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Reflecting on 2008

Can you all believe that we are nearing the end of 2008? To me, it feels like this year has flown by.

Our year began with our first full winter in Colorado. We live in the mountains, at an elevation of 8500 feet. We get a lot of snow. By March I thought I was going to die! I felt as though the Lord had moved us to an icebox 🙂 I thought the cold would never end. This girl from the Southern Hemisphere is NOT used to this kind of cold weather.

As the year progressed, so did our fundraising efforts for Haven’s adoption. When we agreed to adopt Haven we had NO savings—nothing! As a one income family, we pretty much live month to month, trusting God to take care of our needs. We went into the adoption trusting God with all our hearts—that He would provide every dollar we needed to bring home a little girl who so desperately needed a home. My goodness, did God provide! Every bill we had to pay was taken care of—many people who we have never even met opened their hearts to help us bring Haven home. In the end the Lord provided over $30 000! Just incredible. What an amazing journey of stepping out and trusting God for what He had told us to do. When I think about His amazing provision, well, there are no words. He is amazing and His love for orphans reaches higher than the heavens.

By the time May arrived I was VERY ready to defrost. During the summer months I was more like a reptile—soaking up EVERY minute of sunshine I possibly could 🙂 I am happy to add that this winter has been entirely different—God really had to do a work in my heart. I guess it all comes down to attitude. I am learning to have a good attitude about cold weather, which is huge for me. I am learning to bloom where He has planted us. I’m just praying our next stop is NOT Alaska 🙂

We have been stretched and challenged in so many areas of our lives this year. My sweet husband has really journeyed to find his ‘place’ in ministry in the USA. Having been missionaries for so many years, it has been quite an adjustment settling in one place. Through many challenges and changes he is loving serving as a Chaplain again. I am so proud of him—choosing to fulfill the CALL on his life and NOT being swayed by jobs that would pay more! Choosing to serve God with his whole heart, even when it seems crazy. Choosing to TRUST God as the ONLY source of our families income. How blessed I am to be married to a man who trusts God with his entire being.

Haven’s addition into our family this year has been incredible. Yes, the journey continues to be filled with highs and lows. But, it is all so worth it. I look at this sweet child and yes, she does now have hope and a future. But you know, the greatest blessing in her adoption is probably not for HER, but for US. Haven has taught us all so much. My children are learning how to love another human being when the circumstances are difficult. They are learning unconditional love. As a family, we are all learning how to GIVE—even when we don’t feel like it, even when we never see any gratitude at all, even when we never hear a thank you! We are learning how to pour ourselves out for this little girl. Yes, Haven is blessed to have a family—but the Lord knew that we needed her more than she needed us. What a joy it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus to a child. We have no idea what 2009 has in store for Haven—but we do know that with God by our sides, it is going to be GOOD!

Our children have all blossomed and grown this year. Homeschooling them has been one of my greatest joys. Having the privilege of seeing them learn and discover new things daily has been one of the highlights of my year. I am so grateful for the opportunity to keep them home with me.

The Lord has been good to us in 2008. He has been our strength and our song. He has provided in ways we never imagined. He has called us into a deeper relationship with HIM. He has done so much in our hearts—to be carried over to 2009. I will share more of that in the next few days.

As 2008 comes to a close I am so thankful for all His amazing blessings this year. Yes, in many ways it has been a challenging year. But what a blessing to know that we are strengthened by going through trials, that God uses each one of them for our GOOD! He never said the journey in life would be easy, but He did say He would be with us every step of the way—that is where my comfort lies.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!

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