Looking Back...

Hey guys. I loved how Carolyn posted all that God has done when she looked back over her last year. So, I took her advice to do the same. No wonder God tells us all throughout Scripture, over and over again, to REMEMBER! Remembering His faithfulness, taking the time to reflect...I wonder how much it would increase our faith and our joy if we did that more often?! So, here's in a nutshell, Jud & I's last year:

1. Made the big move from Long Beach to Pasadena
2. Got our first "real" pet, Olly!
3. I experienced bike riding to work for 6 months
4. God provided an amazing doctrinally-sound church at Calvary Bible Church
5. I started dancing professionally again, auditioning and joining Benita Bike DanceArt Co.
6. With the company, I got to travel to and perform in Kentucky
7. God provided the money to visit Jud's family for a week in Wisconsin
8. My grandpa Tures went home with the Lord on January 1st
9. Jud was laid off from his job with Fastenal
10. We experienced 6 months of unemployment...lean times...but God was faithful to us! The blessing was that during that time, Jud got time outdoors, hiking almost daily in Eaton Canyon and also took classes becoming a certified docent (nature teacher) there.
11. We lost Olly for 6 weeks
12. Some times of pain & illness with Jud having two herniated discs, a torn meniscus, and me getting shingles.
13. The Tures family had a wonderful, much needed, family reunion and memorial for my grandpa, aunt Robin, and uncle Dennis.
14. I put on my first full production with my students, our Spring Dance Concert 2009!
15. We got Olly back!
16. God provided an amazing job for Jud at Felikian's Carpet One, stable, enjoyable, and close to home!
17. Jess completed her first year of BTSA (a 2-year teacher's program required before becoming tenured)
18. And now Jess is going to Maine for 3 weeks to dance on a dance educator scholarship!

As you can see, flipping through our year at a glance, it is amazing how much can happen in just 1 year. But, it is also so encouraging to see that there are always going to be challenging times and lean times, but after that comes blessing! All praise and glory be to God for it all! I hope you find encouragement when you look back and reflect as well.

"...always giving thanks for all things in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father..." Ephesians 5:20

"Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:18