Five Years.

Wait, what?

I can't even wrap my mind around that thought. Seems like a million years ago because so-o-o much has happened in five years. Then again, it seems like just the other day.

Five years ago, I started a new chapter in a couple different areas of my life. Lapband surgery. Flood and rebuild. I spent most this evening re-reading this blog and going back through facebook posts of 2010. Most of it with tears. Unrestrained emotion that, to be honest, I have tried to keep at bay. I've worked through a lot of the 'stuff', but I can't remember ever really just 'going there' emotionally. So, tonight, I did. As I read through all of it, some of the memories were of fear and uncertainty. But most brought on remembering how completely and overwhelmingly blessed I am.

I sit here healthier than I was five years ago. Still on that journey. But 100+ lbs are gone. I look at pictures and can't even remember what that felt like. But I am so thankful that this has been my journey. Still on the restoration process of being who I need to be concerning my health. But thankful I'm not who I used to be.

Five years ago, I stopped writing this blog. I'd written about the lapband story up until May 2. Then life changed. I had no idea what was going to happen after May 2, much less figure out how to blog about it. So I went offline, I knew I needed to keep up with it all because as time has a way of doing, my memories would begin to erode. And I knew I didn't want to forget one single thing.

So, now begins a time of remembering. I want this to be my Memorial Stone (read Joshua 4). I feel the freedom to begin posting what my journey that year of rebuilding and God restoring looked like. To be reminded of all that He's done as a promise of all that He is continuing to do.

So welcome back. I'm glad to be back. I hope you'll continue to read as I enjoy this journey of remembering. My hope is that you will be encouraged to see an incredible God who takes great joy in loving His creation . . . us.