#10 “A Lois- sized leap”

Thats me... on the left. 😊 I don't know how I did that 😊

Breathe Lois, this needs to be real, honest and open... Now breathe again…

It's been 10 years in this country and 10 days in this new city. As I take a quick look back over my journey, I'm just in awe of Gods goodness in my life.

10 years ago on the 15th of November 2006 I got on a plane and took the biggest leap of faith, and said yes to change.  

At first I thought I was just going on a holiday but after a month here and several conversations, I gave my Yes to God. I left behind my family, my friends, my culture, my country, the career I’d been working toward, my comfort zone, my home and moved to the United States. A series of events that I can truly say was God ordained. I gave a courageous Yes to whatever was ahead. 

I was 26 and super excited.

If I am honest, my intention was not to move here, I was simply visiting. I had work lined up back home, taken on responsibilities and my parents had just moved to Johannesburg to be closer to us, so I just knew that I was coming home. But while I visited Houston, it was clear to me that God had other plans for me. The first few months here were super exciting and new. My life changed tremendously over night, because of two amazing individuals who said yes to God to be the vessels He used to change my life forever. What was meant to be a month of a vacation for my first thanksgiving and Christmas ended up being a whole year and then 9 years. My life changed rapidly! I got the opportunity to travel the world with my one of my favourite singers and what an amazing Journey the last 9 years have been.Too much to write in a blog:)

Now here is the the real part….

Life happens and seasons change, as do we.

The hardest part of moving to another country is trying to fit in. I changed a little more every year. I got lost along the way.... and I didn't even know it. I was so consumed with fitting in that I forgot that all God wanted was my yes and not for me to fit in. Gosh have I learned lessons along the way. 

This past year I was pushed in ways I never imagined. From my job at the Dry Cleaners to my job as a barista/hostess/cashier at my friends new coffee bar, to my various other jobs, while building my jewelry business. I stopped singing for a long time. My father kept asking me to sing again… but I lost my love for singing and I didn’t enjoy it anymore. I sang here and there but I just didn’t even like music for a while. So I threw myself into other things while my heart healed. It has been a great year of healing, learning, and development. It still is.

I had to unlearn certain things that became my way of life and let go.

I learned that failure is simply a part the process. I gained so much freedom when I no longer placed unrealistic expectations on people. I had to learn trust again… Trusting that Gods plan for me was still good. I saw God literally take care of me, miracle, after miracle, after miracle and was reminded that his plan for me was still good. 

IS STILL GOOD!

I had to learn how to Pursue Peace. I’m so excited because I had to learn these lessons to move forward.

Peace brings me here…

10 days ago I moved to a new city… on the 15^th of November 2016 was my first day in my new City. I left behind my family in Houston, my friends, my new found culture, the career I’d been working toward, my comfort zone, my home and moved and said yes to change.

I’m 36 and I’m Super Excited.

I’m singing again. Smiling and laughing again.

I took another leap and released my first single last week. 

Please feel free to check it out and support.

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/city-without-you-single/id1174273335

In a farewell card I received when I left Houston one of my friends wrote…

“ This next step won’t be anything short of a Lois-sized leap”

And in another card I received this song:

“Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand, but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand.”

As we celebrate Thanksgiving tomorrow I am so grateful! I look back over the last 10 years with absolutely No regret Only Gratitude and Thanksgiving! I’m excited about what lies ahead. I’m in awe of Gods goodness! Just a few days ago, a friend of mine who once told me she didn’t believe in God came to the revelation that there is a God and He has a plan for her…. (But you’ll have to wait till the next blog to hear her Amazing story) WE HAVE SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

In closing…

LEAP!
Don’t try to skip your process. One step at a time…

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Cheers to the next ten. Pursue Peace Always
lois