Wow! It has been quite a while since I've posted here. Life has been crazy busy as I help my mother transition to her new role in life, and as I transition myself from college teacher and administrative career woman to an 4th and 5th grade teacher. 2011 was a year for intense change and now 2012 is here! I pray that this year brings peace, renewal, refreshing and rebirth to my family as well to each of you and yours.
For a while after my father passed away, the art and writing in my soul transcended from the melancholy to the point of being basically non-existent. My life became filled with sensation overload, I guess. The transition of the past year, and the grief, and the process of learning to live life without my father, and the process of helping my mother, and the process of dealing with a new love in the middle of it all has been extremely challenging. Thankfully, God has been with me and with us every single step of the way. While I'm not quite to the place where I can say life is simply rosy again, I can say that there is peace in the midst of the storm. I have learned that through anything life sends our way God is faithful, if we will simply turn to him and lay our burdens at his feet. When we cannot carry ourself, He truly does carry us through.
Our church has been in phenomenal revival, the work in Vietnam seems to be thriving and there may be some potentially exciting news regarding that work in the months to come! Also, our church is expanding! We've purchased an old school building that is simply a work of art (if you love old structures, like I do), on the west-side of our city. The property is comprised of a city block and we have already maxed out the all-purpose room there at our first 5th Sunday of 2012. Yes, we are growing! We thoroughly enjoyed the property during our Jubilee celebration and the kids loved the play ground, while the youth had a blast on the basketball court. We are looking forward to starting a pre-school and possibly a day-care in the near future; with plans for a full blown school in the next couple of years to come.
It is late, so I will sign off. I've posted a few photos of some fun times in the fall of 2011. Hopefully, this site will become active once again. Happy New Year and may 2012 be blessed!
