one year as this family

On April 14, 2008, we held our newest children in our arms for the first time. What a year it has been. At this point last year we were kinda thinking this was it. Our family was complete. Ha! We keep learning it never works to try to figure this life out. God is far too unpredictable.

In many ways, this year went much better than expected. The twins began adjusting well from the start, with a few bumps along the way. The siblings are all just that -- siblings.

We are truly blessed.

But in other ways, this year was incredibly difficult. I was expecting "difficult", I read up on the adjusting, talked with many other families. But knowing what it would possibly be like, and actually experiencing it are worlds apart. We have had our fill of laughter, tears, joy, silliness, exhaustion, teasing, joking, impatience, frustration, peacefulness, anticipation and fear. Times of simply basking in the goodness of God's blessings poured out on us, along with moments of holding on to our faith through slipping fingernails. I have noticed that when I am in the middle of the massive stuff, I don't really analyze how tough or not it is. But as I reflect on this past year today, it is pretty amazing to see what God has brought us through, and how he uses those difficult moments to continue to prune, refine, purify us. Well, his plan is to make us more like his son. Yeah, in my case that definitely takes a lot of work, so I am sure the refining will continue.

We will see what next year holds. No, I am not going to predict anything (ok, except I do hope to be holding another little one sometime this year), but I am going to keep trusting our trustworthy God every step.

Hey, and April 14, 2009, just happens to be the 20th anniversary of when Farmboy and I first met. See, you really can meet your future spouse at a toga party. God is so cool!