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!