Wordless Wednesday

Yep, that's a colander.

Having Ourselves a Merry Little Christmas...

 

Watching a bit of Charlie Brown's Christmas-- She loves it!

 Lucy went to visit her Nana and became buddies with Santa at the Christmas Party.

 

 Our Tree. I love it. Most of the ornaments are up high-- except for the "touchable" ones. Lucy gets upset if she comes out and the lights are not on. It's so funny, she notices right away. I could do an entire post on our tree. I would like to add more to our tree. I think it needs ribbon.  I am one of those people that never could do a theme Christmas tree because I love how all of our ornaments are different. Most of them tell a story or remind me of a special time. This year when we unpacked them, there were several that our dear friends in Wake Forest had given us or made for us. Those are some of my absolute favorite.

 

Last week, Lucy brought me two shopping bags and her coat and then proceeded to wait by the door... still in her pajamas. HA! I love my little shopper. 

 

 Our Nativity. I would like to find more nativities in the future and have them all over the house-- for now, we have two. This one and Lucy's---

 Which she LOVES. Love those Little People products.

 

 This is how she usually plays with it. Her mom straightens it when she's not looking. :)

My favorite Christmas decoration of all. 

Another Valley From Which to Give Thanks...

 A couple of weeks after we moved to Georgia, I found myself reflecting one day on trials or "valleys" and the goodness of our God. After almost 18 months of uncertainty about where and when the Lord would lead us, we were all of a sudden, where He LED us.

And then we went, and here we are.

As I reflected on all that God had done to provide for us a way to move, a place to live, a church to attend, my favorite grocery store nearby, not to mention a very good job for Lance-- I was blessed beyond speech. So many times I sat down at my computer to share these joys with you and all I could do was Praise God and Thank Him for His timing.

Not many days went by before I found myself just the teeniest, tiniest bit homesick. Not for Wake Forest necessarily... though we DO miss it. But homesick for the trial. I found myself actually missing that feeling of knowing little else except that "God is GOOD and we trust Him." Both of those things are just as true today as they were six months ago, but I know I'm not the only one who finds it less of a struggle to completely RELY on Him when we have so many unanswered questions then when things are a bit smoother. It is in those times that our relationship has the potential to grow so sweet as we are constantly and painfully aware of our helplessness.

I can honestly say that I PRAISE GOD for those many days of knowing very little of our future. I know that there will be a piece of those days in every day to come as we look to Him for our every need. Though it seems as though we were just in a period of unanswered questions, I thank Him that we find ourselves in another right now. I thank Him that there will undoubtedly be many more.. and that He will be faithful in every one.

As for today, I do not know why God chose to take our precious unborn child after only a handful of weeks of rejoicing that we would, again be parents. I don't even know what to say but that it hurts my heart. But I will rest in the promise that He is good and we trust Him. My heart is filled with joy that this sweet Stuckey Baby will never know pain or suffering and that He or She has already seen our Lord face to face. And I cannot deny the fact that I am thankful for every little and big reminder that we are completely reliant on God for our every need. I am ever grateful for His grace. And I am even more thankful (if that's was even possible) for my Lance and my Lucy. 

And for you... and your prayers.

And since you've patiently read through these many paragraphs, I shall reward you with a picture of our little family. :)