Three Years

Three years.  Where has the time gone?  The memories of that day still flow through my head as if it were yesterday.  I can replay the entire evening.  Those painful thoughts will never leave me.  Our sweet Brady James left us here on earth to go to his eternal home - January 12, 2009.  So many questions and no answers.  Why us?

But I/we have changed...even come to a point of being thankful for that night.  The Bible says to “give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)  That can’t be right.  All circumstances?  How is that even possible?  

How in the world do we thank God for taking our little baby?  

Trust.

We trust that his plan for our family is perfect.  Although some days are easier than others, we trust.  David writes in Psalm 13 - “How long, O Lord?  Will you forget me forever?  How long will you hide your face from me?  How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart?”

Psalms is one of my favorite books because David (the author of this chapter) is real.  He asks questions and writes truth from his heart.  He does not stray from asking God the tough questions...and he still trusts.

At the end of the Psalm 13 David writes:  “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me.”

So just as David waited- we wait and trust. Giving thanks to God for His love and blessings.  Even during difficult times we are called to give thanks- for he has done great things for us.

We have been singing a song in church called “Thank You” by Hillsong United.  Listen to the words and give thanks...

From Christmas to the New Year

We enjoyed spending time with our friends and family over the last few weeks.  A few weeks of busyness is worth being able to spend time with the people we are thankful to have in our lives.  


We celebrated Christmas with my side of the family the Tuesday before Christmas.  Katie, Andrew, and Peyton did not make the trip home this year...but hopefully we will see them soon!

Our party with the Lubbers was the Monday after Christmas.

Lauren and Allie each made us a reindeer craft.  Lauren made these cute reindeer out of root beer bottles.

And Allie made these cute candy cane reindeer:)

We had fun opening gifts from both sides of our families for our future babies.  They spoiled us with books and toys for the little ones who are not even in our lives yet.


We were able to spend a lot of time with friends the week after Christmas.  Thursday night we had dinner with some high school friends and were able to hear all about Sara & Don's twin boys from Ethiopia!  They are currently waiting for a court date to be able to travel there and meet them for the first time!


Scott and I arranged to have a few extra days off work together...so on Friday we decided to do something we had not done since junior high?!??! Skiing!  We drove to Cadillac with Jill & Toby for the day and went to Caberfae Peaks.  We were both a little nervous since it had been so long, but we had so much fun!  I forgot how much I really do like to ski...and no injuries...just a few sore muscles!

We rang in the New Year with Robb & Katie, and Mike & Lisa while playing "The Game of Things" (great party game!), relaxed on a very snowy New Years Day, had our small group over to watch football on the 2nd, and celebrated a Meeechigan victory in the Sugar Bowl on the 3rd with the Sayers!