This year that was !

 Nothing in all of creation will ever separate us from Gods love. Romans 8:28

About 2 years ago, Doug made some of these wooden trees for me. We gave some as gifts to people and kept one for ourselves. It lives at the front door. Each year I repaint it and change the wording written on it. I always paint a declaration; a truth from Gods word. It stands at the front door for everyone to read as they enter our home. We sure do have many who enter. May these words be a blessing and a thought provoking truth for those who come past. May God grow this truth and may it bear fruit.

As I painted the wooden tree, I prayed and thought; and thought and prayed. I had been looking through some photographs from about 2 years ago. Some dear sweet chubby cheeked photographs of the boys and friends from that time. I am always amazed at the memories photographs bring with them. Deep and perhaps forgotten things that happened. They represent a time in ones life and transport one back there in a flash. 

I was reminded of good teachers and fun times from the relaxed days at preschool and how far each son has travelled though the years with James having just completed his first year at high school and Jethro going to grade 3. 

I thought of the love regained and the good found and Gods real, rich grace toward us as a family.

 I thanked him!

I thought of the old relationships , perhaps a little stale and strained and how God has applied his healing and refreshed and answered prayers.

I mourned for those losses we experience in life and cried out to him for broken people who are unable to love well and are uncaring or unkind because of it.

And so I reflected on the love and the loss from the year gone by and once again rejoiced that God is at work and his purposes are being perfected in all things and all situations.

This was a painting prayer time that then extended ....

Painting and I are good, familiar friends. And so, I began to spot some other old friends that needed a face lift of sorts. This old stone statue for example:)

I love this old ugly thing because it is a symbol of family. It is a symbol for our family. That precious circle God grows as we love and learn together through all the good times and the bad times.

We have one another.

I have had to learn this for our family because I never had that in my childhood. it is a precious reality for us as a family of 6 and God has sewn it together and held it there. 

And so I painted and prayed - thank you Lord for the work you have done in my and in this marriage and so for our children!!

Big stuff and our very, very BIG and wonderful God.

This little flower was a gift from a new friend. I met her while running Wriggle and Rhyme years back and we have remained friends. It was a good reminder of the new things God brings into our lives. People especially but also new experiences.

This year High School was new for us all. We walked this journey with James leading it ( because he had to do it),and it has been good and a blessing in many ways.

Teenage stuff has all been new too. the most exciting of all has been to watch as God takes him on his own personal fledgling journey. He is off to Crossword Camp on Monday for the week , on his own with no good guy friend with him. He is good at doing things on his own and we are trusting and praying that James will meet with Jesus this week and that he will for ever be assured of the truth of HIM.

Lastly, I painted this strange stick friend again. About 2 years ago I made this weird stick creation and it has been our garden friend ever since. It was looking a bit sad and faded and so I granted it a face lift and .......

Lastly, I have put this fun and funny photo in as a reminder that this year was full of laughter. When you have a teenager or two there is always a lot of fun and laughter in the middle of all the other stuff and it was a good reminder of how much and how deep we laughed. It was good!!

Thank you Lord for a good year of fun and laughter. Thank you for being real and faithful to us as a family and for all our answered prayers. Thank you for carrying us in the good and sad times we had. You are faithful and your love endures forever.

Thank you for Jesus!!

Thank you for this great family and for each and every dear person who you brought into our lives this year. May we be to them all you have purposed us to be.