About this time last year I was still rediscovering my place and purpose in this world. My lifestyle had drastically changed and it was up to me to back my words with my actions… not to mention come face to face with weaknesses and flaws I never even knew I had! But like a good friend of mine keeps reminding me, ‘pressure has the power to burst pipes or make diamonds’… I just had to decide which one I wanted to be.

I started 2009 with hopes & dreams in my bank account, which unfortunately proved about as useful as Monopoly money. However, it was time I learned a very valuable lesson in ‘receiving’ help from others and letting go of the ‘I can do everything on my own’ mentality. I filled many journal pages with daily accounts of blessings (food, money, jobs, help with the magazine, etc), which were always perfectly timed ‘coincidences’ that proved to be the product of trusting God and walking through each door opened for me.

Simply stated, my 2009 became the year that I learned to ‘let go’ and ‘let God.’ Letting Him take the driver’s seat of my life has allowed me to actually enjoy this journey and not stress about the outcome… a big lesson in ‘trust’ and living only for each day.

My adventures continued… on the Revolve Tour around the country until the end of February. Then the mad month of March finalized the magazine, sent it to print, & prepared for our launch party at Murray Hill Theatre. Radio interviews, mass emails, flyers, MySpace, Twitter, WordPress & Facebook blasts were created to promote the event. Hundreds of teens came to watch the heavy metal bands and spoken word performances. Our team of over 30 people were involved in one way or another & goodie bags were distributed at the end of the night with a copy of the magazine. It was a huge success! April was dedicated to the distribution of 5,000 copies to over 30 youth groups & organizations in the city. The rest of the summer was full of speaking engagements, meetings with various ministries & CEO’s, participation in local events, & continuing the production of the next 3 issues. Now sprinkle in my personal life and I had myself a completely full dance card (Is that the saying?)

The excitement was so intense that, before I knew it, I was officially overwhelmed! We hosted our first event, a teen 80’s movie night, but we still needed to register as a ‘non-profit,’ develop a fund-raising strategy, find writers to fill in gaps, & directors to take over the local outreach projects & events. I had gotten in way over my head and needed to re-evaluate where I had taken us, so I sought out guidance from mentors and spiritual leaders.

The answer to the madness became the major decision to run the business as a for-profit, sell advertising, and let God grow it as He sees fit. I realized that I needed to revert back to my original idea of just publishing the magazine, without all the bells and whistles of a full-blown youth ministry.

2009 has had to be one of my most accomplished, exciting, traveled, & most memorable years yet… Between CSM, my sister Renee’s 20’s themed wedding at Bok Tower Gardens, Natacha’s NYC wedding, the Women of Faith tour around the country, my visit to see Evan in L.A., getting to attend the Hillsong Conference in Miami for my 31st bday, summer youth camp, hosting the news for our women’s conference, discovering my desire to be a public speaker, vision correction surgery (thanks mom), weekly volunteering, Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace University, bible study, promotions & publicity for local bands, a social life (ha ha), & my new job serving at The Capital Grille so I could pay my debt and work on the mag during the day… I can’t wait to see where 2010 brings me! (Dear Baby Jesus: I would like a successful magazine & a beautiful husband with a heart for ministry please!)