"I've never done this before ..."

I have spent the better part of 2012 making the statement, "I've never done this before ..."  Funny thing, every time I turn around, I find myself saying it again and again.  

I am one of those who "plays it safe".  I stick to what I know, keep it simple, "color in the lines".  

However, 2012 has presented a number of situations that have pushed me out of the nest, as it were.  And as scary as a few of those have been, boy have I learned a lot!

Each year the Lord gives me a word.  It is a personal and intimate word, just between He and I.  This year the word came in the form of a statement, "be confident, be in control."  My first thought was, "OK?!  What does that mean?"  Well it didn't take long before the events began coming my way.  Between a more serious (and terrifying) event of caring for my husband while he went through three major back surgeries for spinal cord injury, in a matter of three months, to a lighter and more fun event of creating my very first pdf quilt pattern to be sold (quilt is enroute to the quilter now).  Stretch grow learn ....  stretch grow learn ... repeat.

What about you.  Taking inventory on 2012, what have you learned?  What events have occurred that have stretched you?  How have you grown from them?

"take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you shall find rest for your souls" Mt. 11:29