I just finished reviewing my past year based on how I have lived out my One Word for 2022 which is SENT.

I was amazed to realize and be reminded of what the grace and mercy of God have enabled me to do in spite of my grief of losing my father at the start of the year 2022. I also realized that I didn’t get to set goals last year because Tatay passed away in January and around a week before that, my husband had COVID. I was so busy taking care of the whole household and the things that needed to be done when someone in the family dies. I wrote about this in detail and how I was able to cope here.

Then, everyone in our family of five got sick also before Christmas one after the other. It was the first time that I got sick last year with a fever. Usually, I do not get sick and I am the one taking care of my sick family members. Maybe, it was the accumulation of my many nights and days of fatigue working on so many things at home, at work, and in my ministry. Actually, our two younger kids got sick also late in October. Thank God that we recovered right away from our sickness.

But it was still awesome what God has enabled me to accomplish despite all these challenges!

I was amazed that I still got to give 14 talks, had 5 media guestings, and 1 online storytelling session with kids. I wrote about my last media guesting in my previous blog post here.

I was able to write 37 blog posts! My blog (this blog) ranked in the Top 20 Parenting Blogs and Women’s Blogs in the Philippines in 2022. We were able to launch my eldest son Yanthy’s Christmas album with 10 singles. I wrote about this here. I organized an online retreat for homeschool moms (this was recorded so in case you want to go on a retreat this year, you can watch this) and the Parade of Saints onsite or in the church in our parish among many other things and events for our family and my other ministries. I got to make a lyric video for my song composition and uploaded it on my YouTube channel Follow God with Teresa. I got to record and upload 2 episodes for Season 2 of my podcast with the same title.

More importantly, I found ways for my 2 younger children to have their 1st Confession and 1st Holy Communion during the pandemic. I also blogged about this here and here. I had coaching, consulting, and editing clients. I had blog collaborations. I was able to serve in ministries in various ways. I got to serve in our parish and in our diocese. Of course, I got to serve my immediate and extended family. I got to serve fellow homeschoolers through my involvement in various homeschool groups and through our new homeschool provider.

All of these on top of the many demands of running a household and homeschooling 3 kids and submitting school requirements for my boys. Wow!

I can really do all things through Christ who is my strength!

Philippians 4:13

I know that if not for His grace, I would not be able to do all these.

I remember that there were many times when I felt so drained and exhausted and I did not know how I would be able to do the things on my long to-do list. Yet God, time and time again, delivers me and upholds me.

His grace and mercy are new every morning, every single day. That’s what sustains me!

Before I did this exercise of reviewing how I have lived out my One Word (SENT) for 2022, I was unsure if I was able to do what God wanted me to do last year. But after some time to retrospect and having remembered all these, my heart was filled with joy and thanksgiving to God!

I realized and remembered where God SENT me to minister and how God sent me.

Once more, I give thanks to God for not leaving my side in the past year!

Now, I can say that I am more confident and ready to step into 2023 after remembering God’s faithfulness and power in my life no matter what I was going through.

I’m not yet done with my 2022 review. This exercise was just skimming the surface. I have yet to do my business review. That would be more detailed and tedious. I hope to do it this month also if God wills it. That would really be helpful in finalizing my goals for 2023.

Next time, I will share with you my One Word and One Verse for this year.

I just thought of sharing these insights with you. I pray that you’d be encouraged to rely more on God’s strength and grace as well this 2023. He never forsakes us. All we need is to call on Him for help. In truth, sometimes, even before we ask for His help, He already sends answers to our prayers. We have a gracious, merciful, and all-good God! May His Holy Name be praised always and forever! I give back the glory and praise to Him who empowers me!