Fresh Start

Wow. I am not sure about you, but for me and my family, 2012 brought with it a whirlwind of CHANGE. Here is the break down of the time line of events:

• January 3, 2012: I met my future husband and best friend at the 2012 PASSION conference (our best friends met on the same trip the previous day!)
• Jumped full swing into planning a mission trip to Kenya and Student Teaching
• February 14, 2012: Began dating my "future husband"
• March 10, 2012: We said, "I love you." 
• April 5, 2012: Lost my student teaching job
• April 9, 2012: I said, "yes" to marrying Luke.
• May 5, 2012: Luke graduated college.
• May 6, 2012: We left for Kenya.
• June 18, 2012: We arrived home.
• June 19, 2012: Let the wedding planning begin!!
• August 11, 2012: We said, "I will" forever and ever.
• August 12, 2012: Honeymoon to Asheville, NC.
• August 18, 2012: Moved to Maryville, TN (Luke had previously started a new M.E. job with DENSO manufacturing.)
• September 22, 2012: Carmen and David were married
• October 20, 2012: Abby and John (our best friends) were married.
• October 26, 2012: My brother and sister-in-law were married.
• Ocotber 29, 2012: Started my first 24 day challenge with Advocare!
• November 22, 2012: Let the joint Thanksgivings begin!
• December 15, 2012: I graduated from Grad School!!!
• December 23, 2012: Let the joint Christmases begin!
• January 1, 2013: Let the NEW YEAR begin!
• January 1-4, 2013: PASSION conference in Atlanta, GA, where we met!
• January 3, 2013: Hit one year of knowing each other!!
• January 9, 2013: Job offer! Praise God!

Whoa. That is a LOT to soak in right there. 

The Best is YET to come

How to I beat such an awesome year? There will never be a year where I meet and fall in love with my best friend and life-long companion. There will never be another year where we venture to Kenya together for the first time. There will never be another year where we go on our honeymoon or graduate for the first time, or see our friends get married. Wow. These moments sure are fleeting. 

Even in all the JOY and with all the NEWNESS God lavished upon our families, God has been constantly reminding me of His Truth and His promise" "THE BEST IS YET TO COME." That's such a bold statement, but His word reminds me

"Better is the end of a thing than its beginning...say not, "Why were the former days better than these?"

Ecclesiastes 7: 8 & 10

Not only this but look at His promises to us!!!:

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes..." Jeremiah 29:11-14

Thank You, God, that tomorrow will be even better than the beautiful day you have given me today. Thank you for teaching me who I am in You. Thank You for loving me like no one else can, even more than I can. Thank You for being MINE forever and for adopting and claiming me as Your daughter!