Happy New Year!
2010 was an amazing year for our family. I love looking back and seeing the highs and lows that were the journey of the last 365.
Just as we ended the year with a stomach virus, we also started 2010 with one as well. Nice to know.
I ate my words (and sort of kept them all at the same time) saying (in my pre-motherhood life) that I'd never drive a mini-van.
In span of 30 days....
My Grandmother had, survived and recovered completely from major open heart surgery...
We withstood the chaos of me being 8.5 months pregnant with my husband several states away all while prepping our house to sell...
And we OFFICIALLY adopted our daughter Olivia!
And all of that happened a mere month before my due date with our youngest, and 6th, child. Keep in mind, too, that at that point in our lives, all of our kids were ages 5 and younger. Whew!
God certainly proved Himself faithful in that season of our lives. Even while I lamented no activity with my cervix, God was busy moving in other areas. A few weeks later, we moved into our new (rental) house and our friends Overwhelmed me with an outpouring of their love and support.
While waiting on Baby #6 to arrive, we began to reveal to you all just how God had been working in our lives in the way of missions. From the Darkness of a uncertain season with God and from the Inital Cry of my heart, God began confirming in both Luke and I our calling to missions.
Finally, FINALLY at 42 weeks and 1 day Little Miss Ella Joy made her world debut.
God continued Calling Just Like Before as we began to feel, even stronger, our calling to missions. Even with questions, and doubts, AND FEARS.
We landed The Mothership and I still love it.
I admitted, and you all agreed, that Being A Mom Is Tough.
Lucas and Ashlee turned FOUR.
And a week later, Aaron turned TWO.
A month or so later, my shins went on strike after I ran my first (and so far only) 5k.
Then, my first baby, Elizabeth, turned SIX.
I realized my need for wax earplugs.
My friend GK sat her drink dangerously close to Ella AND our laptop and I, in turn, wrote The Hardest Post I've Ever Written.
After 4 years of staying land locked, we found out that Life's a Beach.
God showed me, again, why I don't believe in Coincidences. Only Providence.
Our sweet, dramatic and joyful Olivia turned TWO.
I was reminded that even during chaos, the Lord Binds Me Up and Gives Me Strength.
Aaron gave me his first scare with thinking he needed stitches...thanks to Lucas' help.
I tried my hand at being a Photographer and had the Judd's in my head for the entire next week.
We attended Africa Inland Mission's Candidate Week in New York, and were appointed as Members! (Official Missionaries!)
On our way there, we stopped and visited Washington D.C. and realized that Getting There Was Half the Battle.
We published our First Official Ministry Newsletter as AIM Missionaries and continue to wrestle and pray over a location.
We realized that Crazy Has Company and I officially gave up on Potty Training anyone else ever. Or at least for the next week.
Luke and I celebrated 8 years of marriage and we continue to marvel at how much the Lord chooses to bless us.
Wow. What a year. 2011 has some big, BIG shoes to fill.
Bring it on 2011. BRING.IT.ON.
2010 was an amazing year for our family. I love looking back and seeing the highs and lows that were the journey of the last 365.
Just as we ended the year with a stomach virus, we also started 2010 with one as well. Nice to know.
I ate my words (and sort of kept them all at the same time) saying (in my pre-motherhood life) that I'd never drive a mini-van.
In span of 30 days....
My Grandmother had, survived and recovered completely from major open heart surgery...
We withstood the chaos of me being 8.5 months pregnant with my husband several states away all while prepping our house to sell...
And we OFFICIALLY adopted our daughter Olivia!
And all of that happened a mere month before my due date with our youngest, and 6th, child. Keep in mind, too, that at that point in our lives, all of our kids were ages 5 and younger. Whew!
God certainly proved Himself faithful in that season of our lives. Even while I lamented no activity with my cervix, God was busy moving in other areas. A few weeks later, we moved into our new (rental) house and our friends Overwhelmed me with an outpouring of their love and support.
While waiting on Baby #6 to arrive, we began to reveal to you all just how God had been working in our lives in the way of missions. From the Darkness of a uncertain season with God and from the Inital Cry of my heart, God began confirming in both Luke and I our calling to missions.
Finally, FINALLY at 42 weeks and 1 day Little Miss Ella Joy made her world debut.
God continued Calling Just Like Before as we began to feel, even stronger, our calling to missions. Even with questions, and doubts, AND FEARS.
We landed The Mothership and I still love it.
I admitted, and you all agreed, that Being A Mom Is Tough.
Lucas and Ashlee turned FOUR.
And a week later, Aaron turned TWO.
A month or so later, my shins went on strike after I ran my first (and so far only) 5k.
Then, my first baby, Elizabeth, turned SIX.
I realized my need for wax earplugs.
My friend GK sat her drink dangerously close to Ella AND our laptop and I, in turn, wrote The Hardest Post I've Ever Written.
After 4 years of staying land locked, we found out that Life's a Beach.
God showed me, again, why I don't believe in Coincidences. Only Providence.
Our sweet, dramatic and joyful Olivia turned TWO.
I was reminded that even during chaos, the Lord Binds Me Up and Gives Me Strength.
Aaron gave me his first scare with thinking he needed stitches...thanks to Lucas' help.
I tried my hand at being a Photographer and had the Judd's in my head for the entire next week.
We attended Africa Inland Mission's Candidate Week in New York, and were appointed as Members! (Official Missionaries!)
On our way there, we stopped and visited Washington D.C. and realized that Getting There Was Half the Battle.
We published our First Official Ministry Newsletter as AIM Missionaries and continue to wrestle and pray over a location.
We realized that Crazy Has Company and I officially gave up on Potty Training anyone else ever. Or at least for the next week.
Luke and I celebrated 8 years of marriage and we continue to marvel at how much the Lord chooses to bless us.
Wow. What a year. 2011 has some big, BIG shoes to fill.
Bring it on 2011. BRING.IT.ON.