Looking Back

Reflecting on 2012 we can't help but praise our great God for His goodness, mercy, and patience. Looking back at the last twelve months we can see grace upon grace. 

"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."

Throughout this year, time and time again, we were reminded of God's continual faithfulness. 

"if we are faithless He remains faithful." 

I confess there were seasons of weakness and disappointment but more abundantly there were sweet seasons of rejoicing and overflowing thanksgiving. When my faith would falter He was constant. This year I saw His compassion unlike I have ever before. My weakness was palpable but His loving-kindness washed over me with ineffable power. He is always near to us.

"God is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth."

We hit the ground running as the year began. It was exactly a year ago that I began to chronicle our adventures in renovating 'the little house' here on our blog. It's incredible looking back at what a year can bring. 

As I write tonight I'm sitting cozy in our little house feeling our precious baby girl wiggle to a comfortable position in my rounded belly. Our cottage project is basically complete and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. 

January brought dreams and plans of renovations, February was accompanied by new perspective through a gift from my beloved mama in love, and March was busy but April brought new meaning to working over time! Finally, in May we made the cottage our home. In June we not only celebrated a sweet first anniversary but we also learned that God had granted the desire of our hearts- a baby. July was most notably characterized by nausea but the highlight was an amazing week at the beach with all of our precious extended family. August brought the start of a new position in Kindergarten and a scary few weeks as we pleaded the Father on behalf of sweet Grammy. September came with great rejoicing as Grammy was finally on the mend- little else mattered. In October our world turned pink as we learned our precious baby is a girl- Macie Jane! The chill of November made me fall even more in love with the cozy house we call our home. Before we knew it the holidays were upon us and the house was bedecked in twinkle lights and candy canes. 

Sometimes I look around and can't believe all that we have been blessed with. I am undeserving. I walk with an incredibly good God. 

"He is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us."

The same verse Joshua referenced as he proposed a little over two years ago continues to resonate. 

As we look towards 2013 we cling to our hope in Christ. We pray we will never forget all he taught us over the last year. He is above all faithful and we move forward with confidence knowing that His good work is only just beginning. We will begin a new chapter. In addition to our experience as son and daughter, brother and sister, husband and wife- we now add daddy and mama. 

What a wonderful blessing. 

We pray that God will grant His grace and wisdom- we need His nearness.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!
Psalm 106:51