“September 2018, my world, as I knew it and took for granted, turned upside down after an intestinal surgery went wrong. It was my second such surgery in six months due to a mistake made in my first emergency surgery.  Long story short and after three total surgeries within 14 months, I had no choice but to retire early from a thirty-year career with the same Federal Agency.

I had to basically pick myself up and start anew with a new body, not being able to eat enough to sustain my weight, a new identity after leaving Federal Service way before my plans to retire, and a new purpose.

When I look back, my Heavenly Father was there every step of my continuing long health journey.

After this year of catastrophic, painful losses that have come way too close to home, mother nature’s western fires and southern tropical storms, continued political division, and sad racial unrest, I sit in my recliner with my angelic, faithful, loyal furry BFF, and look at all the Christmas decor I’ve set out, and with Christmas songs in the air, I’m finding peace and joy fill my heart.  It is he, our beautiful Lord and Savior, that is truly the only thing that matters. I give him all the credit in building me back up and I know that one day in the not so distant future, I will feel whole again.

May God bless each one of you and yours with peace, hope, joy and love this Advent Season

— Annie Tusha