We experienced a lot of firsts this year-all without husband or father in our lives. Amerel volunteered at several horse farms and also a therapeutic (horse) riding center. She also took horse back riding lessons. She joined the adult Christmas choir which has been a longtime dream of hers. Isaiah played on the worship team at our church...a dream he's had since he was a toddler. He's also been teaching himself how to play electric and acoustic drums which is a more recent dream of his. My two little ones both had solo parts in the children's Christmas choir. All of the kids began trying to learn how to swim over the summer break from school. Daddy would have been proud of his children this year!
I've also had some firsts...I began driving regularly on the local highways-something I would never have done if it wasn't absolutely necessary! I have learned to pump my own gas. (In the state I'm originally from it's illegal to pump your own gas, and Tyren always filled our gas tank ever since we've been married.) I had my first surgery (for hernia repair) and am gracefully recovering. Bought my first vehicle by myself. Rented our first house. Even got my first regular stay at home job! Praise God! My husband would have been proud of me, too. But he wasn't here to walk through any of it with us. Sometimes, I honestly don't know how I made it through this year-BUT GOD!
God has faithfully brought us through this year! When I prayed for a reliable vehicle big enough for our family that would last us years-God came through. I prayed for a home with enough room to homeschool our four children comfortably and a nice sized backyard for the kids to play in. God opened up the windows of heaven and poured it out upon us. I prayed that by January 1st I would have a part time job that allowed me to stay at home and support my kids' homeschooling. Again, God miraculously came through and I was hired earlier this month for an online chat support position at a Christian school! Has God been faithful to us?! Amazingly so! And there are so many other ways He's been faithful to us that many of you have had a huge part in.
So, as hard as it is to believe and to fathom, life still goes on here in this place I've decided to call Narnia (see my blog from March of this year). Because, for me, life in that other world where my husband still walked beside me can not co-exist with this new life I have to walk in. It is another reality that no longer exists in this new world we are destined to live in now. But I now know something that I didn't know, or believe, a year ago when my beloved husband graduated to his eternal heavenly home-God still has a perfect plan for my life here in this place...and I am choosing to walk in it. God is faithful.
So, for as long as God has given me to live here in this place...
This is my story,
This is my song...
Praising my Savior
All the day long!
Thank you to all of you who have stood by us in love, prayer, and support in this most difficult year of our lives.
Happy New Year!
Tiffany
