Year End

Today is a beautiful Wednesday. The sun is out and while it is warm, there is a pleasant breeze that makes it very pleasant. Birds are chirping and the kids are laughing. There is no evidence that a corn crib was ever on this property and very little evidence of the storm from last year. In fact if you didn't know us and our story, you would not understand the impact July 11, 2011, has had on our family.

In the past year we:
lost our home
cleaned up the debris and damage
sorted through what could be saved and threw out what could not be saved
battled insurance, but eventually got what we felt we were owed
paid off the now non-existent house
created a floor plan and designed a house around said floor plan
found a builder, an excavator and a bank for the construction loan
completed excavation and clean up for rebuilding
chose colors for siding, the roof and Novabrik
prepped the new house site and put in a foundation, walls and a roof
chose windows, doors, flooring, toilets, tubs and a shower
decided on insulation, venting, heating and cooling
found an electrician, decided on lighting and outlets and chose said items
chose fixtures, appliances, laid out the kitchen, found a cabinet builder and finalized the color
hung, mudded, textured and pained 7500 square feet of dry wall
tiled the bathrooms and laid more than 2000 square feet of flooring
found a plumber licensed to install a new septic and installed said septic
installed lighting, outlets, smoke detectors, fans and switches
installed cabinets, counter tops, vanity tops, one of the two toilets and faucets
moved in furniture, set up closets, unpacked the kitchen and stuffed all unresolved items in the garage
started to find a new normal in our new home
celebrated birthdays, holidays, Little Miss's first steps, nephew's birth and moments with family and friends.

But what I will remember most about this year, is the overwhelming knowledge that our lives were spared. No where on that list was a funeral or even time spent at a hospital! Every day that I (or Ben or the kids or you) wake up is evidence that God still has a plan for me to accomplish. He is not done with me (him, them, you, us) yet! But there is something about this experience that makes this knowledge so very clear!

I am not here by mistake and neither are you! My existence is not a mystery and neither is yours! What you and I are doing matters! Whatever God's plan for you, me, my family, even our home (not house, but home)...it is not completed yet. Wow!

There is a song that has really touched my heart this year and I would love to share this realization with you. The Story of Your Life by Matthew West

Is this the end? Or only the beginning?
The second chance you never thought you'd get

The question is will you do something with it
Or spend your days lost in your regret

This is the story of your life
You decide how the rest is gonna read
This is your chance between the lines
To redefine what kind of legacy you leave
This is the story of your life
And it's a story worth telling

Breathe in deep feel your heart still breathing
Let's go see the reason you're alive
Oh, you are here and love is up to something
So take your fear and leave it all behind

This is the joy
And it's the pain
And all the pages in between
Your finest hour
Your weakest moment
It's where you've been
It's where you are
It's where you're going

This is the story of your life
You decide how the rest is gonna read
This is your chance between the lines
To redefine the kind of legacy you leave
This is the story of your life
Go tell the story of your life
Cause it's a story worth telling
It's worth telling

Is this the end?
Or only the beginning?

The story of my life has just completed a very challenging chapter, one worth telling and I thank you all for listening!