Patient Endurance: May 8th 2015: 2 years since my life changed

Brain Aneurysm. The words that I didn't know much about until 2 years ago today. My mom had suddenly been diagnosed with one. Last year I wrote a post all about her first year through hospitals and recovery. You can visit that post if you want the back story and more information on her recovery.

I can't believe that she has still been here on Earth for 2 years after we thought we would never hear her voice again. God is amazing, awesome, wonderful, healer, provider, and so many more attributes. I have been learning all the different characteristics of the God I serve more in depth over the past two years. He has a sovereign plan and we are each part of it. All of our circumstances fit together like pieces of a puzzle. That is the first lesson that I have been learning through my mom's recovery.

I still am her primary care-giver because Sam still works full-time, however I have a part-time babysitting job and I am earning my Master's Degree in Teaching to teach Chemistry! This last year has been difficult to learn how to balance coming back to a busier schedule. The first year my mom was home, she needed me just about every minute of the day which was why I was there but as she regained many skills and ultimately her independence she needed me less and less so I was able to add things to my schedule.

Then I was too eager to get out of the house after feeling cooped up for too long and socially inept, that I would overbook myself with classes and activities. God doesn't want us to be rushed and overbooked each day. That was lesson number two that I learned.

The last lesson I learned is that nothing is wasted with God. This applies to the past two years but also to my entire life. When I gave my life over to God and really started to live a life pleasing to Him just about five years ago, I felt shame and regret about my past. I had lived almost 20 years without following God's plan for me, instead living for myself and not living with any rules or boundaries. This left me feeling guilty for all those sins, even though I knew I was forgiven. So over the Study of the Life of Moses with BSF, that was the major lesson that I learned: Nothing is wasted with God. Those years of unbelief just fuel the fire of why I need God. I tried it my way and I never felt whole. Now I feel so complete with Jesus guiding me.

The second part of that lesson was about the time spent not working or just staying home these past two years. God used those times to grow me and get me ready for the next thing. Even though I applied to almost 10 jobs, all those doors stayed closed. He put the desire on my heart to go back to school, which I don't think I would've gone if I was working. I now have a part-time babysitting job which is close and flexible. He also is showing me that time isn't wasted with my mom. Those physical therapy sessions are paying off, reading each afternoon helping improve her speech and most importantly the time I take to read a devotion or Scripture to her is growing her faith too.

So my mom is still continuing to improve each day in her mobility, speech, independence, and her faith. She is starting to realize that God still has plans for her. I remind her that Moses didn't stop serving God until he died, so neither should we. God may not reveal to her why He has her here or even what work He wants her to do but I know that she has helped me grow. Taking care of someone really helps develop your Christ-like qualities. I need God's help with patience, compassion, and gentleness each and every day.

There you have it. The three lessons that I have learned this past year: God has a reason for our circumstances, don't overbook yourself, and nothing is wasted.

Here are some pictures of the last year. We try to go places and always bring my mom. We go to dinner (tonight we are going to the Greek Food Festival in Oakland as a yearly tradition that we started when we were going to the hospital two years ago), Phipps Conservatory, or just walking around. I always try to take pictures to document our adventures! We even got to go to the beach last year :)