If you weren't following my blog last year, you missed some good stuff. And by good stuff, I mean a lot of dramatic, whiny posts about how stressed out I was because I didn't have a job.

I realize that compared to the loss of a loved one, a medical diagnosis, or your house burning down (or blowing away in a tornado if you live in Oklahoma), getting fired from your job really isn't the bottom of the barrel as far as depressing life events go. But man did it sure feel like it.

I did a lot of soul searching during the 8 months I was unemployed. I cried a lot, prayed a lot, and took a lot of trips to Texas to hang out with my family at the lake and lie in mega hammock, because, well, duh. It's mega hammock. I wrote this post, which was my attempt at "getting fired humor" even though what I really wanted to do was rant about stuff. Stuff like terrible bosses and unjust firings.

I also logged almost 900 miles last year, including 2 full marathons, 3 half marathons, a 25k, and 3 5ks. Running that much in a year sounds absolutely unfathomable to me (I did it, but I can't believe it), but it kept me sane and gave me a place to work through my anger. I also think it's safe to say that running saved Jordan from my crazy state of mind.

The point of this post isn't to go into the whole story or recap my year. That's over and done with, and now I have a fabulously amazing job that I love. (Which I might write more about later... job hunting stuff, that is, and 9-5 jobs in general. I have thoughts.)

But I didn't want to let today go by without a nod to the last 365 days.

It was one of the hardest and yet most rewarding years of my life. I learned some valuable lessons, and I like to think it changed me for the better. I hope it did, although I think I'm still too close to it to tell exactly how.

What I do know is that I saw, like never before, the clear hand of God in my life. His provision. His peace. His promise to sustain me and provide in good times and bad. Last year I got the chance to practice what I preach about the "in bad times" part. For that, although it was hard, I am thankful.

Here's to another year full of surprises. That hopefully does not include a new job.
[null, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GHUQ0lF3To/UwlpSnZqgLI/AAAAAAAAAxw/XrLrmztcVmY/s1600/flowers.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1GHUQ0lF3To/UwlpSnZqgLI/AAAAAAAAAxw/XrLrmztcVmY/s1600/flowers.jpg", "formatted_filename": "flowers", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 426}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMU4d7LVW4/Uwlp0I6d3YI/AAAAAAAAAx4/_MvzVimJz8A/s1600/mega+hammock.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jSMU4d7LVW4/Uwlp0I6d3YI/AAAAAAAAAx4/_MvzVimJz8A/s1600/mega+hammock.jpg", "formatted_filename": "mega hammock", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 426}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3I2xoDcq7k/UwpLKJTe71I/AAAAAAAAAz8/hL2MykxyBNg/s1600/jesus1.jpg", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r3I2xoDcq7k/UwpLKJTe71I/AAAAAAAAAz8/hL2MykxyBNg/s1600/jesus1.jpg", "formatted_filename": "jesus", "rendered_width": 640, "rendered_height": 400}, null, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwuFQLzJbS4/Vz4u5myXazI/AAAAAAAAF5w/S6sh6o_JeegsBsl1MCf48IAPxlHFlaJIgCK4B/s1600/welcome%2Bpic%2B1.png", "src": "http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GwuFQLzJbS4/Vz4u5myXazI/AAAAAAAAF5w/S6sh6o_JeegsBsl1MCf48IAPxlHFlaJIgCK4B/s1600/welcome%2Bpic%2B1.png", "formatted_filename": "welcome Bpic B", "rendered_width": 220, "rendered_height": 241}, null, null, null, null, null, null, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBfvIYcUQ2Y/WwIxbrT5N1I/AAAAAAAAIhU/j1qwlvMCOhgLeEh4Re6Q-sP6Zd9xdgU8wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/kidizen.jpg", "src": "http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hBfvIYcUQ2Y/WwIxbrT5N1I/AAAAAAAAIhU/j1qwlvMCOhgLeEh4Re6Q-sP6Zd9xdgU8wCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/kidizen.jpg", "formatted_filename": "kidizen", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 206}, {"document_url": "http://www.theladyokieblog.com/2014/02/one-year-ago-today-i-got-fired.html", "unformatted_src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4Gia2ULotg/WwIx9AZuZCI/AAAAAAAAIhg/S5sp98aZaVQxYy17-mlJJIe2ieJ9Sj6ngCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/minted.jpg", "src": "http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-S4Gia2ULotg/WwIx9AZuZCI/AAAAAAAAIhg/S5sp98aZaVQxYy17-mlJJIe2ieJ9Sj6ngCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/minted.jpg", "formatted_filename": "minted", "rendered_width": 250, "rendered_height": 208}, null]