Looking back & forward...

I created a new look to our blog, sort of symblic of a new year coming, a new look, a new perspective, well, a refined perspective of life in general. :) A new chapter has come and gone in the year behind us... I wanted to write a little about what this year has been for our family, it has been filled with blessings, trials, heartache, joys, love and peace;

Our family has gone through some heavy trials this year with Steve's mom, Karen, being terminally ill with brain cancer. When you get that call, as we did last Thanksgiving in '06, nothing really ever prepares you for the journey that lies ahead in having a loved one terminally ill, it is the roughest journey you'll ever take. The journey is rough, it is down and out brutal and beats you raw to the bone, because it is one of the hardest of trials. Unfortunately we are all gonna have this trial at some point in our lives, cause we are human, we live, we die...

Steve and I are reading the book of James together right now. This really encompasses what life is about, huh? When the book starts out with, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers when you face trials of many kinds..." you are like what! how? why? As you read on it brings that big picture perspective that we must keep in mind always, "because you know the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Our faith is tested when we see such horrible things, our faith is tested when we face a trial that we don't really know or see the outcome, and some of our biggest questions resound a loud WHY? As you read on in James, "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Okay... so taking that step back, looking and searching for the truths that we need to get each day... we prayed. When Steve and I read this it really hit us. God wants to develop that perseverance in all of us, even more, continuously, with ALL the trials that come at us each day. He is allowing those trails to come, he isn't creating them, he is allowing them to mature and complete us, MAKE US MORE CHRISTLIKE. Cause that is what this life is all about. The trials and tribulations are creating character in those areas that we face, it is molding our behaviors, our reactions, our thoughts, our actions towards others, in that area that we are facing. It is changing who we are in that area. I think of when Matthew was born and how Steve and I felt so out of control with all of the issues that we faced, with Matthew's medical issues, my medical issues, his premature birth and such, but through it, God was able to really develop some character in our lives, especially in the areas of trust and patience. Steve and I grew as a couple, we grew as Christians, we grew as people and God was able to bring about a growth in character in many areas that need and continue to need refining. We could have held onto the bitterness, of why can't we have a normal birth, newborn experience, why does our child have to go through so much? why our family? We definetly had those feelings at many points through the journey... cause we are human. The growth can happen, but only when we get past those feelings, cause we are all going to have those feelings initially, and we have to let the Lord come in and show us how to do it, guide us, carry us (cause sometimes you aren't even able to function in any given day the way we want to, or desire, we need the Lord to carry us through, to make it, only by his grace) and bring us to a place where we learn from what we are going through, and by golly we can be above it with Jesus, not under it, with his strength not our own, and grow from it. Thank you Lord for those trials that are bringing about growth in our lives, help us to live this life the way you have for us!

This year our baby boy Daniel was born. After a strenuous pregnancy, with the stress of a high risk pregnancy and other issues in our personal lives, he came to us as scheduled on March 9, 2007. A day after I turned 29! We were so thankful that the Lord allowed our baby to cook in that oven as long as he did! He came out a big healthy baby boy anyways, despite being a month early! He didn't even have to go to the NICU!!! We continue to be amazed at our boys, the joy that they bring to our lives, the lessons that they teach us, how their lives have already taught us so much in such a short time. We thank God for them daily!

We are looking forward to 2008, a new year, a new chapter in this journey of life. Please keep Steve's mom, Karen, in your prayers, as she is still living with cancer. Taking it one day at a time, we cannot worry about tomorrow, today has enough worries! And thank you Lord, your mercies are new every morning! We are planning on moving sometime this Spring! God is pointing us to some new things and it is exciting.

We have some trips coming up, our vacation is set for the end of February, gonna go up North, see some family and see some sights. Our family has big birthdays this year, 30, 5 and 1! I am going to go to Hawaii for my friends Sherry Carpenter and Dave Lane's wedding as a bridesmaid in June, looking forward to that! I guess that I can sort of call that a girl trip, compared to my hubby's Vegas Man trips! Yeah! :) I love Hawaii, wish we could have some Aloha here right now, aren't we getting tired of this rain already!? Oh the Northwest, we love you! My mos side of the family has their family reunion in July, hoping that at least me and the boys will make that, it is so fun, FAMILY, so important and we need to make the time for that huh? I think those are the things "planned" as we say, God willing, that are set in the schedule to happen!

Blessings to you all for this coming year! Our prayers are with each of you! I wanted to add a special note that we would like you to please let us know how we can be an encouragment and help to you in this new year, drop us a note, a message, or give us a call! Sometimes it is hard to reach out in our brokeness, but know that we are there for you however you need us. Our family has been touched so much by the people who have reached out to us and supported us through all that we have gone through this year, we hope that we can return the love, that joy, and the peace that we have been shown by our loved ones when we needed it! We are forever grateful...

Love,
The Kreins Family
Steve, Sharrie, Matthew and Daniel