Goodbye, 2010. Hello, 2011. Wow! Has that reality set in with you yet? I pray you are off to a good start in this new year. I just enjoyed looking back over last year's calendar and reflecting on God's goodness in our lives. I'm thankful for another year of life and His continual work in it. As in every year, 2010 held so many joys and blessings, and we say that God was so good in _________ (fill in the blank). We are reminded though to fill that blank in with what may humanly not seem so great to us, because God is ALWAYS good. A recent passage was brought to my attention, and I pray that through even the trials and hard times we will live this out: Habakuk 3:17-18.
I see the many entries for homeschooling activities and Girl Scout meetings that made up the beginning of 2010. This year is starting much the same. I am so thankful for the opportunities the girls have to help them learn and grow. Next week our nice, long Christmas break ends, and we get back to school and our fun meetings and outings.
I also look at last year's calendar and see all the times that dear friends and family were able to be here. My parents came in March and stayed for a week and a half. We enjoyed the mountains, the beach, and time at both Disney parks. It was so fun to have them here, and we were doubly blessed to have them return in Dec.! We just said our good-byes again yesterday, which is always difficult, especially when the next time to see each other is not planned yet. I am trying to focus on the blessing of having them and all the memories that were made--"Don't cry because it's over. Smile because it happened." Thanks, Dr. Seuss! :-)
The visits continued with our friend, Nicole, whose Marine husband was deployed overseas. She grew up 8 hrs. north of here and visited with her family much of the time her husband was gone. During that time she came South to see us and help with a church planters' conference we went to. She graciously volunteered to watch all of the children during sessions. We enjoyed having her in our home before and after the 3-day conference and catching up on what God is doing in all of our lives. Nicole was here in the middle of April, and right after she left, our dear friends, Michael and Jenny Muth and their boys, came to visit for a week and a 1/2. Jenny started selling Pampered Chef some months before, and I had wished that I could have a party with her. Guess what? She was able to do one here in CA for me, and we had a great time! The great time with the Muth family also included going to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, the San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, and just enjoying one another at home. Yes, I managed to get school done with the girls in between and even some in the midst of all of the visits from people. Visits to the aquarium and animal park are definitely educational field trips too. :-) While the Muths were here, they were able to see the outside of the house we had an offer on and the beginnings of what God was doing to allow us to buy a home in CA.
After the Muths left at the end of April, we had a couple of weeks before my sister, Sarah, and her two little ones arrived for two weeks. Yes, by this time, I wasn't sure what a normal routine exactly looked like, but we were doing well and had switched to year-round homeschooling, with permission to finish our 2009/2010 school year by the end of August. It was wonderful to spend time with my sister and her kids. They were here to celebrate Sarah and Kris's birthday, which are on the SAME day! And, Olivia's birthday is two days after theirs, so we enjoyed having them celebrate and participate in Liv's birthday and party. We did get to take Sarah and her kids to Disneyland for their first time. It went so well, and everyone had a blast! We even got to go to the aquarium in Long Beach with them for free because of rain checks we received the day the Muths were here and went. And, the Muths really saw everything inside and mostly outside there anyway and were ready to go when we got the rain checks. Thank you, Lord, for free tickets! Anyway, Sarah was a big help to me in preparing to move into our new house--picking out paint colors, giving me ideas about rooms, etc. We closed on the house and moved into it 6 days after Sarah left.
So, yes, 2010 involved purchasing a new home in CA. That still is amazing to me. Who would have thought? We thank God for allowing us to find this house in the same neighborhood in which we had been renting--one less new thing to get used to. The house was a short-sale and was full of trash (see facebook album), but there was no major damage, and we bought it for less than 1/2 the price they had built it for just a few years ago. Again, we are thankful for God's provision and are enjoying making this house a home.
Summer of 2010 involved Emma's going away for a week of camp. Soon after she got home, we left for a fantastic vacation to MI for two family reunions on my side of the family in the Detroit area the first week. One sad element though was missing my aunt who had died from pulmonary fibrosis earlier in the year. It was hard to believe she really wasn't at the family reunion on my dad's side. Thankfully she is with the Lord and out of pain/discomfort, breathing perfectly in His presence. We spent the 2nd week of our vacation up in Midland, visiting friends we moved away from in 2008. What a blessing that was! We were gone for almost 2 1/2 weeks total. It was a nice break from school, setting up the new house, etc. Wonderful memories were made that will be cherished for the rest of our lives.
We came back from MI and had yet another visit from great friends who were out to help with the ministry here. The Thompson family from SC helped us pass out door hangers and church brochures in many neighborhoods in the area. They also helped one night with a market night in a nearby city where we talked to people and gave out tracts and church info. We thank God for the Thompsons' including us in their family mission trip to CA to help SoCal church planters. They have been dear friends for over a decade, and just spending time with their family was a blessing!
The girls and I finished up the school year in August and began the next one just after Labor Day. I was a bit fried by this point but knew God's grace was sustaining me. :-) Year-round schooling is not our plan this year, and we don't expect it to be as busy of a year. Whew! We have had a great start to this school year so far and had very little interruptions in our progress. Hopefully we will be done in June this time.
I can't forget the visit we had from Karmen (Kris's sister), Terry, and their boys at Thanksgiving. They came for a few days, and we had a great time with them, including a trip to Santa Monica Pier, an In N Out Burger in the Beverly Hills area, a walk up and down Rodeo Drive and finally a visit along Hollywood Blvd. and the Highland Center.
Well, as I do end this very long blog post, I do want to say that my biggest personal earthly blessings continue to be the husband and children that God has given me. Kris is such a loving, caring, helpful husband and father--I am constantly amazed and humbled. I am thankful for a godly man who encourages me to know God better and to live in His grace! I love him and our girls more than words can say. I have enjoyed getting to know the girls in a unique way by homeschooling these last couple of years and am cherishing this time with them. Our family desires to love God and love people. I pray 2011 will be a great year full of more opportunities to grow in these areas. I've mentioned before that the ministry God called us to here in CA is looking ahead at what changes need to be made in location and outreach to the surrounding communities in 2011. We appreciate your prayers for us and this mission field as we seek God's will.
Happy New Year, and may you know God's saving grace and/or sustaining grace in your life in 2011!
