A Brand New Year -- In August!

It's a brand new year... day one of year number 22 with my wonderful husband!

We celebrated the milestone with a romantic dinner out last night. Yummy food, relaxed pace of service, and a decadent dessert closed one chapter and opened the next. Our menus even celebrated, personalized with "Happy 21st Anniversary" written at the top. So sweet.... You know it's the little things, right? :D

The coming year is one of our biggest yet!

• We prepare to send kid #1 to college! For the first time ever, our nest will get smaller. Hard to believe!
• My speaking ministry is taking off... a little bit. I'm so excited that it's finally God's time to step forward. My family is 100% behind it, which means the world to me! I couldn't do this if they thought it pulled me away from my first, most important ministry, them!
• Rob and I launch a new small group at our church on -- what else? -- parenting, of course!!! God's brought us through so much, it's about time we give back. We are not perfect. We never will be. We know God is the center and we parent in His confidence. I'm sooooo excited to walk with others -- sometimes encouraging them, sometimes being encouraged. Can't wait!!!

I look back, grateful for all God has done.

I look ahead and marvel at all He still has to do. In me, through me, and around me.

Forever prayerful,