2011 Reflections

12 months, 52 weeks, 365 days, and too may hours to count the year of 2011 is winding down...

It is hard to believe that a new year is just around the corner. It seems like yesterday I was sitting on my couch watching the ball drop drinking my sparkling grape juice (which is amazing by the way) and getting teary eyed tha a new year was here. The year of 2011 sure did fly by. It is amazing to look back and see all the things the Lord did in my life and how I feel I have changed. I know I am not the same person I was last year.

The biggest (and the most exciting) thing this year was having my nose surgery. My mom has been wanting me to have surgery for a long time, and I just kept on saying I am not ready for it. In January, I went to the Dr. Trimas to see about having surgery done on my nose. He told me that he could do the surgery and that he would work with the insurance about covering it. In March, I recieved a letter from the insurance company and the first letter I received said "yes we will cover the surgery." The next day, I received another letter that said "no we will not cover the surgery." The dillio was that they would cover for the doctor to remove the neurofibroma and NOT to reconstruct it because it was "cosmetic." I was devastated, and yes I did cry in front of my entire class about it. I called the doctor and they told me what was going on. My main thoughts in my heart and mind was "Lord, do you really want me to have this surgery. Because I really did have peace about it and feel like this is something You want me to do so if so please work out the insurance issues or give me lots of money to pay for this." It took several week, but then I received a phone call from the doctor to schedule my surgery--INSURANCE was going to cover it!!!!! =)  On June 10, 2011, I had surgery on my nose. I am so happy wth the results and so THANKFUL for my doctor and to the Lord for giving the doctor I needed to help me and for insurance covering the surgery.

My biggest goal of 2011 was to grow closer to the Lord. I do have to admit I had a hard time keeping that goal. I did deactivate my facebook account for a month. That was the best month of the year. I sure did have a lot of  "time" for things--like Bible study. This year was also a spiritual roller coaster for me---being unsure of things, doubting, and learning to trust the Lord. One thing I see tat I need to work on is being more of a spirtual encouragement to my friends. The BIGGEST thing my walk with the Lord is not where it needs to be.....sadly I have been "too lazy" to do anything about it. My goal os 2012 is to work on my walk with the Lord and get back to wear I need to be. Lately, I have found myself discouraged and negative instead of my upbeat self. My goal in 2012 is to work on my walk with the Lord. I am realizing that it doesn't happen all by itself--it takes work just like friendship and marriage it takes work.

I also was trying to lose some weight. Between January and June I lost 10 pounds...oh how well I was doing. Then I stopped exercising, started eating junk food again, and just didn't care and those 10+ lbs came back. I have to admit my motto at the time was "you only live once enjoy those yummy foods." Just recently I have really realized that if I am not careful I can hurt my body by all that junk I put in it.

In August, I started my fifth year of teaching, and my second year teaching K5. I love my class and all my "little blessings." I do have to admit that there have been some challentes along the way....but the Lord has really seen me through some difficult times when i was wondering if I were doing the right thing.

I also spent my first Thanksgiving away from home. It was too expensive to fly to NC, so I stayed in Florida with some friends. I missed my family a lot, but am thankful for the Wimoths for adopting me for a day.

At the end of November I had the wonderful opportunity to see one of my best friends, Hannah. She and her husband Lech came to the states for Thanksgiving. I took a personal day off work, drove the 2 1/2 hours to Savannah and spent the day with her. It was a treasured and special time with my dear friend.

December 2011, was the busiest month of the year. I was helping with a slide show for my church's cantata, directing the speaking parts, making gifts for my school class and friends, parties, and church activites. I also came down with some 24 hour flu in the midst of being busy and trying to get things done. Everything worked out beautifully (when at the time I thought it wouldn't). My single's class went to Okeefenokee Swamp and we sang to some of the people there around a camp fire. It was a wonderful time of fellowhip together as Christian friends. I also drove the eight hours to see my family in NC. Along the way I stopped and saw the Davis family. While there for the evening I experience a jail hospital for the first time. Their church along with the Rock of Ages Prison Ministry went to the jail hospital to sing and preach. It was a scary experience, but also a blessed ministring to those in the prison hospital. After Christmas, I drove up to Roanoke, VA to see Amy and her husband Clay. It was a wonderful time spent wiht some great friends.

I am thankful for the year the Lord gave me and looking foward to what He is going to do in my life in the year 2012.

Its Late...

It is late.....its 4:00 am and I am  still awake....mostly because I fell asleept after dinner and slept till almost 10:00.

It is almost two weeks before the new year and I am already tryin to set some new year goals....the first one is to work on my spiritual life (more about that to come later). The second is to lose weight. Last year I lost 10 pounds and how great I felt and happy I was. It took six months to do it, but I did it. Then school started. I became stressed over some issues. I ate. I gained 10+ pounds back. I got to the point I didn't care anymore. If I was going to be overweight and fat so be it. I even told someone I didn't care--life it short I was going to eat what I want and do what I want and if I get fat and gain weight so be it.

Then I tried on winter clothes...nothing fit...I tried on some newer dresses I bought...I looked fat....I look in the mirror and look horrible...I did this to myself AGAIN.

So this coming 2012 I am going to be a "biggest loser" I am going to exercise. I am going to eat right. I am going to lose that weight and get back down to what I was in high-school--135lbs istead of a whopping 170 lbs.

Its my choice I can eat and sit around or I can eat better and exercise and care about my health....I want to take the route of caring about my health =) I am thinking of startin a little online diary thing if I can find one to help me keep track of losing the weight and getting healthy.

Going to Prison....

Yes you read that right "going to prison." What an adventure my Christmas break started out to be quite an adventure. I have to back up to the night before though....how tired I was. My class had spent the afternoon decorating Christmas cookies, had to get my room ready for a party, go to wal-mart twice, do laundry, clean the kitchen, my bathroom, and my bedroom, and lasts but not  least pack! My goal was to get to bed at 11:00 so I wouldn't be too tired to drive to SC the next day. I called mom Davis and she told me they were going caroling and that I was welcome to go with them! I love singing, I love caroling, I love Christmas! My brain had registered that they were going to a hospital--but I was thinking an elderly rest home or even a children's hospital. When we got into the van to go caroling they said okay here we go to prison! I was like "WHAT?! did you say prison?!" The Davis were "yeah we are going to the prison hospital." I could not believe what I was about to do....I Rebecca Joy Page, one who was always up for an adventure, bashful around new groups, and who will try new things was going to a prison hospital. When we arrived my eyes were wide eyed at the barbed wire, the fence, and the "high-security." We met the Rock of Ages Prison ministry men there and the "leader" took our I.D's while we waited in this small fenced in area to get visitor tags. Then we proceeded into a metal dectector (which it went off on me because of my jewlery), and then droped off keys at the key holder place. We went through doors that had to be opened by a code and crowded into a small chapel where we talked about what we were doing and signed a form for liability sake. We then went to certain floors in the hospital and sang to people. I have to admit I had in my mind the fear of one of the prisoners taking my hostage, or grabbing me, or hurting me....I was also the youngest one in the group that was there. As we sang I did my best to look up off the words of my music and into the eyes of those men that were there. Some of them were excited about us being there and about hearing God's Word. One man was excited about a Bible I figure he had just received. Some of those men and woman looked lost. As I reflect back on that evening I was thankful my fear melted away and that I was able to be a blessing to others. I even think....I wish my church in Florida would do this what a blessing it is! Yes I admit I was afraid the entire time, but I felt God's guiding hand and Love helping me to serve. Next time (which I hope there will be a next time), I hope I can be more of a blessing to those I visit. =)

P.S. Yes, I eventually looked up from my music and looked and the people ;)

Merry Christmas!

This is the Day

Its amazing the things that you can take away from your professors at college. I learned so much in my academic studies, took many tests, had  a lot of classes, projects, and papers. But there are a few things I remember from my days at BJU. One teacher in particular was influential in my life-- Mr. Moose. Mr. Moose was my Classroom Communication teacher. It was a required class for education majors, and of course I liked it because it was Speech. There was one morning I was espeically meloncoly. It was too the point that I felt like crying and it didn't helpt that my teacher had a picture of different "mood faces."

He then asked each of us how we felt...lets just say I chose the one with the grumpy look (hey at least I am honest). Then he proceeded to go into a devotional, on top of that he was especially chipper that cold, rainy, autumn day in Greenville, SC.  He started to talk about the fall leaves and how beautiful they looked against the gray sky and how much brighter they were when it was gloomy and rainy. He also shared the verse "this is the day that the Lord hath made."

When walking back across campus what he said stuck with me. I looked across at the red/orange maple trees that lined the entry way and saw how beautiful they looked against the gray sky. My smile was turned into a frown and my heart sang "This is the Day."

Today, as I sing the song with my students or at church I think of Mr.Moose and the lesson he taught me that cold, rainy, fall day.

Thank you Mr. Moose

Simple Reminders from a Little Girl

This is a short post but had to share this sweet reminder:

Every morning I call each student's name out to do my attendance. I expect each of them to say "Good Morning" when calling their names. I feel this helps in the manner and common courtesy toward other people. Sometimes, I will ask them questions (how their weekend was or how they are feeling)--what can I say I LOVE talking to my students and them talking back to me when the time is right. Today, I called on of my students names. In her sweet little voice she says "Good Morning Miss Page Jesus loves you!" I just love how my students remind me of things that even so simple I can forget.

Praise God for my students who remind me that "Jesus loves me!" =)

I Think it is Amazing.....

Over the past few weeks I have struggled with some things in my spiritual life. I have to admit....I have become very mediocre ...I feel like I have made myself go "through the motions." The things I have been struggling with were pointed out and taught and preached about yesterday day at church.

First, my heart and mind. My heart seems to have not been into anything except cooking, facebook, and netflix. Those three things are the things I have felt like doing....instead of focusing on my walk with God. I have known I have been struggling but haven't really wanted to do anything about it. I feel like yesterday was a "wake up call" for this struggle. I know its going to take hard work on my part and determination and the right focus to get my heart and mind back where it needs to be. But, I know that I want to have the right relationship with God so He can use me effectively.'

Second, Pastor Masitto preached on God's Word lighting your path. It was a wonderful message. A message I know I needed to hear. I have struggled keeping up with my daily devotions and Bible reading. I feel I have become one of those people who takes their Bible to church on Sunday then it stays on my dresser until Wednesday. I need to get myself back into God's Word. In January/February when I deactivated my facebook account was the best month....because when I didn't have the facebook account I had "more time" (well not really more time but had my focus off facebook) to spend reading the Bible.

As I said I think its amazing how the Lord works things out and you hear messages preached when you really really really need them.

Five Minute Friday: Remember

I treasure each memory in my life--the small details, the good times, and even the bad. The half dozen or so photo albums filled with dozens of picture tell a story of my life and brings to remembrance the trips, school memories, and friends I have had and still have.

Here are a few of my special memories:

~ Having open heart surgery and my two aunts being there to paint while in the playroom or put flowers in my hair.
~ My first drivers test---going down the wrong side of the road.
~ Going off to BJU and crying when I saw the sign on the interstate and my dad laughing at me...although I didn't show it my parents dropping me off at BJU was hard
~ Meeting that best friend I had prayed for for years, Amy Mason Dalton. Tons of memories of our days at BJU
~ Starbucks and Sonic with Hannah
~Going to Germany/Austria for the first time and in awe with everything around me, also my trip to Canada amd Niagra Falls, and my first out of country mission trip to Mexico.
~ Deciding to have surgery on my nose last year--big decision and will never forget how it came about--annoying ringworm