I realize it’s only October and the year isn’t even over yet, but can I tell you something?  This year has been one of the hardest years of my life!  Seriously.  It’s been rough!  Let me tell you about it….

January – 5 day hospital stay with my daughter who has epilepsy.  They had to do a video EEG, so they could study the type of seizures she has, hopefully helping to get her seizure auras under control.  It seems like we have now, thankfully!

 

February – End of pregnancy woes, like gestational diabetes and praying for no C-section!

 

March – Baby #7 born on 3/13.  She’s been a joy, but definitely a difficult, fussy baby.

 

April – Whooping cough hits our family.  Let me tell you, they call it the 100 day cough for a reason!  Puke bowls abound, as any time someone coughs, they throw up, multiple times a day for many days straight!

 

May – Extra fussy baby, can’t get anything done.

 

June – A trip to San Diego for baby and I, to a blogging conference…this was definitely a highlight!

 

July – Child #2 had to have another ear surgery (mastoidectomy) because the cyst they had orignally removed that had originally paralyzed half of her face, was growing back.  This was her 4th surgery on this ear.  On the 27th of July, Child #4 was admitted to the hospital with asthma struggles.  She ended up being transferred to a children’s hospital and treated in the PICU for 7 days of the 9 day hospital stay.

 

August – Daughter released from hospital, but now struggling with anxiety due to the hospital stay (and possibly the steroids they sent her home on).  We’re still trying to resolve the anxiety issues.

 

September – School starts.  We homeschool, so this is a big deal for us!  I was thankful to have a bit more structure to our days!  We even took a break and went on a fun vacation to Branson that I’ll be telling you more about soon.

 

October – Our marriage is struggling.  We are committed to finding happiness and peace and growing our love for each other, but it’s been a tough process.  In fact, this is why I’ve been a little bit scarce in writing here on the blog.  I had started the 52 week Organized Home Challenge and suddenly paused it while I got my feet back under me.  I’m hoping to start it back up this week, but my life has been a roller coaster ride!

 

I said all of that to say this.

 

I get it.

 

I know life is hard.

 

When you’re feeling all alone and like nobody else could ever understand where you’re at.  It’s OK.  Take a deep breath and let God give you a hug.  He cares for you no matter what!  He loves you, even when you don’t feel very lovable.  He is a Friend to the friendless and a Father to the fatherless!

 

Romans 8:28(KJV)

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

 

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

13 I can do all things through Christ[a] who strengthens me.

 

 

It can be easy to let everything go.  (I know, I’ve been doing it….you should see the condition of my house!!).  But, it’s important when things are hard, that you give yourself a little slack.  Don’t expect perfection.  Just rest.  Rest in God’s love.  Rest in His peace.  Put your trust in Him and you will be OK.  For He will never give you more than you can bear!

 

P.S.  Don’t forget that today is the last day of the Stock Your Freezer Sale!  If you’ve not yet made your purchase, you’re able to get $31.xx worth of merchandise for just $15!  The products in this bundle will help you to get one of the stresses in your life under control.  Meal times!  You’ll get my one month $250 Walmart menu, my weeks 1-4 of Crockpot Freezer Meals as well as the Breakfast and Lunch Station packs from my friend Kim of Not Consumed.  You absolutely will be excited when you see this sale!  Hurry though, it ends at midnight tonight.