On Sunday, August 12, my baby turned 1 year old! I’ve been thinking about the past 365 days and in some ways, it has been the hardest year of my life. Before Haley was born, I had a 3-year-old and a 1-year-old who kept me incredibly busy. Then, Haley arrived and I found a new meaning to the word busy. 3 kids is a whole other ball game, and I can’t imagine how people have 4 or more. Honestly, there were many days that I was SO incredibly stressed out that I didn’t know what to do. Times when 2 or 3 kids were crying at the top of their lungs, the house was a disaster, and I was going on very little sleep were hard for me. There were days that I felt like I had too many kids, although I loved them. Also, a year ago in September, I received devastating news about someone I love, so I had that to add to my plate. When I found out that someone had been living a lie and done horribly hurtful things, it was a painful blow unlike anything I had felt before. I wish I could say that the situation has resolved itself, that the person has repented and turned back to Jesus, but that’s not the case…yet. I have faith that God will do miracles!
On the flip side, Haley joining our family has been a HUGE blessing! For all of the crying + chaos, there has also been a lot of laughter! At the beginning of the year, God gave me His word for this year of my life and it was “joy” (which also happens to be Haley’s middle name because that is God wants for her life). I have learned that joy is a choice. It is choosing to praise God + be thankful in every situation. Choosing to focus on God instead of the problems. I’m reminded of Habakkuk 3:17-18 “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!” I wish I could say I have mastered that, but it is something that I will be learning for the rest of my life. I did make a decision early on that I was not going to let the painful situation control my life. I choose joy, regardless of the other person’s actions. Choosing joy is often the harder choice and many times I have failed, but that continues to be my goal.
We have reached an easier stage than a year ago, a stage that includes more sleeping through the night, starting to communicate with Haley, Kiera starting Kindergarten in a few weeks and Blake starting to potty train! My digestion problems have definitely improved since I was pregnant with Haley, which I am so thankful for. Jared has been at his new job for 3 months now and doesn’t miss his old job one bit! We are tremendously blessed! No matter what the situation, this song is so true:
God is so good, God is so good,
God is so good, He’s so good to me!
2 comments:
Well said my love!
I can relate almost word for word to your first few sentences about having a 3rd! I've had many of the same emotions this past year... You are doing a great job :)
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