I had my own week full of new beginnings and I wish I had time to write a real article about some of the things God has been doing in my life recently! Through some confusing setbacks and circumstances, I not only saw God’s grace revealed in an amazing way in my family’s life, but we were also drawn even closer together, which goes to show that God truly does bring forth beauty from ashes!

We were on an uncomfortable, unwanted trip – bad enough – but it went from being a three-day trip to a four-day one. Being snowed in at our old house in Maryland, seven hours from home without any real food, proved to be an interesting backdrop for a family evening together. Huddled in our sleeping bags, munching on an assortment of Grandma’s cookies, we spent at least six hours in uninterrupted conversation. So sure, we were stuck hundreds of miles from home, in a cold, empty house without any real food, but what quality time! What if we’d spent the night trying to drive home? I’m not trying to be dramatic, but we could’ve been killed. For the first time in the whole year we’ve been trying to sell that house, I thanked the Lord we still owned it!

Early the morning after our return, a young mom from church who’s expecting in March hurt her back, so I hung out with her and her three toddlers for a sixteen-hour day… then another family from church needed me to watch their two-year-old daughter. I found some new material to add to my, “Babysitting Horror Stories” book! Okay, one family I babysat for had a pet snake that got loose… this incident was worse… way worse! Emily is currently being potty-trained and her parents wanted me to continue training her while they were gone. Well, she’s a proud little girl who doesn’t like to ask for help… so, I’ll spare you the gruesome details, and, like Mark Twain said, “draw the curtain of charity over the rest of the scene”! One of the grossest experiences of my life, hands down!!

A box of wipes, a bottle of bubble bath, and a new outfit later, Emily also had a totally new beginning… J

Another Year is Dawning
Frances R. Havergal

Another year is dawning; dear Father let it be,
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee;
Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness, the glory of Thy face;
Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast,
Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above;
Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be,