Surprised by Joy

This summer-smiling in co-ordinating PJ's...

Last Summer-treating the girls for lice...

I am loving summer. Like totally enjoying every day. We are having a blast. Road trips, entertaining, play group, pool time, it is seriously the best summer ever. And I am so full of praise for the way I see God answering prayer and blessing our family. I can't help but think about where I was at a year ago. I think last summer was the hardest summer of my life. When our small group got together at the end of last summer we went around the circle and were supposed to share our favorite thing about the summer. I couldn't think of one single thing. My life was full of tears, sickness, lice (ahh!!!!), stress, pregnancy, and uncertainty. Did I mention tears?? I literally felt like I was drowning.

I know so many people have been praying for our family. It is the prayers of God's people that have helped to sustain us. There have been several times in the last month when I have literally felt like I am overflowing with joy. And I just had to share it with you. I have been begging God to send us someone to walk through this time of healing and learning. And I am beginning to see how he is answering that prayer. I find myself totally surprised by joy. I think the best part is he isn't answering in any of the ways I expected. I think we have established by now I am a control, plan ahead, type A personality. But, everything good we are experiencing is from God's hand instead of my own plan. And I am actually enjoying it. I think they call that progress. I have a LOOOOONNNNGGG way to go, but God hasn't given up on me.

Last summer I felt like I was drowning in the ocean of tears over my life's circumstances. This summer I feel like that ocean has filled my cup and is overflowing all over the place. God is good. Not because he is restoring joy to our life. But, because he has been here all along.