Ten mounths in brief

It's been almost a year since I last posted, and even now I must be brief. Don't have much time to journal online, hardly have time to hand write it, but I do so want to have something for posterity.

Steve and I have a lovely Wedding in Nov. surrounded by family and friends..Joyous! I was wisked away to my surprise Honeymoom destination of *drum roll, please*...Townsen, Tenn. to a rustic cabin in the Smokey Mountains...so romantic! Good job, Hun!

Since our return we've learned many things about communicating, what is helpful and not so helpful (I have need of much growth in this area), learning a little more of what it means to be one, and for me to be a help meet to my husband as God designed me to be.

Also upon our return we have been watching our 5 yr old nephew, Palmer, during the day, and now (PRAISE THE LORD!) we are raising him full time! This has been a prayer of ours for a long time and are thankful for this ministry, tho difficult, so joyful to be able to raise him to love the Lord and give him a good future, to the glory of God! I have much to learn about parenting, home schooling and being organized, but God has been so good and is taking care of our every need.

The end of March we found out I was pregnant and there was much rejoicing! May 17, the Lord saw fit to take our child home. The miscarriage has taught me (and I'm sure Steve, too) a lot about what it means to celebrate life at any stage, to declare God's soveriegn care and goodness in the face of grief and to feel God's loving arms around our family in the Body of Christ. I still have moments of sadness, but will myself, by the help of the Helper, to look to Christ, "For you light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness." Ps. 18:28 We pray God grants us a child from my womb in His perfect time.

Not it is summer and I'm winding up my nanny job with the Smitherman family whom I've been with now for two years. It has been a great fit and I know come Aug. it will be some adjustments for them and myself. But I am excited about homeschooling Palmer and being a mom more and more to him. I feel I don't really know what I'm doing with homeschooling, but know I have a good resource in my mom and Steve is excited about it, too and willing to help. So with much prayer and trusting the Lord to guide me to the right curiculum, schedule, etc. I can smile at the days to come.

Right now P and I enjoy reading books, our daily Bible reading, field trips, and now swimming!

The Lord is good and does good!

In Christ,
Rebekah