This year has been a year of reflection and change for me. Things were better this year, than they were last year for me.
In January, until February 1, I was in Midland, Texas. I had to come back to Texarkana in February, because I had a doctor's appointment, and I needed to get my tags renewed, taxes done, and car maintenance taken care of before I set out again. Plus, I needed to check my mail and storage unit.
When I came back, my brother, who is in prison, asked us to use his money to put a camper on the property he inherited from my dad. So, I did that, and had it all hooked up for him, so he would have a place to parole out to, because the house on the property is condemned.
Then, he told me I could stay there until he got out. He is due for a parole hearing in December.
So, I've enjoyed the air conditioner this summer, rather than spending money on a motel room or sleeping in my car. I also was able to use the refrigerator and stove, and save money I normally would have spent on eating out because of it.
I spent some of my brother's money getting some of my debts paid off. But, I have to make sure my brother has his money back by the time he gets out. I've got most of it made back, so far. I'd rather owe him than owe all the interest I was paying on the loans I had.
And, I'm staying here in Texarkana until he gets out. I have also enjoyed the ability to take one day a week off from work to rest.
Top 10 things I've learned this year:
10: It is easy to accumalate stuff when you have a place to put it.
9: It is easier to think when you are sitting still.
8: Travelling comes in all forms. You don't have to go to a different city to travel.
7: God is still in control. Sometimes, when you are at peace, you wonder if God is still there. He is. He leads you by the still waters just as He lead you through the stormy sea.
6: Sometimes I wonder when the dam will break again, and I will be barraged with the problems I had in 2023 again. My mechanic called it "shell shocked". PTSD. I think it fits. I have learned to just go with the flow, and trust that God knows where He is taking me.
5: I have learned that being a "plan B" person is not a bad thing. More often than not, I have to rely on plan B to get me where I am going in life.
4: Human nature is everywhere. It is at home as much as it is on the road. It is a force to be watched closely.
3: You can fight the good fight and love your enemy at the same time.
2: When you do everything in prayer and supplecation, every move that you make is direction from God.
and finally,
1: Just because you aren't where you were ten years ago, doesn't mean that God is finished with the work He did through you back then. And, it doesn't mean there isn't still work for you to be accomplished!
