New Beginnings

With the start of a new year, comes new beginnings.  So much has happened this past year.  When I think back to this time last year, I had no idea the changes our family would go through.  I had no idea the ups and downs, the joy, the pain, the immense love we would feel for a tiny little angel, the heartache we would feel from losing him, the joy we would feel with the birth of our first grandson, the happiness watching our 2nd oldest graduate from high school, watching our children adjust to a new area/schools/new friends, etc.,

I'm so glad we don't know the future.  If someone had told me what this past year would hold in store for our family, I don't know if I would have believed it.

How thankful I am for new beginnings.  How thankful I am for a loving Heavenly Father, who has so much trust in each of us that He allows us to experience things, hard things and then He stands by with outstretched arms, waiting to comfort us, waiting to encourage us to persevere.  He knows we can 'do all things' if we will seek Him out.  So many times this past year, I tried to do it by myself.  I thought I needed to be strong and get through it by myself. When I would fall to the lowest point, I would remember I needed His help.

When I look at each of our children, I see just how much they have grown.  They experienced a loss of a sibling this year, something that most children their age will never experience.  They have cried tears of pain and heartache and loss, they have laughed together as they remembered good times, they have had to step up just a little more than most kids as they have worked through their feelings and sadness.  They are going to be alright. They are strong.  They are not afraid to talk about things they are feeling.  They have taught me so much as we have gone through this process together.  They have given me extra hugs when they knew I needed them, they have helped me laugh and told me funny stories.  Yeah, they're gonna be alright.

So, here's to New Beginnings!  I can't even begin to imagine what this year holds in store for each of us!  But I'm excited to experience it all!!!