Live Fearlessly.....AND Flexibly!

Last year I began this blog with a post entitled "Walls".  I was about three months into classes @ Tabor (with NO idea where this was going), Mr. Westfall was facing huge changes in his career as he went from being employed by his Dad to being self employed in partnership with his brother, we were approaching our first holidays as husband and wife, with our first wedding anniversary to follow shortly behind the holidays.  The year of 2010 had been quite eventful as we learned to live and parent together and as God began to lead us down paths we never thought we would be prepared for (and yes, one of those paths was most definitely marriage and raising a blended family!!). 

Today it's hard to believe it's only been ONE year since that first post!  2011 has been another great adventure!  The kids have grown in stature, and we all have grown in mental, emotional, and spiritual ways not only as individuals, but as a family.  Hind sight being what it is, I can look back and see how the kids have settled and learned to view and love one another for who each of them is created to be.....even on the days they don't so much like each other, they still love each other and don't hesitate to say so-ALL of them: the five who live here AND the bonus kids.  Our home is a place of love and acceptance, but also a place of expectation and accountability.....I am humbled by the balance as I can take no credit.  It is by the very grace of God that we have the gift of each other and even beyond having one another, we realize it's gift.  Many families who are born into each other and grow together from birth miss the joy found in celebrating differences and meeting milestones.

Last December when I posted "Walls", a physical wall had gone up in my husband's work life.  For him, it was a dark and fearful time that was at the same time filled with newness and hope for things to come.  This December a door was cut into that very wall and his business is flourishing.  A year ago, I had no clue where God was leading me as I had embarked on completion of my education, recognizing His call on my life.  This year, however, I have joined the family at Woodlawn United Methodist Church and have found some comfort in knowing that even without a burning bush giving me exact directions, God speaks clearly when I shut up and pay attention.  I still have classes to finish in the coming year and there is still much I don't know about God's plan, but I can say that I have found amazing peace in the not always knowing (please note, I said peace not comfort).

In the last couple of years my sister and I have talked alot about learning to be flexible and running with plan B....She brought into my life the tree analogy and I talk alot with others about being a tree....rooted in Jesus, standing tall, bending with the wind, shedding beauty in the winters of life only to come back new, weathering each storm.  She's an amazing lady, who's life speaks of patience and perserverance.  In light of these things, I'm adding flexibly to my resolution for 2012.  In 2009, 2010, and 2011, my resolution was to live fearlessly even when I felt like I couldn't.  In 2012, let's live fearlessly AND flexibly in order to allow the Holy Spirit to move us.  I think it's important to note that a tree doesn't move from where it is rooted....so it's sustinance doesn't change.......it merely moves with the flow of life and provides shelter, beauty, comfort, and in many cases food for others of God's creation.  So, join me in living fearlessly and flexibly in 2012!  Let's all learn to be trees! 

“But blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” -Jeremiah 17:7-8

Happy New Year Everyone!!