In Front of the Tree - 2011

I love taking pictures in the same place year-after-year (as evidenced here and here) - even though it makes it painfully obvious how much (and how fast!) the children are growing up.

Pictures in front of the Christmas tree are one of those traditions for our family.

The same tree.

The same corner of our family room.

Every year.

Every year since Elisabeth first joined our family...way back in 2004:

As I look over the pictures, the children growing...

...the number of children in our family growing...



...what is not seen is how the Lord was working "behind the scenes" - growing us spiritually.



I don't even feel like the same person, or same mama...


...that I was back then. Praise you, LORD, that you are continually working on us...you never leave us or forsake us! And praise Him that He loves us too much to leave us in that same condition - he's always working and refining.

And though I had certainly hoped that our family picture would look different by Christmas time this year..

...this is how it looks in 2011. And I would be blind to miss seeing how absolutely perfect this picture is:

And though I had lost/given up my peace the last few weeks due to the uncertainties of this current adoption...

...I now have my peace back.

I trust the Lord's wisdom. His sovereignty. His timing.

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4: 6-7)