New Year...New Beginnings...New Adventures

I've been debating on whether or not I was going to talk about this on my blog. I had a friend tell me not to say anything and to keep this "offline", but I feel it would be good for me to tell it to my blogging friends. You all mean a lot to me and this blog is the only way I communicate with some of you. It will also explain where I've been the past few weeks, so, here I go. 

If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook, you are probably already aware of this. The last time I updated my blog was the afternoon of December 14. That evening I went out to do some Christmas shopping and buy stuff for the Christmas party I was hosting the next evening. I got back to my apartment complex about 8pm. As I was opening my car door to get out, someone pulled the door opened and grabbed me. I remember him saying, "Don't scream or I'll shoot you." It was then I noticed another guy standing behind him. They had on masks so I couldn't see their faces. They ordered me to leave everything in my car. They pulled me out of the car and ordered me to move. I turned around to get away and at that time a third guy ran up to my car to get in the back seat. They drove off in my car, taking my purse, phone, and Christmas presents with them. I was able to flag down someone on the side street and used their phone to call 911. After the police got there and took my statement, they drove me to a friend's house (because I don't know anyone's number by heart anymore so I couldn't call anyone). Needless to say I stayed with my friend that night. I was able to get a hold of the emergency maintenance crew at my complex to come change my locks that night (seeing that my apartment keys were in my car and my driver's license had my apartment number). The only way I knew to reach out to friends was through Facebook so I updated my status letting everyone know what had happened and that I needed them to send me their phone numbers so I could eventually call them. My friend that I stayed with called my parents for me (to explain what had happened but to let them know I was okay). I did talk to my dad so he could hear my voice, but at that time I was crying too much to really be understood.

The day after the incident two of my brothers showed up to "take me home" (meaning to my folks). I spent about three weeks with my family. It was good to get away from everything and spend time with loved ones. Also it was good for my family to see me and spend the time with me. I come from a "hugging" family to begin with, but there were definitely more hugs this time. I did make it back to the Dallas area last week. Needless to say, I'm moving from my complex, so I've been busy packing up my apartment. I was able to find a new apartment complex in another part of town that I will be moving to next month. I've lived in my current apartment seven years so it's been hard packing up to leave my "home". 

I can't even begin to describe how God has blessed me through all of this. First of all, I was not physically hurt. They wanted my car, not me. I will be forever grateful for that. I also can't think too much about what COULD have happened. Second, I knew that I had a lot of great friends who loved me, but this incident has just reaffirmed it. Words cannot describe how much my friends mean to me and how they have supported me (and are still supporting me) through this. I've received so many texts, Facebook messages, tweets, phone calls, and emails from people offering prayers and support. I love them all so much.

The police did eventually find my car- it was totaled. I went to the impound lot to look at it and it was heartbreaking. Since the night it was stolen I kept telling people the only thing I wanted back was my Bible. I knew the purse, phone, and presents would all be gone, but I've had that Bible 10 years and it means a lot to me. I had left it on the backseat after church that previous Sunday. I had many notes written in it from sermons and messages that I've heard over the years. When I got to the impound lot I noticed the back seat was empty (except for trash that the thieves had left). My heart sank. I noticed some stuff in the far back and starting sorting through it. Under a bunch of papers I found my Bible. I'll admit that I cried when I saw it. Maybe it would have been better if the thieves had taken it and read it though, but I'm happy they left it. 

My cousin's sweet daughter is letting me use her iPhone until I can replace the one that was stolen. I was able to put my old number on it the day after this happened so my friends could reach me, and vice versa. A lot of friends called just because they needed to hear my voice- and it was good to hear theirs. Let me say that I'm terrible about backing up my iPhone and syncing it to my computer. I go months without syncing my phone. I just happened to have synced my phone the afternoon of the 14th, so when I got the replacement phone, all my contacts information/texts/photos were there. It would have been okay if they hadn't been there, but it was nice to have everything back. Oh, my old iPhone had a password on it so the thieves weren't able to use it. I called to report my phone stolen the night my car was taken so it was shut off pretty soon afterwards. Thankfully they hadn't used any of my credit cards (which I also canceled that night). I never have cash, so I didn't lose any money there.

I go back to work next week in an attempt to have a little "normality" back in my life. I will have been off work a month when I go back. Let me say I work for a very understanding company that has put my well being ahead of everything else. I also have wonderful coworkers who have made me feel very loved, they are like my second family.

Of course the question I'm asked all the time is "how are you doing?" (and I honestly don't mind you asking that so please don't stop). :) The truth is, I'm physically okay. That is the best answer I can give. I could lie and say that I'm doing great, but I'm not. Not now. I'm seeing a counselor and am looking for a support group for victims of crimes. I've been told this is going to take a while to get over, but I have a great support group already in my family and friends. From people offering to let me stay with them (because let's face it, I don't feel comfortable staying at my apartment at night anymore), to people offering to help me financially. I start crying just thinking about how loved I feel right now.

I do plan to keep blogging. I plan on getting back to my silly and crazy posts that you have grown to know and love. I plan on getting back to being me again. I don't know how often I will blog for the next month or so, but I will do my best. Baseball season is just around the corner and you know what that means! :) Just so you know, I love y'all (I've been telling all my friends this more often since this happened), but maybe we should always let our friends and family know that we love them. Even those of you I've never met, I'm blessed to at least be a part of your life through this blog. Prayers and positive thoughts are appreciated. I know that God has plans for me. I have no doubt He's going to use this experience so I can help someone else. I'm looking forward to 2013. This is going to be a good year.

XOXO.

For those wanting photo proof I'm "okay", here is me and my nephew E collecting shells along the beach over New Year's weekend.