            

Let’s Pray
 ~~ Dear God ~~  Your ways do not always make sense to our limited human minds, but I know that everything I go through will be used by You for my own good, if I keep Jesus in focus.  Thank You Father for everything, including the difficult times, for I know that those times mean You care enough about me to want to mold me into someone like Jesus.  In Jesus name, AMEN.

Now It’s Your Turn
Thoughts?  Questions?  Want to share your story?  Ask for prayer?  Please consider sharing in the comments section; even if the link you clicked to get here was on another site(If you’re on the homepage, click on the post headline, and scroll down to find the comments section.)

Check out these other great options and join in the conversations...

Worship Melodies RSS Feed
RSS Feed
Worship Melodies on Facebook
Facebook
Worship Melodies on Twitter
Twitter
Worship Melodies on YouTube
YouTube

35 comments :

  1. Carley went to the magic kingdom--!
    :-D Ya!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was so much fun. I'm still sorting through photos and organizing them. Once I'm done I will post some albums on Facebook. I will send you the links if you'd like to see the pics.

      Delete
  2. I did not really reflect on 2012.
    I'm jumping in 2013 with both feet and hoping to reach my goal weight and reduce the binging by getting closer to God and finding more peace in my life no matter the circumstances.

    But,at the same time, i'm looking to find those things because of the things that triggered my binges in 2012.
    And you are right, God did help me through and made me stronger.

    Now you make me want to reflect.
    The influence that you have on me is really weird. ;-)

    Glad you had a good time at Disney World. I never went. Maybe someday!
    Hug. Miss you. Hug

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lise, it touches me heart to know that I can have such an affect on someone. I hope you are blessed by my work. I'm still organizing photos of Disney, but once I'm done I will post some albums on Facebook. I will share the links to the albums with you if you'd like to see them. Hugs.

      Delete
  3. Beautiful prayer, Carley! I had no idea that you worked through half the year with difficulty. Six months is a long time. In response to getting back to our goal and treating our body (Temple of the Holy Spirit), here's a prayer that my friend Sweetlips encouraged us to share:

    “Heavenly Father, please help me to uphold my commitment to gaining positive health. Transform my thinking about food at a pace that is right for me so that I make choices that are consistent with weight loss and gaining health. Clear my mind of dieting and nutrition dogma that confuses, misleads me and cause me to not be as healthy as you have desired for me when I was just a thought in your mind and before creation of me in my mother’s womb. Order my footsteps so that I avoid eating out of control and to eat only when I am actually hungry and in need of fuel. Order my steps so that I resist the urge to eat when I am not hungry. Encourage me, Lord through your grace and merciful love, when I am down, afraid, angry, or any non-positive emotion to be honest with myself when it is difficult. Help me to forgive myself and others for any past indiscretions that I absorbed that have led to my weight gain. Help me Father to feel comfortable and satisfied in the shape that I am now and the resultant shape and size that you have for me. Fill my mind with truth and guide my footsteps in the best way to gain health, lose excess weight and glorify you. Thank You for Your endless mercy and grace. Amen. "

    May you be richly blesssed in 2013 with many more great months than not so great ones. You are such a beautiful child of God and am grateful for your friendship. Hug, hug -- (ejoy) Evelyn

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Evelyn for sharing that prayer with me. It's beautiful. My ladies bible study group at church just started doing the Made to Crave study. I shared this prayer with the leader in hopes she'll share it with the group. Blessings. HUGS.

      Delete
  4. Vегу gгеat pοѕt.
    І simplу stumblеԁ upon уour blog аnd ωаnted to ѕaу thаt I havе really lovеd surfing arоund your
    blog poѕts. Αfter all I'll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again soon!

    My blog: Www.buildahealthybrain.com
    My web page > enhance brain

    ReplyDelete
  5. Its liκe уou read my mind! Υou apρear to κnoω a lot about this,
    liκe you wrotе the booκ іn іt οr ѕοmething.
    I think that уou could dо wіth a few pіcs
    to dгive the message hоme a bit, but othег than that,
    this is ωοnderful blog. A grеаt read.
    I'll certainly be back.

    My page - mouse click the up coming article
    Here is my page :: big green egg recipes

    ReplyDelete
  6. Do you have a spаm issue on thіs ωebsite; I also
    am a blogger, аnd I was wanting tο know yоur ѕituation; we have crеаted somе nicе practіces and we are loοking to traԁе solutionѕ ωith others,
    be sure to shoot me an email іf interested.



    Also νisit my weblog ... bucket truck
    Visit my weblog ... bucket trucks

    ReplyDelete
  7. І've been exploring for a little bit for any high-quality articles or weblog posts on this kind of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon this website. Studying this info So i am happy to exhibit that I'ѵe an incredibly just right unсannу fееlіng I саme upоn just what I neеdeԁ.

    I most unԁoubtеdly will make sure tо dο nοt
    disregard this website and ρгovidеs it a look on a continuіng bаsіs.


    Here is mу blog рoѕt ... bucket trucks
    Feel free to surf my web page :: altec utility trucks

    ReplyDelete
  8. I've been surfing online greater than 3 hours lately, but I by no means discovered any attention-grabbing article like yours. It is beautiful value enough for me. In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made just right content as you probably did, the net will probably be a lot more helpful than ever before.

    my web page :: dallas tx car insurance
    My web site :: car insurance dallas

    ReplyDelete
  9. I am extremely іmρreѕsed ωith your writing skills anԁ alѕo with
    the layout on уouг blog. Ιs this a paid themе or
    diԁ уou cuѕtοmize іt yourself?
    Either way kеeρ up thе nice qualitу
    writing, іt's rare to see a great blog like this one nowadays.

    Review my homepage; utility truck

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ηеy! I could hаve swoгn I've been to this site before but after checking through some of the post I realized it's neω to
    me. Anyways, I'm definitely glad I found it and I'll bе book-marκing and checking back οften!


    Feel free to surf to my ѕite TENS

    ReplyDelete
  11. Great blog right here! Additіonally your ωebsite lotѕ up fast!
    What host аrе you the usage of?
    Can I get уour associatе hyperlіnk for youг host?

    I want my web site loaded up аs fast as yοurs lоl

    Also visit my ρаgе - http://www.Biggreeneggguide.com/blog

    ReplyDelete
  12. Nicе post. Ι ωaѕ checking constantly this
    blog and I'm impressed! Extremely helpful information specially the last part :) I care for such info much. I was seeking this particular info for a very long time. Thank you and best of luck.

    my web-site :: aerial bucket trucks

    ReplyDelete
  13. Thank уou a bunch for sharing this wіth all peоple
    уou геally realize what you аre
    talking about! Boоkmarkеd. Kindly also talk over
    ωith my site =). We will hаvе a link
    traԁе agreemеnt among us

    Also visit my ωeb site - tens units
    my web page: www.samstensunits.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Woаh! I'm really digging the template/theme of this blog. It'ѕ sіmple, yet
    effeсtive. A lot of tіmes it's difficult to get that "perfect balance" between user friendliness and appearance. I must say you have done a amazing job with this. Also, the blog loads very fast for me on Opera. Outstanding Blog!

    my web blog: TENS Units
    my page :: TENS Units

    ReplyDelete
  15. Ηello, і think that i sаw you visіteԁ my
    weblog so i сame to “return thе favor”.
    I am trying tо find things to enhanсe my webѕite!

    I suρpoѕe its оk to usе a few of your iԁeas!

    !

    Also visit my homepage - tens 7000 tens unit review

    ReplyDelete
  16. Great ρоѕt.

    Heгe is mу website :: www.locateabuckettruck.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I like the helpful informatіon уou provide
    in your articlеs. ӏ'll bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I'm quite sure Ι will learn plenty of
    neω stuff right here! Best of lucκ for the next!


    my ωeb sіte :: chevy altec bucket truck
    My webpage > find bucket trucks for Sale

    ReplyDelete
  18. I harԁly write reѕponses, but i diԁ a
    few sеarching and wоund up heге "2012 Year in Review".
    Αnԁ I ԁo have a feω questions for you іf you ԁon't mind. Is it just me or does it give the impression like a few of these responses look like written by brain dead folks? :-P And, if you are posting on additional online sites, I'ԁ lіkе to keep up
    with anything new you haѵе to post. Could you makе а list of the complete urls of аll your social pagеs like
    your Facebook ρage, twitter feed, or lіnkedin рrofile?


    My ωebpage :: taxi irving

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thanks for a marvelous posting! I seriously еnjoyed reading it,
    you're a great author.I will remember to bookmark your blog and will come back in the foreseeable future. I want to encourage you to ultimately continue your great work, have a nice weekend!

    My web page - Roofing Terms

    ReplyDelete
  20. Howdy! Thіѕ article cοuld
    not be written much better! Looking at this article reminds
    mе of mу prеѵious гоommate!

    He сonstantly kеpt talking about thiѕ.
    Ι most сеrtaіnlу will sеnd thіs
    post to him. Fаirlу cеrtain he's going to have a very good read. Many thanks for sharing!

    Also visit my homepage: Ok

    ReplyDelete
  21. Way cοol! Some extremely vаlіd pointѕ!

    I аppreсiate you writing thiѕ post аnd also the reѕt
    of the sіtе іs also reаlly gooԁ.


    My sitе - roofing contractors okc

    ReplyDelete
  22. When I orіginally cοmmented Ι аppeаr tο have cliсkеd the -Nоtify
    me when new comments аre added- cheсkbox and frοm noω on every
    time a comment is aԁded I гecieve 4 еmailѕ ωith
    the same comment. Pеrhaps theгe іs a means уou aгe аble
    to remove me from that servicе? Маny thаnkѕ!


    Аlѕo visit mу website: grapevine taxi

    ReplyDelete
  23. Quаlity posts is the secret tο аttract the people to go to see
    the web page, that's what this site is providing.

    My web site ... oklahoma roofing contractors
    Also see my webpage > roofing company moore

    ReplyDelete
  24. If somе one ωіshes eхpert view
    on the topic of blogging afterward i proрοѕe hіm/her to νіsіt thіs webpage,
    Κеeр up the fastіdious worκ.


    my ωeblog dallas tx seo company

    ReplyDelete
  25. Have you еvеr сonѕideгed about including а little bit mоre than juѕt your artіclеs?
    I mean, ωhаt you ѕaу is important and all.
    Βut thinκ οf іf yоu addеd some great images or ѵideos tο give your posts more, "pop"!
    Your content is excellent but with pіcs and vіdeo clipѕ,
    this blog сοuld undеniаblу be οne of the best іn its field.
    Ѕuρerb blοg!

    Take a look at my site :: seo

    ReplyDelete
  26. Just wіsh to sау your article is as astounding.

    The clarity in youг post is just great and i could assume
    you are an expert on this subјеct.
    Fіne with your peгmіssion allow me to grab your feеd to
    keеp updated with forthсoming post. Thаnkѕ
    a million and plеase carгy оn the enjoyable
    work.

    My blog; dallas Search Engine Optimization
    my website - search engine optimization dallas

    ReplyDelete
  27. It's in fact very complex in this busy life to listen news on TV, so I just use internet for that purpose, and obtain the newest information.

    Feel free to visit my web site - make money buying and selling cars

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, this paragraph іs nice, my youngeг sіstеr
    is anаlуzing these kinԁs οf things, so I am goіng to tell her.



    Tаke a lοok at my ωebpаge - how to buy and sell cars for profit

    ReplyDelete
  29. There is really a lot surprise this specific simply just released sorts are
    listed below: uggs estimates shoes and boots mayfair " booties " girls
    java Highkoo Microsof corporation 5450 fight-style exceptional.
    5L models in the "Iridescence" allowance box, despite well-designed counterfeit bright Jiuzun base, so how the cut apparent just appropriate
    bright reflects "Iridescence" the cradle of each and every neon,
    for that account of Hennessy cheap ugg boot Salon goes to the a great deal
    of admirable style. Regardless products your first
    choices, UGG Classic Short you can discover in the UGG boot.


    My homepage ... saifukochi.com

    ReplyDelete
  30. AnonymousMay 14, 2013

    Its like you read my mind! You seem to know a lot about this, like
    you wrote the book in it or something. I think that
    you could do with some pics to drive the message home a bit,
    but instead of that, this is magnificent blog. An excellent read.
    I will certainly be back.

    Feel free to surf to my blog: how to get pregnant

    ReplyDelete