Looking Back

I have found myself feeling quite nostalgic lately.  It all began when I looked at pictures of our old house that's for sale again.  We lived there until I was going into fifth grade and I have so many happy memories of living there (playing outside in the big yard and sledding down the little hill, dress up and barbies in the bedrooms, daily activities around the unique house, etc.).  Looking at the pictures made me miss it, even though it looks quite different from when we lived there.

Wednesday Jos started his junior year of high school, yesterday Shelb moved to college for her final semester, and today Charley is moving into college for her freshman year.  I find it hard to believe how old we are all getting.  Josiah is the only one of us kids living at home now.  I miss the days when all of us lived at home.  I always get sad when one of us leaves home because it is another small way growing up is changing our family.  The change is good and exciting, but it still makes me miss when we were younger and we were all still home together.  These thoughts tend to have a domino effect to reminding me of lots of other things I miss about being younger.  Things like sitting on my grandpas' laps, family walks or bike rides, watching shows like Pooh Bear, baking with my grandmas, etc.

Now don't get me wrong; I am thrilled with where I am at in life.  I love being married to Michael, and I am excited for what the future holds for us.

In my reminiscing, I have also found myself rejoicing and praising God for the many ways he has been faithful to me and my family throughout the years.  The Old Testament is filled with passages recounting how God has provided for his people and remained faithful to them.  He has been and will continue to be faithful to his people even when they are not faithful to him.  He is perfect in his faithfulness.  That means we, as his children, can always trust him and his plans for us, even when it doesn't make sense.  I love resting in that truth.  It is so humbling to know that God knows and loves me specifically, and it is truly amazing to recognize that he also knows and loves specifically everyone else in the world who has ever lived or will ever live.  What an awesome God! 

Summer Happenings

Wow, it's been a long time...I have been meaning to write for quite a while, but that obviously hasn't happened.  A lot has happened in the last four months.  Here are some of the high lights:

• I finished my last long-term subbing position of the year.  It was a challenging position, but I learned a lot and really enjoyed my time with those first graders.  
• Michael and I went to Italy with Matt and Amy.  We visited Cinque Terre, Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, and Lake Como.  It was such a blessing to get to spend some time with them and to see more of God's beautiful creation.  We loved our time there!

• I got a job teaching kindergarten in the fall!  
• We spent some time in Orange City with Michael's family.  It was fun to see everyone and celebrate Jason's 30th birthday.  We relaxed, played badminton, went swimming, etc.  
• We have had several friends get married including Carter and Lindsey.  Their wedding was definitely a high light for our summer.  Carter is one of Michael's best friends and one of my favorite guys so we are thrilled that he found such a quality girl to marry and share life with.  They had a beautiful, God honoring ceremony and it was absolutely wonderful to get to celebrate with them.  

•   I went to Colorado with my family (poor Michael had to stay home and work because he was out of vacation days).  It was fun to spend time with my family and the friends we stayed with.  We went to the town of Boulder, toured the Broncos Stadium, visited the zoo (the tigers, gorillas, and orangutans were the best), got up early to try to climb a mountain (and were rained out), and many other things.  It was a blast!  

Some truths I have found encouraging this summer: 

• God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He is faithful.  The same God who was the God of Abraham is the same God today and He cares for individuals and loves them specifically.  
• I am a trophy of grace.  God used his conquering power not to crush me in my sin, but to transform me into his likeness.