two big issues were put to rest today. first, I received my first paycheck at my new job and could not deposit it without thanking God and patting myself on the back for how far I've come in two relatively short years. I've still got quite a way to go but cheers to steadily moving in the right direction.

and a new lease has been signed that guarantees that I can stay put for the next six months. a stress relief like no other. again, purely the work of God.

the biggest lesson I've learned from dealing with the two greatest stressors I've faced in a really long time is that you have to trust in God with all of your heart. I'm a praying person. I pray alllllll day. When I pray, I believe and I understand that sometimes the answer is no, or not now, but it's always for the best. To see the way some things turned out when I swore they were not going my way is a testimony to "everything happens for a reason". At the same time, I have a tendency to still feel the need to complain about my situation to mahj or a friend, not because I don't believe it'll work out but just to let them know that there's something that's frustrating me. As a believing person, I need to learn how to talk about my frustrations without being frustrated, because, really, what's the point of getting annoyed if I already know it's going to work itself out for the best?