A year ago this week we were surprised when people from our church blessed us for Christmas.  Decorating the house this year was incredibly sweet as we thought back to the year we have had.

He has provided.  He has drawn us near.  He has moved even in the small details of our life.  He has blessed us beyond measure.  He has shown Himself faithful.

And truly, situationally, not much has changed in our lives.  Many of the things we were asking Him for a year ago we are still praying for today.  But our perspectives and our expectations have changed and this valley has become a place of intimacy with our God that we did not expect.  We are content – and for me, the planner, the worrier, the stubborn one, that is saying more than most of your realize.  But it’s true.  I am really grateful for this year.

It has been a year of drawing near to the Lord out of need.  A year of time-out in which I have realized how in need I am of His grace in each area of my life – my personality, my will, my marriage, my parenting of these sweet girls.  At the beginning of this year I did not know the deficiencies in me that needed to be corrected and the selfishness in me that needed to be rooted out.  I thought I was good and I thought I was ready for the next step.  I wasn’t.  I am so grateful that the prayers I prayed a year ago weren’t answered in the way I desired.  I wasn’t ready for the land I was asking the Lord to give to us.

So, on the verge of 2011, I don’t know if I am ready yet for the things I ask of our God.  But I do ask, and I stand in hope that He will continue what He began when we were married in 2006 – building a foundation in our hearts and our home that is strong enough to withstand the weight of our calling, for our girls and for the future Wells babies from around the world, in ministry at home and in the church we are called to serve.

I am excited about the future.  After the year we have had I can testify to Psalm 34:8:  Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. I could literally go on for pages and document how He has cared for us while we have taken refuge in Him.  The small gifts of grace.  The large blessings of abundance.  I will simply say this for those of you facing situations that threaten to overwhelm – He is good.

I am excited to see what 2011 holds.