2011

I have been mulling this post around in my brain for several months now and decided today that I need to write it down before I forget!  Many of you know that 2007 was an incredibly tough year for us for many reasons, including living in 4 different countries in that year alone.  We finally ended up in one place where we stayed put for the next 2 years.  It was a good place for our family, but Daddy and I never really felt completely settled there.  We always felt like there was somewhere else we were going to go instead of not staying there long term.  We spent most of 2010 in the States for a much needed break, great visits with family and friends, and the birth of our sweet Mercy.  Then in the fall of 2010 we moved to the mega-city that we currently live in.  Honestly, we didn't know what to expect, and weren't super looking forward to being in such a big city.  We stayed here all of 2011 and are miraculously still here.  In many regards we are "not supposed to be here", but we still are.  As I look back over the year of 2011 I see the stability our family has had living in one place that we have come to LOVE, and I can't tell you how grateful I am.  To begin with, our apartment is perfect for our family, our neighborhood couldn't be better (5 minute walk from a huge park), and we've enjoyed this city so much more than we ever expected to.  The icing on the cake has been the incredible community of foreigners that we have been fellowshipping and having church with.  They have encouraged, nurtured, and loved us as well as prayed for us and held us accountable to the Lord's standards.  What an awesome gift from the Father that He has so blessed us with.  I feel like our family has thrived here in the past year.  Home school has gone so well with all 3 boys.  I survived another year of difficulties in nursing and was able to nurse Mercy just past her first birthday, which was my hope all along.  And to top it all off, we've had so many opportunities to share the greatest gift we have with many who don't know Him.  2011 was a really great year for us.  And I don't say that lightly nor do I take it for granted.  Back in December I was walking home on a crisp, blue-sky day and I was listening to Steven Curtis Chapman's newest album "Re:Creation".  The last song on the album is called "Sing Hallelujah", and I began to weep at His hand in our lives as I listed to the words:   

Sing hallelujah
The sun’s breaking through
To take back the dark sky
And make everything new

We knew joy was coming
But we just had to wait
And now we sing hallelujah
'Cause it’s a brand new day

So let’s sing hallelujah
The dark night is gone
Creation is singing
So come join in the song

The Father is calling
To come out and play
So we’ll sing hallelujah
'Cause it’s a brand new day

Sing hallelujah
It’s a brand new, beautiful day 


That may not mean much to you, but all of a sudden it struck me how much the Lord had blessed our family in 2011.  Granted, He blesses us every year in countless ways, but in that moment He gave me the grace to see His greatness poured out on us in blessings.  He has shown us His greatness and goodness through difficult years (like 2007) and He has shown us Himself through great years like 2011.  Praise be to Him for such a great gift.  And thanks be to Him for letting me see it.

Tongue?

When your five year old begins to wax eloquent, you never know what he might say...  Tonight I commented to him about how "tough" he was today (after being hurt repeatedly in various and sundry events).  He thought for a minute and then said, "It's like God is making our whole family into one big giraffe!"  I was baffled how that could happen or what in the world made him think of that, but I went with it (as only a mother of small children could).  He said, "And I'm the tongue of the giraffe because giraffe's tongues are tough because, you know, they eat thorns."  Um, okay, son.  He then proceeded to tell me which part of the giraffe each of the rest of us were.  I just agreed and told him it was time to go to sleep now.  :o)  In all truth, I was just glad he didn't say anyone was the rear end of the giraffe.