Our 2012

This seemed to be the best way to capture our 2012 since I virtually stopped blogging last year. There wasn't much time for it and at times it was hard to know what to say and how to communicate all that we were going through as a family. There were moments of so much joy, Edith, was a huge source of that. I look at her and I know that God gave her to us for a reason, He knew what we were going to walk through this year and he knew what a wonderful distraction she would be. When I am with her, her joy is contagious and I can't help but smile.

So many moments I felt a loss for words, utterly crushed, and often perplexed, blogging, for me, just wasn't the outlet to share those dark days. Maybe someday I will, but for now this I do know, that God carried us and that He is real. I saw Him move in ways I never could have imagined and I felt the peace and power of God even in the deepest valleys. This year I wrestled with truths I have known my whole life and at times doubted the goodness of God. These words from John Piper were a huge encouragement to me personally:

"It is utterly crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold Him." 

We were carried this year, through prayers, meals delivered, babies held and watched, and in countless other ways. I think last year taught us a lot. That pain is real, that earth is not our home, and that we shouldn't be surprised when trials come. My friend, Tali, who has been through so much really said it best:

"We are different people now, changed by the storms we have walked through. God has worked in us in so many ways, and we are not so innocent thinking that difficulty will never find us, but full of faith that when they do, God will be there and He will hold us up again."

Our 2013 hasn't been all that different, on Saturday, we are going to the funeral of our dear cousin, Steve, who died suddenly while vacationing with his wife, Jeannine. We are devastated and grieving with our family over this loss. He was such an incredible blessing to our family and we are so glad to have known him and felt his love. We know that our lives won't be the same without him and he will be missed.

2 Cor. 4:7-9 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."



My First Project from Janet Remsnyder on Vimeo.