Happy New Year!

Our "big" fireworks display...ok what do you expect for 39 cents??


The kids watching the show :)


Madeline loved the sparklers.


Jackson did not like the sparklers, but he enjoyed the show.

Wow...I can not believe it is already 2009! At times 2008 has seemed to drag by so slowly and yet it is already 2009. 2008 was a year full of many ups and downs. A year of many struggles. A year spent almost entirely without my husband and my children without their daddy. It has been hard, but those hard times have taught me so much and yet there is so much that I feel I will be learning over time. I guess that is the beauty of going through a trial. I can see God's hand so clearly in so many events, yet I know that as time goes by I will see it in other events as well.
Because of that I can honestly say that I am thankful for 2008. Not thankful that my husband has been gone, but thankful for God's grace, His sufficiency, His love, and His faithfulness during every trial over the past year.
I know that the New Year brings lots of resolutions. This year I am not making any resolutions-they are just to short lived for me. I do good for a few weeks but the minute "life" happens and I slip, I get discouraged. What I do want though is for the Lord to increase my faith, but I know I do not need great faith, just the faith of a mustard seed.
So I will leave you with a prayer out of "The Valley of Vision"

'New Year'

O Lord,
Length of days does not profit me
except the days are passed in thy presence,
in thy service, to thy glory.
Give me a grace that precedes, follows, guides,
sustains, sanctifies, aids every hour,
that I may not be one moment apart from thee,
but may rely on thy Spirit
to supply every thought,
speak in every word,
direct every step,
prosper every work,
build up every mote of faith,
and give me a desire
to show forth thy praise,
testify thy love,
advance thy kingdom.
I launch my bark on the unknown waters
of this year,
with thee, O Father, as my harbour,
thee, O Son, at my helm,
thee, O Holy Spirit, filling my sails.
Guide me to heaven with my loins girt,
my lamp burning,
my ear open to thy calls,
my heart full of love,
my soul free.
Give me thy grace to sanctify me,
thy comforts to cheer,
thy wisdom to teach,
thy right hand to guide,
thy counsel to instruct,
thy law to judge,
thy presence to stabilize.
May thy fear be my awe,
thy triumphs my joy.

Amen

Happy New Year everyone!
Jessica