I've declared that 2016 was going to be MY YEAR, whatever that really means.

For me I guess it means that this is my year to do things differently, to take more chances, to try new things, to grow and to learn. 

So I had a prospective opportunity on the table that I thought could begin turning my life in a slightly different direction and I was really looking forward to it.  For weeks I've been looking forward to this thing but today I learned that it wasn't going to happen.

It fell through.

And I very quickly realized that I'd put all of my eggs in that one basket, solidly assured that it was going to be the thing to take my life on a different course.

Wrong.

So, since I said I wanted to learn new things this year, I guess this is the beginning of that learning process.  Note to self:  Don't put all of your eggs in one basket.

Back to the drawing board.

I was just talking with a fellow grown up church girl and we were reminiscing about how we grew up in a home that respected furniture.  

You may remember too, there was the good furniture and then there was the furniture that it was ok to sit on even if company wasn't around.  But whether it was the good furniture or the everyday furniture, furniture itself demanded a certain level respect.

Now that we're grown up, we also handle our own furniture with tender, loving care, but we were starting to question that.

Why?  I mean, really, what would happen if it got messed up a bit?  We'd buy new stuff, most likely something we liked better anyway.

So we vowed to go sit on the arm of one of our "good chairs" just as soon as the conversation ended.  Life is short, ya know, it's time to live! 

So I did it!  I sat on the arm of the chair. 

It felt wrong, almost wicked, but it was also liberating in a silly sorta way!

Who knows what I'll do next... maybe leave my jeans on the floor overnight?  LOL!

I heard a sermon recently that talked about how God will turn your enemies against each other and how they'll end up helping you.

I'd heard that before, but never thought too much about it. It sounded a bit far-fetched to me, plus I never thought I'd be in a situation that would yield to such a thing.  But then I thought again...

That exact thing happened to me.

I had a group of folks who were conspiring against me.  They were trying to cheat me financially and they were determined to win.  But then they turned against each other.  It was amazing to see this united front crumble right before my eyes and to have my "enemies" coming to me for help.  I played this card I was dealt and, in the end, I was the winner.

Thank you, haters!  But more importantly, thank you God.

Back in the day I absolutely loved Natalie Cole and I sang her music all the time. Some stars pass and I pause for a moment, but losing Natalie (in my mind we were on a first name basis 😊) has meant more.

I wish her everlasting peace and I hope to take her passing as further proof that time is fleeting, so the time to truly LIVE is now.

What a new year's lesson.

 I decided to change the name of my blog and I feel really good about it.

The original name was "Living In The Key Of Joy" and I really liked that.  But the marketing director in me couldn't fully embrace it because it really didn't say anything about who I am and what I would be writing about.  And, quite frankly, I found it a little confusing. 

So I've decided to be a bit more transparent and to take this thing in a slightly different direction.

You see, I'm a church girl hiding in the body of a grown woman and much of what I say and do is a result of this.  Life threw me some curve balls recently, and things changed for me -- internally and externally -- and the church girl had to grow up and see people for who they really are. 

She had to realize that some people are just mean and that just because you're nice to someone doesn't mean that they'll be nice to you. 

She had to admit that she had been used and abused by people she thought cared about her and that all that glitters is truly not gold. 

And she had to recognize the fact that God doesn't always answer prayers right away. 

What gifts, what wonderful lessons to have learned!  While the trials were not easy, I'd take nothing for them. They have empowered me in a way that nothing else could have and I thank God for the journey I'm on.

Now, at the dawning of this brand new, wonderful year, I cannot wait to see what's in store.  I have every confidence that 2016 is going to be a productive, successful year for me.  Do I know what's going to happen to make it so?   Nope.  But I know who does.