i didnt plan to post a NEW YEAR post.. mostly because i am not one to believe in starting resolutions. i dont give in to the ‘new year’ phenomenon.. it isnt a fresh start for me.  it is just another year bringing us closer to being with God.

we usually dont even stay up for new year.. but this year we did because the bestie and her clan came and spent the night.  we had a blast.. until the stomach bug hit.  then we had puking over here, bathroom hogging over there.. and we thought.. ‘geez.. what a great way to start out the new year’  LOL

in reality.. this has been one of the best times of my entire year.  the kids were home.. we have done soooo many fun things.  a good friend was in town from California.. her daughter and my daughter are very close.. and we were able to enjoy her for a full week straight.  we heated the pool.. had a ton of girls over here swimming.. lots of friends in and out all week.  a great girl’s night that totally lifted my spirits with old friends.. some in from out of town that we havent seen since last year.  all in all, it was such a good week. 

until last night.  a friend that we just had dinner with on MOnday for girl’s night had her world turned upside down.  so, i come to my faithful blog readers and ask for prayer.  her sweet, precious 5 month old son died last night.  they are hurting.  i ask that each of you pray for God to show them His love, His grace, His mercy and His healing touch.  i ask you to pray for their extended family who are mourning with them.  i ask that you pray for finances for the funeral to be met, that all needs leading up to the funeral be met and for clarity in thinking while making all of these decisions.  i ask that you pray for godly people to be in control of all interactions leading up to the funeral and that everyone has the right words to comfort them. 

i think back to almost 11 years ago when Michael and I had to bury our first born son.. and all of the confusion and shock that led up to it.  i barely remember much of it.. but what i do remember was confusion.  no clarity in what we were actually doing.  of course, we were much younger than Eric and Taunie.. but it is all so fuzzy.  i am just so thankful that they have something we did not.  a huge church family that loves them like crazy.  a church family who is with them every step of the way.  I am thankful to be a part of the family. 

today in worship, russell commented that new year’s resolutions rarely measured up.  and he summarized my thoughts into words; as he often does.  we cant say ‘I’ am going to do this or ‘I’ am going to do that this year.  because we are not capable of doing ANYTHING without God.  we think we can.  some dont believe in God and say they can.  but, in reality.. they are jaded.  even if you dont realize God has a hand in it, He does.  before Michael and I were Christians.. we put no thought of God into anything we did or said.  now, as i look back on our life… it is sooooo evident that He was in it.  He is the reason i am successful in life; given the circumstances i grew up in.  He is the reason Michael and i ended up together.. because i tried to painfully self sabotage everything.. but God knew we were meant to be together.. and as hard as i made it.. He kept us together.  He was there when our baby died.  He was there.. planting seeds at his funeral.  He was there with open arms when i FINALLY was able to see it all. 

i pray that Eric and Taunie feel His love and peace through out this entire ordeal.  while we do not understand WHY things happen.. we have to trust that He is in control.  He does know why things happen and we just have to praise Him through our storms.  it is so easy to say I am blessed when things are going well.  it is so easy to praise Him when things are how we want them to be.  but it is times like these that with hurting hearts… we still have to say “i trust You!”  and “i praise You”  because ultimately.. we cannot make it without Him. 

Please join me in praying for the Paquin family.  they have 2 other daughters they need to be strong for.  the baby they lost is named Sam. 

Thank you all!

Tasha