As I hear the very loud celebration out on the street I am forced to accept that yet another year has passed. Well, I must say that 2012 has proved to be a year full of joy, surprises, sorrows, excitement, frustration and challenges. If I had to describe it in one word it would be "blessed."
We started out the year launching Church at the Cross. We met at a local daycare on Sunday evenings. CATC began with 8 members and about 20 people in attendance at our first service on January 8. After 3 moves and a few other adjustments we ended the year with roughly 15 members and 6 more waiting to join. We average 50 in attendance and have settled in at a local elementary school. I did not know how we would do it or what it would look like, but God is good! This has been one of the most humbling and rewarding experiences of my life.
One of the biggest challenges for our family this year was making the move from Liberty to Atascocita. Our house was on the market for nearly 10 months before our buyers came around. We did find the home of our dreams in a great neighborhood in Atascocita; however, trying to line up the closings on both homes so that we didn't loose the contract on our new home was a true test of my patience and my faith. It was a frustrating, stressful experience that ended very sweet! We quickly settled into our new home. We have great neighbors, a wonderful church and family still close by. Moving and settling in was work but it was mostly enjoyable. We were so excited and felt very blessed. It still brings a smile to my face sometimes when I pull into our driveway and see our home... believing that this is exactly where the Lord wants us. I think to myself "This could very possibly be the home in which we see all of our children grow up... a home in which many, many family and church memories will be created and treasured."
We also faced some tough times this year. In March my beautiful grandmother went to be with her Savior. She had 90 years here on Earth, but for the last seven she was completely dependent upon my parents for her care. She suffered a major stroke in September of 2004 and was unable to speak or care for herself. We were blessed to have had her living so close to us in her last days. She was able to meet all of her great-grandchildren, and despite her physical and mental limitations she bonded with them in a very precious way. In early September I lost a dear friend and mentor, Judge Rusty Hight. I first met Rusty as a young girl, about 10 years old, and later babysat for him and his beautiful wife Leah. They hosted parties for me and my friends in high school, attended our graduations, and Rusty even danced with me at my wedding. When it was time for me to be sworn in as an attorney, instead of traveling to Austin with my law school classmates, I was sworn in by Judge Hight in the 75th Judicial District Court. I learned to lawyer in that courtroom. His passing was sudden and difficult, but I find comfort in knowing that Rusty called Jesus his Lord and Savior.
Again in December my family received news that struck even closer to home. My dad, who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma three years ago, was now diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cancer has been one of my dad's greatest fears, as we lost his father to prostate cancer several years ago. We are thankful though because daddy's prognosis could have been much worse. It appears that neither the lymphoma or the prostate cancer are aggressive types. They are both manageable, but my parents face some difficult choices and dad will have to undergo treatments that could produce devastating side effects. In addition to his medical condition, Daddy has retired from a job he held for more than 35 years. In fact, today he locked up his office for the last time. He has had a very rough month, but I believe this next stage in life could be his best! Mom and dad both put their faith in Christ and lean on His Word for direction and comfort, but they will still suffer some pain through this very difficult season. I pray their faith strengthens with each heart ache and each victory. I pray they are like-minded and continue to build their marriage with Christ as the cornerstone. My hope is that -- after dad finishes his cancer treatments and he and mom settle into this new chapter of life -- they turn their hearts toward ministry!
The fun times definitely outweighed the bad in 2012. We made some great new friends and reunited with old ones. Chris and I attended my 20 year reunion this fall. I loved seeing my high school friends (many of which I had not seen since we graduated in May of 1992). We hosted a few events in our new home that resulted in great turn outs and fun memories. One evening we had a lemonade stand in the front yard and sold nearly 40 cups. It was a huge success! This summer Chris took Nate on his first "man vacation" near San Antonio, where they hiked and fished and stayed in a dingy old cabin. Calvin started kindergarten and lost his first tooth. Eli started preschool and loves it! We got a puppy (a yorkie named Max) and the boys are learning to take care of him... well, kinda.
There were many unexpected moments in 2012 as well. Perhaps our biggest surprise came on October 2 when we found out that we were expecting another child... our fourth. I cannot say that I was excited or even slightly happy with this news. I was not angry but I was anxious. This was not planned and certainly not a desire of my heart; but I must say that with the first ultrasound, the first sound of the heartbeat, and after I felt that first kick I am truly excited and falling in love again.
The Lord has been so good to us. Our family is together under one roof. We are healthy and we have been kept safe. We belong to a new, loving church family and have settled into a great community that we look forward to serving. Every year we fall short of the glory of God, yet every year our Father's mercies and grace are showered down on us. I do not know what tomorrow holds, let alone the next year, but I know that God's hand is steady. His infinite grace is sure and His unshakeable will prevails.
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" Ecclesiastes 3:1
