drum roll please…my theme for 2011 is joy and restoration

as i look into the window of this coming year i am hoping for joy and restoration. with this next year going to be yet another season of newness and transition i believe these words will fit in nicely.

joy-

joy is not based on circumstances or emotions but comes from within. i know we will feel great joy to have our own house, our own routine and our own little family back. yes, that is joy. and i can’t wait! but i also know that finding our own place in a new town will be hard, lonely at times, draining and overwhelming. even then i want to experience joy despite my feelings. so whether i am cooking dinner for my family in our new home or driving around and getting lost in our town or trying to make new friends with out being incredibly awkward i will choose joy!

res·to·ra·tion-

love the websters definition…

1. the act of restoring; renewal, revival, or reestablishment.

2. the state or fact of being restored.

3. a return of something to a former, original, normal, or unimpaired condition.

our time in ohio has been sort of a restoration process. we’ve rested, we’ve had space to step back and look at things in our family, our marriage, our relationships. we’ve learned, often painfully. we’ve made changes for the better. we are thankful for this time and how it will help us reestablish our family in Indy as we head in to phase 2, if you will of our restoration process. i pray that as we establish ourselves in a new town, with a new job, and new friends (someday!) we will take with us what we have learned and continue to grow our family for His glory. and do it with joy.