2011 Reflections

We are {already!} two weeks into 2012.

Over the past couple of weeks as I've sat in the early morning hours with my ever-present coffee-with-lots-of-cream and my Bible,

{while missing my sparkly white twinkling lights from our Christmas tree 

that I sat next to the whole month of December!}

I've reflected on 2011, and I've thought a lot about Joshua.

you see, he was the leader of the Israelites when, after 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Lord parted the Jordan river and allowed them to cross into the Promised Land.

After they had crossed over, Joshua commanded them to take 12 stones and build a memorial.

a public testimony of the power of God.

a reminder of God's goodness, mercy, and faithfulness to them.

As 2011 came to a close, my heart has reflected on God's goodness and faithfulness to us personally throughout the 12 months.

Some of the months got long.

{like all of last spring? whoa. it was long, folks}.

Some of the months were sweet and easy.

however, through out it all, God was faithful. merciful. kind. provisionary.

----

I spent the first two weeks of February in East Africa.

i loved it. a whole lot.

{and will get back on a plane in a heart beat as soon as the Lord tells me to go}

As we prayed about whether or not I should go on that trip to Uganda, I wrote out a list of four reasons that made me not want to go. four things that the Lord had to work out for me.

And you know what?

as I prayed and read the Word, seeking His direction,

the Lord answered every.single.one. of those four reasons.

2011 Memorial Stone #1.

God heard my prayers.

He answered. in very specific, very tangible ways.

-----

When I got off that plane from Africa, Matt and Grant met me at the airport.

Grant's leg pain had culminated while I was gone, and that day in the airport?

he refused to walk.

to climb into a chair.

to get into his carseat.

the little man was hurting.

a few weeks later and several doctors visits later, he remained undiagnosed, and yet his symptoms mirrored the childhood leukemia checklist.

as I stood in our upstairs hallway after tucking Grant in one night,

I cried. and cried some more. and clung to Matt, and we cried out to God together.

i pleaded for no leukemia.

but in all, I pleaded for the right doctors at the right time.

and just a week later a super-specialist got us in,

got Grant checked out,

his symptoms under control,

and made the very clear diagnosis of *just* juvenile arthritis.

thank God.

2011 Memorial Stone #2.

the very best doctor for Grant.

one of the best hospitals in the nation.

exactly when we needed it

God came through.

and He has continued to,

with just the right medicines for our sweet boy,

exactly when we need them.

----

a few months later I sat next to a hospital bed with our sweet baby girl.

I will always remember the moment when the ER doctor took one look at her, then looked at me and said

prepare to stay.

she was sick.

really, really sick.

late that night

I was exhausted.

physically, emotionally.

Grace wasn't sleeping, and was in a serious amount of pain from one of her super strong antibiotics.

I sent a text to a couple of my late-night-friends.

pray. right now. please, pray.

they did.

ten minutes later the on-call doctor happened to call Grace's nurse.

upon hearing Grace's condition, he immediately ordered some medicine to calm her down.

and then, with her in her itty hospital gown, hooked up to wires, laying on me in her white-sheeted-hospital bed, we slept together.

and I praised God for his provision. and prayed for her to not get worse.

and three days later,

we were home.

2011 Memorial Stone #3.

our baby girl had toxic shock syndrome.

but God allowed her ENT to extraordinarily quickly recognize her symptoms and get us seen.

praise be to God.

-----

2011 was a big year for us.

We {clearly} dealt with a lot of health issues.

as I head into 2012, I build these memorial stones, just like the Israelites did.

come what may in 2012, may I never forget that through some very, very hard situations,

God has proven over and over and over again that

He.is.faithful.

and He will continue to be through out whatever the next year may hold.

if I may be honest for a moment,

I do get kinda nervous about what health issues we'll face in 2012.

but I remind myself of God's very specific direction in our lives,

and I {try} go into 2012 confidant, bold, ready.

at the very least, I go into this New Year trusting in the One who knows what new trials we will face.

Whatever the Lord has for my life,

may I be worthy.

Be a workman not ashamed.

be competent to complete the good works He's prepared in advance for me to do.

and in all,

may my life reflect more Glory to our King.

Happy 2012, everyone.

May your year be full of God's faithfulness, too.