A Spring of New Beginnings

I don't ever remember a prettier spring in my lifetime. The trees and flowers have bloomed like I've never seen before and I've found myself enjoying my surroundings and trying my best to appreciate the fleeting beauty of it all, very much like I do every fall. The consistently perfect weather has allowed us to spend a good part of each day outside swinging, popping bubbles, drawing with sidewalk chalk, picking flowers, digging in the dirt and just enjoying hearing the birds singing.



After six months of uncertainty about where we were going to live and how we were going to make our living, we are in a good place. A peaceful place. Much like our backyard this spring where the weather is warm and the birds are chirping. It's familiar and safe, and the perfect place for our family during this season of our lives. Sometimes you need big things to happen in life to make you appreciate the details that you have never given much attention to before. I appreciate my spacious, homey house that we became a family in, as 1970's as it might be. I appreciate my job, my church, my family, my friends, and even my grocery store.

My sweet sister, Sara

Precious Cousins

Bonding with my beautiful new niece, Selah

Even though we have decided to stay and end our pursuit of a far away adventure for now, I somehow feel like this spring is a new beginning for our family. Donny is happy with what he is doing and has so much more time for our family. The stress is gone from his face and I finally have my husband back. I am going back to work and taking with me a strong new perspective and the kind of excitement I had in the beginning of my career just thinking about a fresh start. Aly will start kindergarten in the fall, and Luke learns something new every single day that is giving us small glimpses of the little boy he is becoming.

Easter 2012

I am so encouraged by God's promises. He has shown us in so many ways that He does have a plan. I have learned lessons about fear, trust, sacrifice, and thankfulness that I will hopefully never forget. I have read a lot of devotions, but this is by far the best one I have gotten my hands on in a long time. I started reading it at exactly the right time and it made a difference in the way I looked at and reacted to the difficult situation we were going through. I am thankful for this storm and I am even more thankful that it has passed! We just have to keep in mind that no matter how tough the season of life we are dealing with is, a new beginning is just around the corner.