Last week in church, our pastor had an open mic time where anyone who wanted got to get up and finish the statement: I give glory to God in 2013 for...
I was not brave enough at the moment to stand up, but I can't get that phrase out of my head and I think that it would be a good way to sum up 2013. These are ways that God could alone have orchestrated my life to this point and prayers that were answered, so to him be the glory for these blessings in 2013
January
In January, I asked my church friend, Cici Scott, to lunch to see if ACS would actually be opening the next Fall because we were in if it was. She of course said yes and just happened to ask me about my past teaching experience, which led to me getting to help work on some of the behind the scenes stuff of starting a school in the curriculum department. Tears come almost every time I think about it because as a mom you can put so much on the back burner and I had almost forgotten how much I love teaching and curriculum development. It was so good for me to get to do something again that gives me so much joy. I also forged a friendship with Dusty the headmaster and someone I highly look up to. It was really Dusty who helped put me at peace about sending Bailey to a school in its inaugural year. I can't even put her into words, but she is just awesome and oozes Jesus. I saw her navigate many things this summer with great leadership and dependence on the Lord. And not to mention that she taught my brother in high school and loves high school basketball as much as I do. So, I give God all the glory for us ending up at ACS and the peace that came with that decision and for allowing me to do something that I love in a way that worked with me staying at home.
March
In March, Luke's business was definitely at a point where he could no longer be a one man show and he was going to hire a construction manager. He interviewed a handful of candidates, but the position ended up going to a friend of Joel's, Craig Trimble. Craig was someone we had known at a distance for many years through the Fosheas and he has been a great fit for the job. So, I give God all the glory for giving Mezger Homes Craig as a construction manager and it goes without saying that Luke could never have been at a point on his own to hire a construction manager without your favor on his business.
May
I am on the volunteer council at our preschool and in May it was time to decide positions for the next year. I had great anxiety about this because I had absolutely over-committed myself from May 2012- May 2013, recognized that, and was not looking to do that again, but I could not see a way around me getting either president or vice-president. I am not president material and have never seen my gifting to be that. I would say that I would be a great vice president, except that this position was really not about supporting the president, but about fundraising, which is a very time consuming position and that's was the last thing I needed on my plate this year. All I could do was pray about it and I still shake my head at the fact that I am our social media/communication coordinator, a position that was not there last year & is a good fit for me. So, God I give you the glory for working out the details of my preschool position to allow me to do something that I enjoy and for the way that the meeting took place.
July
In July we saw a positive sign on a pregnancy test. I don't want this to come out the wrong way, but this was not in Melissa's plan at the time and maybe not in Melissa's plan at all. We were taking care of my mother-in-law a lot due to some health issues and I was dealing with some major discipline issues with two/three kids I already had, so I didn't think it was wise for our marriage to add another one to our family at that time. Plus I wasn't feeling great- heartburn, tired, nausea, which all came very, very early in this pregnancy, however, I have a sensitive stomach and energy issues, so I just thought I was dealing with something and needed to change my diet. I was completely surprised to find out that all those issues were because I was pregnant. I do want to add that Luke & I had many conversations prior to that about wanting a fourth kid, but this would not have been my choice of timing and this summer was so hard that I was also okay with letting that go. Well, God had another plan, a little boy he wanted us to have. I should add that Luke had never waivered in wanting a fourth, so he was ecstatic to find out we were expecting and although I can't say that was my first reaction I am very excited about Beau. So, God I give you the glory for a fourth little blessing that will soon be coming to our family and that your plan is better than mine.
August
I got the answer to a small prayer I had been praying in regards to my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) group. I wanted to be in a group with someone I knew, even just knew a little, which was kind of me praying that BSF would break their rules because usually you are not allowed to be in the same group with people you know or go to church with because cliques might form and it is their way to be denominationally neutral. I have no idea why God allowed this prayer to be answered other than that I asked, but I am thankful He did answer it in someone who lives in my neighborhood. So, God I give you the glory for being a God of even the very smallest details of my life and for letting Erika & I be in the same group.
September
September was a big month as it was the month that we changed campuses of our church, Bailey started Kindergarten, & Blake & Blair started preschool. There are so many ways I am thankful for the events of September even if the results of those decisions have been hard on the way things used to be. This would not be the place to explain all that, but I can tell you that I have not known how God would use us until this year and I am not even sure if I understand the full extent of that. We have now lived in our house for almost 5 years and I have questioned, especially early on, how we ended up living where we do. Two years ago I really questioned God about where he had us in regards to our neighborhood as the Fosheas had just moved up North and it would be my dream to live across from them and any of my friends for that fact. I am not joking when I have said that I wish I could put all my friends on the same street because life would be so easy and awesome in my opinion, but sadly that is just not a reality. I can only look back and see that when I was discouraged about where we lived that I met the Dugans (who live in the neighborhood) through Kristine who was in my MOPS group who eventually would introduce us to the Risingers. We also met the Websters on a walk through the Quarries who kind of lived catty corner to us (sadly they moved in November). Most of the people on our street are elderly so it was nice to find a young couple with kids who we clicked with even if it was just for a time. All along I just knew that God doesn't make mistakes in where he places us, but rather strategically places us and I think He was just waiting on the timing to be right & I can't help, but be drawn to what God is doing in our neighborhood and that we are being invited to come alongside other believers in the neighborhood. I didn't know that communities like this really existed like this in Austin (and that I was oblivious to it until just recently), but my dream has always been that I would live in a small town so that community was easy because the people who we lived near were the people who we went to school with who were the people we went to church with, etc. I didn't know that when we changed campuses of our church how many people who lived in our neighborhood went to our new campus. I mean I kind of knew, but I didn't really until a month ago when all those families got together. Almost all of those families this year have their preschool aged kids in the same preschool as ours, which was not the case even last year, but not only that- in Blair's class of 4 all of them are from the neighborhood and 2 of them are family friends!?!? This was not the case with Blake and Bailey, although I do admit that the reason I have stuck with this preschool is for the neighborhood factor, which was small at first and has grown each year. Can I also just mention that the Kindergarten we chose is not in the neighborhood, but we carpool with a family in the neighborhood. I
struggle with managing my morning time, so how did I get so lucky to have a family come alongside us that wanted to carpool and take the mornings. In addition to that they have been through this model of schooling and I am certain have helped not make this year so isolating. They also lead a fellowship group we are a part of, which has really allowed us to meet so many more people in the neighborhood than we ever could have. Like I started with, there are so many things within the transitions of this year that God has been so faithful to us in and confirmed that we are where he has wants us even if this year has also brought difficulties through that. So, God I give you the glory for whatever you are up to in our lives, especially in regards to our neighborhood.
October
Luke's dad moves back to Texas. This is huge in so many ways and not something we could have foreseen early in our marriage, but definitely hoped for. It has been a blessing to have him closer. Lots of events had to happen for this to take place, so God I give you the glory for allowing those events to happen and getting Robert to Texas.
Also in October, we had our first parent teacher conference with Bailey's teacher. If I was really honest, I had prepared myself to be disappointed with Bailey's teacher just so that when I was that I had already prepared myself beforehand. Let me tell you that I am not disappointed in her and would love to teach alongside her one day. Anyways, at the conference she spoke truth to me about Bailey in regards to some things in her character in a very discerning, wise, caring way that although were not necessarily easy to hear, but were done in a very graceful way. Teachers like her are few and far between. She is kind, but firm and loves Jesus, which were my highest wishes in a teacher. I am still marveling at the fact that God gave me her as Bailey's first teacher in formal school. She was even able to recognize how hard Bailey's disobedience is for me and helped remind me of something I know, but still struggle with daily and that is that my kid's disobedience at any particular moment is not my grade as a parent. So, God I give you all the glory for the character development that I have seen in Bailey as a result of the work you are doing in her through her teacher. Thank you that you don't leave us where we are.
I don't know that this properly wraps up the year, but it's good to look back over the year in this way and see how God has moved in regards to our family. Of course there are tons of things we are still praying about/through & things not listed here, but one thing I know is that in writing this all out that God once again proved so faithful and so good this year and I feel so undeserving of both. He did not have to answer any of these prayers or work out any of these details. If I was to write a New Year's resolution it would be a lot like my friend Harmony's, which is a quote from a song called
Oceans, which I downloaded this Fall and can literally leave on repeat for hours. I highly, highly recommend it.
"Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior".
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