"Far from what I once was but not yet what I'm going to be." {Unknown}

Happy 2015!

It's so incredible to look back, over the weeks, months & year to see how the Lord has led, directed & worked through our lives. In the span of just 5 months, Dean & I found out we were pregnant (August), celebrated our 1-year anniversary early in Canada (September), decided not to renew our townhome lease (October), began the job search (October), slept in a hotel/friend's basement/apartment/on a pull-out couch (November-December), traveled to visit different companies (November), accepted an offer (November), said good-bye to our church community & friends (December) & moved into a new little rental home in Columbia, SC (December).

We are thrilled to have this opportunity for newness - a new location, a new job, a new season of life. Like Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:1-3, 11, "There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born ... a time to uproot... He (God) has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Here's to living each day of the year in light of God's mercies, which are new each morning!

1. A place to keep all my prayers #Vmpjournals/ 2. Sunrise + photography + beautiful friend / 3. An incredibly (bitter)sweet farewell from my SG ladies / 4. Sharing the news about #MyFairweatherBaby / 5. Hosting our very first Christmas / 6. Capturing moments like this of my amazing sister

Sitting in the dark, trying too hard not to giggle, we saw the apartment door open slowly. And then close. When it reopened the second time, a silhouette peeked inside & made her way into the unlit room.

"SURPRISE!!!"

In a typical we're-so-excited-and-we-just-can't-hide-it fashion, the Small Group girls gathered in Juli's living room last week had trouble deciding what to collectively yell as soon-to-be married Sabrina came through the door with Brie in tow (sneaky dinner plans to throw off any suspicion? check!) but settled on the ever classic S word.

And she was so surprised!! Apparently, this may have been one of the first times *ever* that Sabrina's actually been surprised so we'll take it :)

Not only is Sabrina in my Small Group through MBC Arlington, she's one of our spring LMP brides! (See her & David's sweet, romantic engagement photos are here!!)