This past year has been a very difficult year for our family. We have had many difficult situations to walk through and hard decisions to make. I was hospitalized 2 times, had a difficult first trimester of nausea, and the long decision making process has taken an emotional and mental toll on all of us.
"And we know that all things work together for good to
those who love God, to those who are the called
according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew,
He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Moreover whom He predestined, these he also called;
whom He called, these he also justified;
and whom he justifies, these he also glorified."
Romans 8:28-30
It isn't always an easy process to be conformed to the image of His Son. It can be a very painful process. However, we are promised to be glorified if we love God and work according to His purpose.
In spite of all these trials, God has also blessed us more than we deserve. We are expecting a new daughter early next year after 2+ years of prayer, have the opportunity to have our first home birth, the children have learned new skills and taken on new responsibilities during my health struggles, Daniel and I have learned to listen in greater detail to each other, and learned to appreciate the roles God created us for, we have grown closer together as a family, and our family has had several opportunities to visit with friends for refreshment and encouragement.
It isn't easy to be thankful for our trials, but looking back there is evidence that God has used them to grow us and to grow others. For instance, when I was in the hospital in September, we had several opportunities to talk with the nurse on duty. We found out that her and her husband were thinking of homeschooling. Weeks later we find out that they have decided to start homeschooling their oldest next year. We are continuing to see other evidence and are seeing that God does use all things for good.
