Friday, January 2, 2009

Happy New Year


We hope you are all enjoying the new year so far. Our family is looking forward to all the blessing God has in store for us this year. As we look back on last year we would have never guessed we would get to 2009 without Lindsay. But God knew that before she was born and here we are. We look back at all the good things that 2008 brought us. All the memories we shared together as a family, and all the hard times we have had. God was and still has been faithful to us all year and he continues to be as we start the year 2009.


We had a wonderful Christmas with our families. We spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day in NJ with my family. We had a wonderful day and shed lots of tears. Lindsay was missed so much but I know she was watching us from heaven. We then headed back to New Hampshire Christmas night so we could have Christmas with Jon's parents and Uncle Aaron and Aunt Alyssa on Saturday.


We rang in the New Year by just staying at home and enjoying one another. We have much to be thankful for this year. As we start this year we look forward to the birth of the new baby and all of the many other blessings God will share with us. We will also still need lots of prayer and we still have some firsts to go through. But we know that with God we will get us through all of them.


I want to share this poem with you that my Grandmother wrote on January 1, 1996.


As we stand on the brink of a New Year,

Watching the old disappear.

We don't know what's in the future,

But we DO KNOW THAT GOD IS NEAR.


Let's thank Him for all the good times

And yes, for the hard times too.

For the lessons we learned through the difficult times

Made us stronger to see each day through.


Let's forget all the trials and problems,

That we faced in the previous year.

And press on by God's Grace to face the unknown,

With JOY and without any fear.


He's met every need in past years,

Exceeding, abundant, above,

More than we ever dreamed of,

Out if His heart of Love,


Let's trust Him and keep on believing,

Let Him lead each step f the way.

And follow daily the sound of His voice.

In order to serve Him each day.


Yes, another year is before us,

Like a blanket of new fallen snow.

Let's be careful just how we walk in it

For each one of our steps will show.


We love you all very much and we hope that God brings your family with lots of blessings in this New Year. Some of you may remember that while Lindsay was in the hospital we asked you to pray for a few of her friends. One of them was a little boy named Elijah. We just found out that he passed away on Nov. 29. If you could pray for the Marsh family we would greatly appreciate it and I know they would to. I am sure Lindsay was there with a smile and a hug for Elijah and I am sure she will take care of him.

5 comments:

GrannyApple said...

Thanks Laura and Jon for letting us share your heart as we walk through another year together. Thanks for the good memories and pictures of the kids that you share with us. I just put the picture of Lindsay in the purple hat in her frame on my table. What a perfect, sweet smile she has. Missing her tons as I daily view her pictures but know she is having a wonderful time with Jesus. Thanks for printing one of Nan's poems. She always knew how to get us right to the heart of Jesus with her poetry. Looking forward to the new year ahead with all of its blessings, especially that new little one growing. Love you all a bushel and a peck and a great big hug around the neck.
Love,
Mom/Granny

GrannyApple said...

I love the new look of the blog. Great job.
Love again,
Mom/Granny

GarretJulie said...

I love the new look!! It looks great.
AS I was reading the blog this morning I am thinking of how cool it is to think that our Nan wrote those poems many years ago. But that how a lot of her poems have touched you guys and been the PERFECT words for you at different times. The literally just fit what you are going through. It's just neat.
Anyway~ we love you very much and miss Lindsay much. Apparently Emma was chatting away to Granny and Pop-pop about Ce-Ce. :) She still knows who she is and I love that.
I look forward to meeting my new neice or nephew in this new year!!
Love ya,
~Julie

Lisa said...

Love what you've done to your page! It looks awesome!

Thank you for, once again, sharing your heart with all of us. It has been a joy and priviledge to walk this journey with you and your family through out 2008. I look forward to continuing to pray for all of you in the coming year. I look forward to getting to know you even better.

Know that you and your family are always in my thoughts and prayers.

Love,
Lisa

Angie's blog said...

The pics are so precious! Love the profile pic!!! Adorable!!!So glad that you had a wonderful holiday season. Angela from the campground:)