I sit here this morning, the last day of 2010, tucked in under my prayer quilt, my second cup of decaf with peppermint mocha creamer and a box of cheerios next to me--with a huge and grateful heart.
2010 was a year of the Lord doing more than we could ever think or imagine. 2009 was a hard year and as I sit here today I am overwhelmed by how good He is and how He is in the redeeming business. He took what was hard and turned it into blessing.
If you'll allow me, I'd like to share how He's blessed us this year!
2010 started off with a bang. Nine days into the new year Robert and I became an Aunt and Uncle together for the first time. I was so grateful we got to experience this together. Meeting this little one for the first time will forever be etched in my memory.
Robert then pressed through one more semester of undergrad to graduate in May. I can not tell you how proud I was (and still am) of him! Most of you know this has not been the easiest of adventures and there were times I know that he wanted to give up (like that moment Kennesaw didn't accept any of his UGA or AASU credits and he was told he had to repeat his last two years--yeah, I'm pretty sure I would have thrown in the towel). But for the sake of his family, he pressed on and I was so, so proud of him. We had a great day with Roberts parents, his brother, and my parents. We were all so proud.
Come the end of May, Katie moved in with us. She's been a joy to have in our home. We're down to the last week of her being a live in part of the McLendon family as she is moving out on her own and becoming a wife in March. It's been pure joy to celebrate her engagement with her and watch her and Jordan on the adventure towards becoming one. We're grateful for this time we've had with her.
July. Oh July. I don't think I can put you into words. On the 2nd day of this month Robert headed to Summer Camp and I headed to Richmond Hill to drop off the grandchildren (aka the cat and dog) at their grandparents house for their annual week long vacation. Then on the 3rd I drove on up to camp and on the 4th we welcomed 400 of our closest friends back to Covington, GA. Oh, what a week! I had the privilege of teaching on the Secret Place with Jesus and loved every moment of it. I especially loved having my husband with me as he presented the "boy" version of the secret place. I love when the Lord gives us opportunities to minister together.
(this is not our best "ministry" picture together, but it makes me laugh and it's from camp)
On the 9th we drove to Richmond Hill to pick up the "children". On the 10th we drove home. On the 11th, Sunday morning we celebrated Summer Camp and I got commissioned for Scotland all in one service. Then it was onto a packing party for the Scotland team. Four days later I was on a plane with 20 other friends, headed across the pond to Scotland. This was a beautiful two weeks as we saw our prayers for months unfold. I had the privilege of team teaching with my dear friend Liz and loved it!
(Liz and I. There were several funny pictures of the two of us during the week--but I'll leave you with just this one!)
(The 2010 Scotland Team)
On the 27th of July we returned home and Robert had a present waiting for me. We took the test and were finally able to know for sure what I had suspected for a few weeks. We were going to be parents. Jesus had healed my body just as we asked and we had our first miracle baby on the way. I spent the last few days of July asleep on the couch. :)
(I'd been up for over 24 hours when this picture was taken---and I think Robert is in shock)
(Our first picture of our Little Hoot-6 weeks and 5 days!)
Fall of 2010 presented more teaching opportunities for me and more study opportunities for Robert. I love my job and find it an honor that I get to do what I do everyday. Robert is pressing on and instead of taking advantage of no longer being in school, has dived into huge books and online lectures, taking a Kaplan course to prepare for the LSAT. Our plan is for him to start Law School in the fall.
Winter of 2010 was a beautiful dose of quality time together. We just returned from our "BabyMoon" and celebrating our third anniversary together. It's hard to believe it's already been three years, yet it seems like we've been best friends forever.
2010 led me into my 8th year of ministry meaning it was a year of traveling around the state to watch my grown up youth become husbands and wives....have I mentioned I love
what the Lord allows me to do?
And it's always encouraging to see those that encouraged you to stay in the ministry...
And with 2010
we celebrated the man, as he retired, that gave me my first official job in the ministry (and not to mention introduced me to my husband) and I am forever grateful.
The "children" learned how to tolerate each other this year. We even find them on occasion playing with one another. I'm just hoping they can be best friends when Little Hoot gets here....
Kristin's Kreations was also born over the year. I am grateful for the encouragement that comes from my man as he named my "company", drew me a logo and spoke life into me and my thoughts of being creative. I've loved having
Kristin's Kreations this year as it's made my brain think in a different way than it's use to. Thank you hubby for this beautiful gift.
2010 was not all up's as cancer entered my personal bubble with this year. I have had 3 close family members struggle with this ugly disease this year, but in the midst of it, I have been able to see with my own eyes "God is Truth-and He always answers the prayer of His children who earnestly seek His name." E.M. Bounds. Two of my family members are doing well today, still having some form of treatment, but yet the future looks good. I would like to say that you would not waste a prayer on my family if you prayed for my Paw-Paw today. He was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer the week before Christmas. I'm believing God for a miracle.
That's our 2010 wrap up. We come to the end of this year with very thankful hearts and full of huge expectation for 2011. We can not wait for the new ways we know and believe the Lord is going to reveal Himself to us.
