Starting something new explained

Here's the short list of big things God has been doing:

God lead us to a church home and an awesome home group

My baby's getting baptized

I'm back to writing again and LOVING it

We have a full calendar~ not of "stuff" to get through, but of things we're LOOKING FORWARD to doing with people we care about

I have an idea for my next series that I'm EXCITED about

My family is developing friendships like we've prayed to have for a long time

I can wear T-shirts again (Just imagine an elephant sitting on your shoulder roasting marshmallows any time you lift your arm and then you'll understand why this is a huge praise!)

I've seen God do miracles

We're undergoing some iron sharpening iron stuff in the Wallace home again

All of the items on this list, some great and some challenging, are all things I'm praising God for~ especially after the very difficult last four months of life.

But you know what? Without these last painful months, these awesome things might not have seemed quite as amazing.

Funny how pain makes you even more thankful when the trial is over. Even more open to seeing the everyday miracles that God showers on us.

I didn't look for everyday miracles when life hurt so much. But looking back, I see so many of them. Days when I made the deadlines despite the intense pain. Moments when my kids and hubby stepped in and did something special to encourage me.

Times when I know it was God's presence alone that gave me my next breath.

So I guess I will add this to the above list....

I'm thankful for trials and the rainbows God reveals when the showers begin to fade.

And I'm thankful to have some perspective on this past year. It's been a tough one. But God never left. He never gave up. And He allowed the trials to stay only long enough to reveal His hand in it all.

God is good all the time. In trials and pain. In moments of calm. In the sunshine and the tears.

Thanks, Daddy. You knew what You were doing all along.