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.