A couple of weeks after we moved to Georgia, I found myself reflecting one day on trials or “valleys” and the goodness of our God. After almost 18 months of uncertainty about where and when the Lord would lead us, we were all of a sudden, where He LED us.

And then we went, and here we are.

As I reflected on all that God had done to provide for us a way to move, a place to live, a church to attend, my favorite grocery store nearby, not to mention a very good job for Lance– I was blessed beyond speech. So many times I sat down at my computer to share these joys with you and all I could do was Praise God and Thank Him for His timing.

Not many days went by before I found myself just the teeniest, tiniest bit homesick. Not for Wake Forest necessarily… though we DO miss it. But homesick for the trial. I found myself actually missing that feeling of knowing little else except that “God is GOOD and we trust Him.” Both of those things are just as true today as they were six months ago, but I know I’m not the only one who finds it less of a struggle to completely RELY on Him when we have so many unanswered questions then when things are a bit smoother. It is in those times that our relationship has the potential to grow so sweet as we are constantly and painfully aware of our helplessness.

I can honestly say that I PRAISE GOD for those many days of knowing very little of our future. I know that there will be a piece of those days in every day to come as we look to Him for our every need. Though it seems as though we were just in a period of unanswered questions, I thank Him that we find ourselves in another right now. I thank Him that there will undoubtedly be many more.. and that He will be faithful in every one.

As for today, I do not know why God chose to take our precious unborn child after only a handful of weeks of rejoicing that we would, again be parents. I don’t even know what to say but that it hurts my heart. But I will rest in the promise that He is good and we trust Him. My heart is filled with joy that this sweet Stuckey Baby will never know pain or suffering and that He or She has already seen our Lord face to face. And I cannot deny the fact that I am thankful for every little and big reminder that we are completely reliant on God for our every need. I am ever grateful for His grace. And I am even more thankful (if that’s was even possible) for my Lance and my Lucy. 

And for you… and your prayers.

And since you’ve patiently read through these many paragraphs, I shall reward you with a picture of our little family. 🙂

I LOVE this time of year and I LOVE sending photo Christmas Cards. For the last few years, we have always sent Shutterfly Christmas Cards. They have so many great designs to choose from and the cost is always affordable for what you get. I use Shutterfly for all photo gifts, I  tried other websites for awhile and I quickly learned that Shutterfly was the only way to go for me. Here are a few of our previous years Christmas Pictures just for fun:

This year, we had photos taken by Pam Weber and I cannot wait to get our Christmas cards in the mail. I highly recommend Shutterfly for great fast service and beautiful cards!

These are a few of my favorites for this year:

The middle one is my absolute favorite!
Head on over to Shutterfly and pick out YOUR Christmas Cards today!

I will receive 50 Free Christmas Cards for writing this blog post. If you would like to share on your blog about Shutterfly’s Christmas Cards, you can write a blog post about it, go here to sign up and you will receive 50 free Christmas Cards as a gift!

So….. Lucy was supposed to be a ladybug this year– but when we put her costume on, it was WAY too Big and WAY too short. That kid definitely has her Father’s Genes. 🙂 So, after only being in our new place for 48 hours, we broke out last year’s pumpkin costume!!! Enjoy the flashback!!

Cooler weather means many things… for this little girl, it means tights and sweaters!!!

 Now that Fall has begun and Summer is fading into great memories, I guess I should confess my shortcomings and rejoice in a few victories where my summer reading list is concerned.

A Lineage of Grace
by Francine Rivers: I have enjoyed several of Francine River’s books and this one is excellent! I have not finished this one yet. I’m about half way done.. it’s very good but I keep getting distracted by other things.

Taste and See: Savoring the Supremacy of God in all of Life.
by John Piper. A wonderful compilation of 120 short meditations from John Piper’s A Godward Life— I have loved reading a short section of this before going to bed at night. Still reading this one as well– it’s a short section for every day. A great way to end the day.

To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee. Somehow I have lived 28 years and never read this Southern Classic. I found this nice hardback copy for two dollars at a used book store and I look forward to diving into it! Have yet to begin this one.

Shepherding a Child’s Heart by Tedd Tripp. In the last month or so, Lucy has really grown into her personality– well, that pretty much covers it. Lance and I feel the need to read a couple good parenting books and hopefully, stay one step ahead of her. HA! I haven’t gotten very far in this one either.

Feminine Appeal 
by Carolyn Mahaney
I am ashamed to say I started reading this book when I was still pregnant with Lu and somehow before I finished it, I misplaced it. It has been found and added BACK to the pile. GREAT book so far I am getting very close to the end of this book. It’s a wonderful mix of practical and spiritual advice for wives and mothers who wish to glorify their God and bless their families with their lives. I have gathered much from it.

by Ravi Zacharias.
 The book deals with the sovereignty of God in all of life and seeing His hand at work all of our life events. I haven’t started it yet, but it looks good! This is the first book I have read by Ravi Zacharias but I have found it to be hugely encouraging– especially in the midst of circumstances beyond our control that can be faith-testing. I have come face to face again with God’s Gracious Sovereignty and it has helped me to keep my eyes on Him.

by Molly Wizenberg
 LOVE LOVE LOVE this book. I finished it last month and I just enjoyed it so much that I have passed it on to a friend. The book gave me a very REAL desire to go to Paris and to cook almost every single recipe therein. Oh, and it inspired me to try a chocolate croissant for the very first time. Big mistake. Huge. (Note: if you were going to try one, get it from the Fresh Market.. Oh, and buy one for your husband so he can have his own.)

Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince (Year 6)by J. K. Rowling.I’ve been putting this one off since it is so huge an undertaking… I have put myself on “big book” restriction until I finish a few of the others… But it seems like the perfect book for chilly evenings that are destined to be coming our way! I’ve read it before and I know I will enjoy it again. 

One day, several years ago I was working at my part-time job and in walked a really cute “new guy.” We started talking… I’m pretty sure I started blushing… work suddenly became a lot more interesting.

A few weeks later, he slid a stack of little yellow post-it notes across the desk and asked for my number in a very suave, “catch you off guard so you won’t say no” kind of way. I gave it to him.

A few days after that, He asked me out to lunch. He just asked me. ME.  I called my mom on the way and told her that “I wasn’t sure but I thought that I might be on my way to a date.”

I remember consciously trying to not flip my hair too much. I remember the shirt I wore– I still have it somewhere in a drawer– you know that place where you keep all the clothes which seem to have a bit of magic left in them? It still sits there, reminding me of that day and what it felt like to sit across from him and share a meal for the very first time.

I ordered Water and a Greek Salad and we talked about a dozen random subjects which we seemed to have all in common. Somewhere in the middle of that life-altering salad, I remember stealing a glance at his unbelievably blue eyes and wishing he might ask me out again. 

He did, in fact ask me out again. That was about four years ago– currently he sits on the other end of our couch watching football and somehow not minding that my feet are very lazily settled in his lap.

It’s funny how, in one moment, your life can change forever.

It’s funny how, one day you’re completely 100% single with no changes on the horizon.. and then…. all of a sudden you’re not.

It’s funny how, for several years, I was afraid I’d never get to check the “married” box on information forms… and now I cannot imagine my life without Him.

Somewhere in the middle of the whirlwind that was those first 8 months,  I began to realize that there was a very real possibility that I might never go on a “first date” again. As we grew closer, I began to entertain the hope that He was the one God had planned all along. All those days and nights I had wondered how and when God might “act” in this situation of life– and then without the slightest bit of notice, He did. And it was so very worth the wait.

** Photo by the amazing Casey Chappell

Brief PSA: I apologize in advance for not having even a smidgen of “news” on the job front. Though we have found ourselves in the midst of a few new adventures this month in that department, nothing has come to fruition yet.. and so we continue waiting. 

In periods of uncertainty, I find comfort in resting in the truths that I do know, rather than anxiously weaving through the facts which I do not. I DO know that God is working. I DO know that He is faithful. I DO know that He has called us to this time of waiting and that when it is over, He will bring us out of it. I DO know that we are serving and ministering right where we are right now. I DO know that although I cannot be the wife and mom I desire to be right now, I am being the best help-meet I can– by working. I DO know that though I cannot see where or when or how, He will act– and we will be thankful that we waited on HIS leading.

I DO know I am a slow learner sometimes.

For example, although this one particular (seemingly astronomical) prayer request of our family has not yet been provided, He is always providing for us. The big things make a large impact on us… there have been many “big things” over the last year or so that have shown us God’s provision in very big ways. But sometimes, it’s in the little things that God really touches my heart. And when I say touches my heart, I mean He shows me His love and provision in such a gentle way that I go away feeling some what foolish for having spent those selfish hours worrying about our future.

Last night it was in the pajamas.

I was upset with myself because all of Lucy’s warm pj’s (she’s been sleeping a lot better in warmer pajamas lately) were in the dirty laundry hamper and then while switching out her closet, I pulled a pair which we had bought for her over 10 months ago to wear this season, out of a storage box. It’s simple, I know… but that’s entirely the point in this case. I’d been all concerned that I had not anticipated her needs and done laundry that evening. I was feeling guilty for not “taking care of her” properly and then I turn around and God took care of her “need” almost a year ago and placed the solution there for when she needed it most. This is an incredibly simple illustration of the fact that I am indeed a slow learner. But better a slow learner than not a learner at all, right?

“I know that you can do all things. And that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.” Job 42:2