2011 Recap

NYC, a photo by v.sch23 on Flickr

It was a great year. Long and short in the same time. Filled with wonders and tears... happiness and moments of silence. It couldn't have been more beautiful. Now that is over, I want to share with you 12 highlights of the 2011... 

It started with an unforgettable party at our house in Romania. Friends, family and good cheer...

An odd "good bye" with hopes and incredible faith in what's to come. A good bye with smiles and encouragements instead of tears and "why do we have to do this?"

A lonely, unnoticeable Valentine's Day. No harm at all.

Work, and missing more than ever. Still, not desperate. The hope in me was stronger than anything. And trust in God's plan.

An uneventful birthday, a lot of praying - and prayers answered; we saw how God is holding us in His hands.

A trip to JFK to bring home my Honey!!! (our miracle)

Met my cousin's daughters - first trip to NYC with Eddie.

Got a new job (as a bookkeeper at Hotels Unlimited). I got what I was asking for - a job where to use my brain!

Starting to think more and more about card making, decorating, arts and crafts, wedding decorations and so on...

The best way to celebrate first anniversary - Pocono Mountains. I've seen it with my eyes how God can transform your plans - I would've never had the courage to dream to be with Eddie on our first anniversary. Still, the power of prayer and the faith in the Lord.

More ways God was showing us He is in control - Eddie finding a job. We just need to stay with Him, and the rest, He’s in control of everything.

And, there was a first time when Eddie said it. He finally talked about how hard it is for him to be so far from his family. And I understood him; completely. I prayed and am still praying for him, I know it’s not easy.

Last, but not least, we had a quiet Christmas with the family, we went to NYC the day after Christmas, and spent our New Years with family.

We had a very blessed year. I’m so very thankful for God’s guidance in our lives. I’m so excited about the year that just started, I know we have a great adventure before us. And as long as I’m with Eddie, everything else can just work out!

Happy New Year!! :)

hugs and smiles from Jesus

John 17


           I love this chapter in the Bible when Jesus prays for His disciples. It's so encouraging to know how much Jesus loved those people who were so close to Him. It's so refreshing to analyze His prayer and find out that, before his arrest, trial and crucifixion, you were so important that He actually took the time and pray for you (and me). No, your name is not in the Bible, but you just have to read John 17:20 "I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one." Yes, my dear readers, we are "the ones who will believe". This verse was the nicest smile on my face in last days. He actually, prayed for me! As a girl born and raised in a Christian family, I've heard about how God knew me before I was even in the womb, and how God knows every hair on my head, and how He takes care of each one of us. And you hear it over and over again, till you get so used with it, and you say "Yes" to this, "I believe" to that, but I don't know how much of it we realize it. God put a big smile on my face when I heard Jesus prayed for me with thousands years before I was born. How precious is that?
           Another very special thing that popped up in this chapter, was verse 14 and 15. When we are like Jesus, the world will hate us.... for not being like them. So, trials and troubles won't leave us alone, but listen to this: "I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one"(verse 15).  That one there is the biggest hug I've got. God wraps His arms around me to protect me when I'm happy, and when I'm troubled. When I smile and when I cry. When I feel hopeless, and when my tears took the words' place. When I sleep, when I drive or drink my coffee, when I work, or when I relax. He lets me here for a while, but His eyes are on me. Like a parent with his child... he lets his kid go play at the playground, but he's always watching the child. 
          One more thing. If you look carefully throughout the whole chapter, and make a small chart of his prayer, you realize 18% of His prayer, Jesus prayed for himself, 41% He prayed for saved people and the other 41% He prayed for the unsaved ones. I compared how my prayers usually look like and I was ashamed. Honestly, how much do we pray for us and how much do we pray for others?  One frequent question in my head (now, since I realized that) is: how does my prayer look like? 




* Not all of the ideas are mine. Recently at church Pastor Phil Loria had preached from this chapter and it was too good to just keep the thoughts just for me. Some of the ideas were taken from that sermon.