Let me just start with, how is the month of January almost over? I planned to get this blog out to you the first week of the year and obviously that didn’t happen, because you know life. Better late than never, without further adieu here it is. 😉
When 2021 started I chose a word for the year and that was freedom. I specifically chose that word because I wanted more freedom in my life and freedom in my family’s finances.
That was a perfect word for my year because I stepped into a lot of freedom. I could however choose growth as my word because when freedom happens in your life you grow personally. As I look back over this past year it has been a whirlwind, to say the least, but it was also one of my best years yet. Let’s go through a recap of my past year and watch how freedom (and growth) was achieved in my life. *side note the items that I a getting ready to list and go through did not happen overnight and most I still have to make a conscious decision every day to continue growing and continuing to have freedom in those areas. So let’s begin.
Starting off the year strong was something that my husband and I had been working on for a long time and at the beginning of 2021 in the first few months we paid off all the hospital bills and credit card debt, while also paying off our last car payment in February. That was a huge step in our financial freedom and allowed us to continue to grow our savings just that much faster. Our budget was our best friend and by creating a specific budget for everything we knew when we could make a bigger payment to pay off all that debt faster. If you are struggling with debt and don’t have a budget. I would encourage you to create one and put it in place. You can ask my husband but our budget changed our lives. Now if that was the only thing that happened in 2021 I would have been super stoked but that was only the beginning.
My husband was part of a team that had its red carpet premiere and we were able to attend which was so much fun but the reason I add this to my list is because this film has touched so many people and created real-life change, the numbers are still growing but we saw many people accept Jesus as their personal Lord and savior and many of them baptized. Go, God!
In March I started 75 HARD. If you’ve never heard of it, I wrote a whole blog on it titled “75 Hard” You can go back and read it. It is just like the name states. It’s hard. I was determined to finish but a few times during the 75 days I almost gave up. I’m happy to report I did in fact finish all 75 days!
In the spring of 2021, I hosted on stage at church for the first time. I was terrified mostly because one of my least favorite things to do is talk in front of people. I can sing in front of larger crowds no problem but talking is a whole different ball game.
We went on a family vacation to Disney and seriously had the best time ever! I’m not kidding, I am a kid at heart and I enjoyed it as much if not more than my girls did. From open to close every day and anywhere from 10-14K steps daily! The best part was the whole trip was without complaints.
During the summer I went on the lake many times with my best friend kayaking. These are some of my favorite times because it is just us out on the lake with snacks. I don’t have to worry about anyone else other than just being present in the moment.
In August I had the opportunity to get LASIK done. Best decision ever! I have had glasses since I was in 5th grade and my contacts have been bothering me recently, plus my doctor said I was the perfect candidate for LASIK. Right before I had the procedure done the nurse told me about 15 minutes after the procedure and the numbing meds wear off you will instantly regret it but sleep as much as you can the day of the procedure and the day after you will believe it was all worth it. He was correct, It hurt so bad right after but waking up and instantly being able to see has been a game-changer. I mean no more walking into walls in the middle of the night because I can’t see without glasses or contacts.
Last-minute we bought tickets for an early Christmas present for our girls to go see Dude Perfect live at the YUM Center in Louisville, Ky. This was their first big concert/event and even though we were in the nosebleed section, our girls had the time of their lives and we created so many awesome memories. Like when it started pouring before the doors opened and we got rained on while waiting in line to purchase tour shirts, but instead of being bummed they were getting wet, they started dancing it the rain.
I started seeing a counselor for my anxiety, that’s another one of the best decisions I made. I had always recommended people to go talk to counselors but wasn’t practicing what I preached. During that process, we talked about my life and how I had perceived myself. That perception changed during that process because I started to see myself in the way God viewed me, not in the negative way that I had before. I also gained tools to help me manage my anxiety. That is when I finally looked in the mirror and loved the reflection looking back at me. As a reminder that God is always with me, I got a tattoo so that every day I can look down at my wrist and be reminded of God’s faithfulness!
In November, I had the privilege to speak at a large conference in Richmond, Virginia. Not only did I get to speak during breakout sessions but I actually spoke on the main stage. It was an awesome experience and if you want to hear more you can go back one blog post and find a complete blog written on speaking at the conference.
As the year was wrapping up we made a big purchase that I didn’t think would happen any time soon. We bought my dream vehicle, A Jeep! We had been saving for a while and the pieces just fell into place!
So that’s the list. It’s a snapshot of the highlights from 2021. Looking back and seeing all that I have accomplished and all the ways that God has worked in my life and through me is somewhat mind-blowing. I mean I know nothing is impossible with God, but things like speaking at the conference or becoming debt-free and then buying my dream Jeep, are all things that seemed impossible but with the confidence and wisdom that God has given me, I was able to step into the person He created me to be. Speaking of stepping into things, a big reason why this blog didn’t get posted earlier is that as of January 1, 2022, I stepped into a full-time position at the church I work at and have been creating a system that helps people find and follow Jesus. It basically is giving them their next steps after they are baptized and encouraging them to find ways to share Jesus with others. Needless to say, I am excited to see what 2022 holds in store for me, my family, and my church community!
Oh before I go, the word I chose for this year is Connect. Connect with God, Connect with my family, and Connect with others!
I pray that this blog today was an encouragement to you and can help in your daily life. Always know I am available to pray with you or just be someone to talk to when life gets hard. E-mail me at megan@churchanywhere.us if you need prayer!
Talk to you soon!