sound of sunshine

Today is a great day. Today is a day I've prayed for --- I've asked God so many times to please carry us TO this day and I have to be honest and admit that I have spent many an evening wondering if this day would ever arrive.

but...

It's here! and praise GOD for that!

Today walls began going up at my parent's new house.  While work has been going on for weeks to prepare the old foundation for new life, today you couldn't MISS the work that was being done and continues to be done...there are walls.  I wrote yesterday about the tradgedy that took my family's home away and how through that experience the Lord has really taught us that a home really has nothing to do with walls at all but has everything to do with the people you love...and we are all very grateful for this lesson.  But I have to say, it feels nice to see these walls being rebuilt.  We have made so many memories in this very spot...my parents built their home in their twenties and my sister and I know of no other home but the one that stood in this very spot! We are all VERY grateful for the blessing of new life in this place.

One of the coolest experiences I believe I had coming from this tragedy was not too terribly long after the fire.  We were heading home and the decision had been made to rebuild on the same foundation, in the very same spot our other home stood...as a family we gathered around and did toasts in our favorite spots in the house - from the hearth, to "Ginny's chair", to Mom's kitchen counters...we all (even Jason who has only been in our family for 2 years) shared a favorite memory, a favorite "spot" in this old house as we moved across the bare concrete.  And circled up in the middle of this foundation we gathered together and we prayed...what a powerful moment that was.  To stand in the face of adversity and have the strength to acknowledge that our God is bigger than the pain.  I write about this not to give any credit to my family, but every single ounce of glory to our Father who carried us through and made it possible for us to see His hand above all of our own sorrow and grief.  He is powerful and mighty and we see Him more clearly now than ever before!

Yall, I'm just pumped. I cannot wait to watch this project continue...I cannot wait to see how God continues to work....and I cannot WAIT for all of the new memories to be made in this new house. What a treasure and a blessing!

Today...is a bright sunshiny spot.  I'm thankful that even in the midst of a storm His rays always shine through reminding us that there is joy in the journey and HOPE in the middle of  pain.  God, You are able!