Goodbye 2010 - HELLO 2011!!!

Wow - can you believe that this is my last post for 2010? Where has this year gone? Oh my goodness!! I sit here at work (because it is really quiet this week -- lets face it, inflatables are not real popular these days with the cold weather) and I am able to reflect back over the year. Boy have we come a long way.

Our year started off so rocky. We had very little money, we had 2 failed businesses and only 1 of us had a part time job. We were a very sad bunch. It was SO bitter cold in Alabama and that didn't help the depression that was trying to take over my life. February came around and I had a little one who had just started to "big boy school" 2 days a week because we were having separation issues from Mommy. It was a tough decision but obviously the very best we could have made -- considering we had no idea what was to come! My baby had his first birthday that month -- boy, what a milestone!!

March came along and God opened a HUGE door for me!! Dorinda received a weekly email from a local church and low and behold it had a job opening listed for a wedding planner. WHAT??!!?? I asked Dorinda if she thought I was qualified -- haha!! "Um, ya think?" were her exact words. I emailed my resume to the given email - having NO clue what business I had just sent my resume in to. Never heard a word - kind of gave up. My hubby persuaded me to email a follow up. Finally heard back - oh what relief. After several emails back and forth, a scheduled meeting/interview and a completed questionnaire, the job was mine. Oh, the excitement I had but I was scared to death at the same time. It had been almost 5 years since I worked for a company and actually got a paycheck. I remember waking up the morning of April 12th - my first day - and I thought - "oh crap, what have I done?". Here I am 9 months later and am still loving it. I have learned more about inflatables -- who knew there was so much to learn -- but I wouldn't change a thing. The best part is being able to work with my brides but not actually having to be at the wedding itself. It's grand!!

Along with April came one of the hardest decisions my mom has ever had to make -- long term plans for my Grandma. Momma, Aunt Audrey and Uncle Rudy settled on Cook Springs Nursing Facility for Grandma. April 6th was Grandma's first night in her "new" home. It was probably the hardest night our family has ever had. We literally cried walking down the hall as we left that evening and I know that Grandma cried just as much as we did. Fortunately God took over the situation 6 1/2 months later and moved Grandma to her new, permanent home with him. We met some great people along the way -- one being Grandma's roommate, who did join Heaven before Grandma did. I'm so thankful Grandma had a new bestie at the end and I know Mrs. Smith was also there with welcoming arms with Grandpa and GrandDaddy!

May came and I completed my final wedding as an independent wedding planner. It was bitter sweet for Carlie and I. I am SO thankful for her though -- I could not have made it without her. I love that I taught her everything that I know about weddings. She will soon become the bride (we are just waiting for 1 minor detail) and I can not wait to watch her reverse from wedding planner brain mode to bride mode. I don't know, I may dread that statement here soon. I'll keep you posted for sure!!

Summer came and went quickly!! I did receive the phone call that every parent dreads to hear -- "Randi, this is (Noah's school). Something is wrong with Noah but we are not sure what. He keeps crying. He is trying to play and then cries. You can come get him if you want - it is totally up to you." Keith gets there before I do and then I get a 2nd dreaded phone call of the day "Hey, where are you? Don't freak (when instantly, what do I do??) but Noah is not using his right arm." Um, excuse me??

...and this is what we looked like 5 hours later - for the next 5 weeks. He was such a good little boy with his "blue accessory". It did not slow this 16 month old down for a second. Ok, well, maybe that night but that was it!

Fall came and went just as fast as the rest of the year. Fall is when Keith officially accepted his call to the ministry. We could not be more excited about it. Still praying along the way as we go!  We were also introduced to AFS with the foreign exchange students in September. We are so excited to see what God has in store for us with them. They are all so unique and special in their own ways -- obviously, they are all from different countries. We can't wait to have Ahmed move in with us in a week or so. Wow - I'm about to have a 17 year old overnight. Goodness!!

We have such great hopes for 2011. God has brought us so far -- we learned a great deal in trusting in Him and He delivered. I know that He has wonderful plans for us to come. Who knows what they might be. We are praying for a full time ministry opportunity for Keith -- that is probably our number 1 prayer right now - along with safety and health of course. He has his resume out all over creation. Will we stay in Alabama? Who knows? He has had a few Churches request his resume and some of them are not so close to Alabama. Does the thought of moving scare me? Absolutely!! Do I want to leave my Momma and Daddy? NOOO! But would I? In a heart beat if that is what God has in store for us. I know our families would be behind us all the way - well, our parents at least. Not so sure what the sisters would say! LOL! Sometimes the thought of packing up and moving to a new state with a fresh new start sounds WONDERFUL! Think about it, a clean slate? Absolutely! Sign me up!! Just praying for Keith's phone to ring with some good news, or maybe his phone to "ping" and it be an email with some exciting news. I know - all in God's timing. Like I said a few months back -- I don't have good patience! Oh dear!!

Well, now that I have made this post ultra long - I pray that 2010 has been a successful one for you and your family and I pray that 2011 be even more exciting. We have definitely had our fair share of ups and downs this year (isn't that obvious) but I know that 2011 will be just as great. I know that it will also have its ups and downs, we're human, it's supposed to -- but I just pray that God prepares us for all that he has in store for us!!

Much love to you and your family this New Year's holiday. Please, be safe, everyone!!

~Randi, Keith, Noah and Maggie

Me and Noah at the

 Santa House

in Atlanta