I still haven’t finished my Christmas newsletter. I should probably move on. It’s not that there’s nothing to write about either. I think it has to do with this blog. I’ve blogged for almost an entire year, I started on January 31st, 2006. I have poured out my heart, opened my closets and shared with you what has been going on from the day to day minor things like children’s scraps and falls to the big changes life brings. I am sure I have used up my 25,000 words per day. I am stuck in “Park”. I should just email everyone my blog address and say read for yourself!

No, that’s not nice I know. But I am stumped! I am never at a loss for words – why now?

2006 ~ A year in review

January started off rough. A friend of ours, a golfing bud of my hubby’s – died suddenly of a heart attack on January 1st, he was 45 year old. This was probably one of the hardest funerals he has ever had to do in his near 20 years in ministry (not that any are easy…). We weren’t sure how the year would play out but we knew that the only way to go was up. Thinking back on the funeral, God did some wonderful things, people are still talking about it and how much it touched them and one very special person in our lives made a commitment to Christ. Good fruit I tell ya!

The rest of the winter and early spring were filled with wonderful moments. My mom and sister (Lala) flew out here for a ladies weekend getaway. It was the first time that I’ve seen my little baby sister – minister. It was an amazing moment for this big sis, a very proud moment! I’m sure my mom felt the same thing, she just sat back and drank it all in, her two youngest daughters coming into their own. It was a very short trip but I’m glad I had every second of it.

In April we made a family pilgrimage to Washington, D.C. to visit with friends of ours in Maryland along the way and to attend a conference at a church that relates to us in Virginia. This was a God appointed trip. We had the opportunity to introduce our friends in Maryland to our friends in Virginia and they have since connected at such an awesome level that our friends in Maryland have since moved closer to the church in Virginia to be a part of what’s going on there. See what happens when you include God in every aspect of your life — even your family vacation time??

In May little Jake and I flew back to B.C. for a quick 6 day trip for my niece’s wedding. The first wedding of the next generation on my side of the family. She was so beautiful and the reception rocked! We had such a fun time as a family dancing the night away. I flew back just in time for our annual week-long leadership conference. More great “family” time!! We also celebrated our 10th year anniversary. Wow, I can’t believe that much time has gone by!

Being off this year on maternity leave has been wonderful. In June, July and August we watched the kids play, Jake grew so much and we settled more and more into our house. We camped at our favourite campground in the Muskoka’s with the church and for a week with friends (who have never camped before in their life) before school went back in. Our oldest was extremely blessed this summer, my parents flew him out to BC so that they could take two of their grandchildren to Disneyland in California. Q had a wonderful trip and made some great memories with his Nana and Papa who he doesn’t get to see that often.

In September Q started grade 3, Em’s in grade 1 and our little Li Li started JK (junior kindergarten). He looked so little getting on the bus for the first time! They are all doing very well in their new classes with their new teachers and have made new friends very easily. I’ve seen a huge improvement in Em’s reading and Q’s problem solving skills. Li is also a blessing to his class; the teachers and office staff have fallen in love with him and his smile. He lights up a room!!!

October we were totally spoiled rotten! My parents took us on an 11 day cruise around the Hawaiian Islands. Everything was perfect; the weather, the scenery, the company… It was a great trip and I know it was an answer to prayer. The morning we pulled into the pier in Kauai we passed the hotel we stayed at for our honeymoon (back in 1996). God reminded me that one night while on that very beach we had said how wonderful it would be if we could come back here for our 10th anniversary and cruise around the Islands. We gave it no other thought but God heard us and He provided!

I’ve learned a lot over the past year. We experienced a lot of highs and we had to walk through some lows. Through it all I know that God was faithful. He never changed. He never walked away from us. He was there at every turn, dip or dive.

James 1:2-4 was the first Scripture to stand out to me in 2007, “Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.”

The key word here is ENDURANCE! “the ability to withstand hardship or adversity; especially: the ability to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity.” To be able to stand under pressure and not be moved. Perseverance! Staying power! Keep on ~ Keeping on.