Update

God has been teaching us so much this past year. We have been in the midst of the journey in such a way that I haven't been able to share all that we have learned because we had yet to "arrive" at the end, so to speak, of that lesson. I want to go into more detail about each of these things, but for now I will just share the "event", the climax, the fruit of what we have learned. Many times the biggest change is not manifested in any outward sign. Instead, what has been transformed is internal--in our hearts, our thinking, our perspective.

To say that this has been a difficult year, starting from last July when we moved here, would be an understatement. However, to tell you that it has been a great year would also be an understatement. It has been an amazing, a wonderful, and a difficult year. Often the greatest trials yield the greatest blessings, the most fruit. Also, God's grace is so rich and abundant toward us even in the midst of these trials. Even as Cameron and I felt stretched, challenged and humbled in some areas of our lives, in others God was blessing us beyond what we could ask or imagine. So, we can say with even more confidence, despite this year of trials and BECAUSE of this year of trials that God is SO good and His grace IS sufficient!

Here are a few "highlights" of which I will elaborate more on when I have time:

~ALL of our children were baptized last week! Yes, ALL of them. No, we were not raised as paedo-baptists (baptizing infants) and up until our move back to MI, we did not attend a church that believed in paedo-baptism. This was the culmination of a 2-3 year long "journey" God led us on and he has taught us SOOO much. There were times I wanted to blog about all God has taught us, but I know the controversy of this topic and how most of my good friends are on the opposite side of this "debate" and I really didn't think it would be beneficial to share. However, this is good news for our family and I wanted to announce it. Intertwined with the change in our view on baptism has been our move toward family-integrated worship--the two have gone hand-in-hand for us.

~We have had a very difficult beginning with Truman. Just when I thought we had reached a point where I could share all that we have gone through with him, something changes. He has been a difficult baby and we are still learning how to parent this little guy. Without launching a whole blog post right here about it all I will just share that it has had to do with weight gain issues and nursing difficulties. Truman is really a sweet baby, though, he just has had a rough start, poor guy.

~We have still YET to sell our house in NC. This has been such a struggle for me as I so want to be settled here. Our rental house is great, however, and our landlord is the elder in our church. However, God has taught us SO much through this trial and has led us to some conclusions, the result being that we are currently looking to buy a house here that would be the same price as the rent we are paying.

~God has been showing me that I still have a long way to go in terms of trusting in His Sovereignty. It has been difficult to face fears and to believe God's Word. However, God has been so faithful--through His Word, my husband, "coincidental" sermons (HA!), "chance" meetings with people and some good butt-kicking by some godly women in my life (Lori and Kami) to remind me of TRUTH and how I am called to LIVE IT even when I don't feel like it. Again, without hijacking this post and running with this topic it centers most around Truman and his nursing difficulties and the timing of the next baby, if God so chooses to bless us.

~I have started running again! Oh, how I have missed this.

~I am reading lots and lots of Christian books--non-fiction--and loving it. I have determined to not read any fiction for the time being. No conviction against it or anything, just a season I am going through. I am reading "How Then Should We Live?" By Francis Schaffer and just finished "His Invisible Hand" by R.C. Sproul.

~I have purposely not shared about Abbie and all that God has taught us through everything, and I am not sure that I ever will. I will say that she is doing well and we are doing well with it and God is good.

When I have time, I will go into more detail about all of these things.

In Christ, Laura