There are many who would say that we should not spend out lives looking back. In some senses this may be true. We shouldn't look back, continually going over mistakes or sins - dragging them up in our mind, let alone in conversation. We shouldn't look back with regrets, with a negative perspective - mulling over things we wished we had done differently. What's done is done, and we can't change it.
However, there is great blessing in looking back over the good, and rejoicing with thanksgiving for the things that have happened in our lives.
Undoubtedly, this has been a year of great blessing to our family. Just today, I am celebrating 13 years of marriage to the love of my life. What incomparable years of joy they have been. The blessings of marriage are so many, that I cannot begin to count them up in a blog post. Our love has grown, our relationship deepened, our personalities matured and our character improved All of this adds up to a continuing love for each other, as we daily learn to die to self and give to one another. I love Robert greatly, and am thankful for him every day. I can not imagine life without him.
We have been blessed with another child - our seventh. I can hardly believe, 13 years on, that we have been so wonderfully blessed with these 7 children, from the Lord. Simeon is a joy, and it is thrilling to see him develop and grow every day. He's getting more vocal, more mobile and ever more adorable. All of the other children continue to grow, and learn. We have many "wobbly" moments, where things don't go as smoothly, humanly speaking, as we would wish. Balancing that all out, and tipping in the opposite direction, are the rich, moments of blessing that the children bring. The smiles, the laughter, the tender moments, the little things they say, the precious things they do. All a blessing. And, even in the trying times, there is always something to find, which we can still be thankful for.
We are continually blessed and encouraged by our extended family. Opportunities to meet up together, and have fun have been a joy. To grow closer, to be blessed by help, and kindness, and love, and generosity of many varieties. Family is always a blessing.
Related to that has been the opportunity to open up our wonderful, new home, to have many people come to visit and to stay. It's SUCH a blessing to now have home large enough to not only have room for our own family, but have room to comfortably accommodate overnight visitors.
We have been blessed with friendship. Through my contacts with Facebook, we have made several new friends. Some that are more exclusive to me, in my online contacts - friends who I come alongside with, in prayer and praise, and who span all corners of the globe. What a blessing to see answered prayer, and to be encouraged in my Christian walk by other like-minded Sisters. Some are friends who have extended to an IRL capacity - "In Real Life". To meet people and find they are just as you imagined, and have friendships bloom and grow. What a blessing and encouragement. To have many come to stay in our home, and to be able to talk of the things of the Lord, laugh about many different things, and be so deeply blessed by the company of so many. We particularly enjoyed meeting the St John family, and the blessing and encouragement that friendship has been to us.
We have been blessed in our journey in home education. Beginning new curricula, seeing the children come on in leaps and bounds, having Susie start to read, and the general privilege of having my children with me in the home every day. Is it hard at times. Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
We rejoice to keep in touch with friends who have been with us in years gone by, and now see them ministering in many ways, and in many places. What a thrill to see young men labouring for the Lord, and new families being raised for God's glory.
My heart is truly full, as I look back at the blessing that God has filled my life with. We are contented with the many blessings which the Lord has bestowed upon us.
And, as I look back, with a full heart, I give thanks.
Thanks for the many, many wonderful gifts that God has given me.
However, there is great blessing in looking back over the good, and rejoicing with thanksgiving for the things that have happened in our lives.
Undoubtedly, this has been a year of great blessing to our family. Just today, I am celebrating 13 years of marriage to the love of my life. What incomparable years of joy they have been. The blessings of marriage are so many, that I cannot begin to count them up in a blog post. Our love has grown, our relationship deepened, our personalities matured and our character improved All of this adds up to a continuing love for each other, as we daily learn to die to self and give to one another. I love Robert greatly, and am thankful for him every day. I can not imagine life without him.
We have been blessed with another child - our seventh. I can hardly believe, 13 years on, that we have been so wonderfully blessed with these 7 children, from the Lord. Simeon is a joy, and it is thrilling to see him develop and grow every day. He's getting more vocal, more mobile and ever more adorable. All of the other children continue to grow, and learn. We have many "wobbly" moments, where things don't go as smoothly, humanly speaking, as we would wish. Balancing that all out, and tipping in the opposite direction, are the rich, moments of blessing that the children bring. The smiles, the laughter, the tender moments, the little things they say, the precious things they do. All a blessing. And, even in the trying times, there is always something to find, which we can still be thankful for.
We are continually blessed and encouraged by our extended family. Opportunities to meet up together, and have fun have been a joy. To grow closer, to be blessed by help, and kindness, and love, and generosity of many varieties. Family is always a blessing.
Related to that has been the opportunity to open up our wonderful, new home, to have many people come to visit and to stay. It's SUCH a blessing to now have home large enough to not only have room for our own family, but have room to comfortably accommodate overnight visitors.
We have been blessed with friendship. Through my contacts with Facebook, we have made several new friends. Some that are more exclusive to me, in my online contacts - friends who I come alongside with, in prayer and praise, and who span all corners of the globe. What a blessing to see answered prayer, and to be encouraged in my Christian walk by other like-minded Sisters. Some are friends who have extended to an IRL capacity - "In Real Life". To meet people and find they are just as you imagined, and have friendships bloom and grow. What a blessing and encouragement. To have many come to stay in our home, and to be able to talk of the things of the Lord, laugh about many different things, and be so deeply blessed by the company of so many. We particularly enjoyed meeting the St John family, and the blessing and encouragement that friendship has been to us.
We have been blessed in our journey in home education. Beginning new curricula, seeing the children come on in leaps and bounds, having Susie start to read, and the general privilege of having my children with me in the home every day. Is it hard at times. Yes. Is it worth it? Absolutely!
We rejoice to keep in touch with friends who have been with us in years gone by, and now see them ministering in many ways, and in many places. What a thrill to see young men labouring for the Lord, and new families being raised for God's glory.
My heart is truly full, as I look back at the blessing that God has filled my life with. We are contented with the many blessings which the Lord has bestowed upon us.
And, as I look back, with a full heart, I give thanks.
Thanks for the many, many wonderful gifts that God has given me.
"for consider how great things he hath done for you."
I Samuel 12:24
"The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. "
Psalm 126:3
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