What a year!!

As I look back down the road that God has lead us down during the last year I stand in awe of the journey. It was certainly filled with it's share of ups...and downs.

This time last year I (Shann) was in the middle of planning for my return to school!! Yes...me, a thirty year old mother of three, who didn't care much for school when I had to be there, I was making all the required plans to attend Davenport University to become a medical assistant. By August all was in order, I received a backpack from the girls for my birthday, and on September 8th, I became a college freshmen. My personal goal was to be on the deans list...a pretty lofty goal for sure...but...on April 25th I officially finished my first year with a 3.92 cumulative GPA!! I... (the thirty year old mother of three) made the deans list.

This time last year Cam was just nicely back to work after a dislocated shoulder in December took him down a long road to recovery. While the construction industry was less than co-operative he was managing to find enough work to keep the bills paid. Then one Sunday morning in August he woke to find his shoulder had dislocated in his sleep. We were off to the emergency room...again, followed by another visit to the orthopedic surgeon. On August 31st he had surgery to repair the damage to his shoulder, and was again on the long road to recovery. This time we were meet with much difficulty from our insurance company...and if it weren't for those who love us...we would have never made it through this trial.

We applied for a carpenter job at Glacier National Park in October of 2006. We felt we were being called to apply, and we were willing to move 2000 miles if God was leading us to do so. We waited, not so patiently, to see if this would be our door, or if God would be opening a window to our future. The news came via letter in late February. The door had been closed, much to our dismay, but much to the relief of some others. Don't get me wrong, our family is so wonderful that they supported us even when we threatened to leave the state!!

I'm happy to announce though, that God has lead us to our window. Cam is just 10 days shy of 90 days at Kerkstra Precast. His job title...precast concrete erector! (it's OK...you can laugh, it's a little funny!) It was an amazing course of events that brought us to this place. Some great friends on the "inside" and a whole lot of divine intervention!!

The girls have grown in leaps and bounds. Tatelynn will enter middle school this fall. Quinn is an amazing 9 year old, who loves to read and write, and is one of the most helpful kids you'll ever meet. And Haidyn, who had a rocky start to her first "official" year of school, but ended up as the "M.I.S." (Most Improved Student) in her class. It was amazing watching her learn through the year.

So...here's what I've learned this year...

• thirty year old mothers of three make dang good college freshmen.
• kids grow up way to fast.
• God will provide for us every day the things we need on that day.
• worrying about tomorrow is a huge waste of my time.
• what I do every day to help my family really makes a difference.

and last...but on least...

• our friends and family love us more than I could have ever known. Even when we threatened to move 2000 miles away they prayed that the Lord would open the appropriate door, or window to the future He had planned for us.

I know that when I turn around to look briefly at the year we just came through I will see one set of footprints on the road, because the Lord carried me and my whole family the whole time.

So...a big thank you to everyone who loves us, and to everyone who said even one prayer on our behalf during the last year. Today we share our celebration with you. We celebrate the ups, and the downs we've encountered on our narrow road. We are thankful that we have a God who will lead us to a window...open it wide...and present us with all sorts of possibilities!!