Facing 2009

Happy New Year, everyone! Our New Year's Eve was very uneventful, but in between Christmas and Baby Sister's quickly approaching arrival, we were happy for a quiet night. This morning, we rang in the New Year with a walk on the beach and some fun with the new camera.

It used to be so easy to get pics of our little guy smiling. Now, we're lucky to get a shot of the front of his face. He's fun to shoot, it just takes a bit more will on our part (to match his!).
Soon to be mum-to-two in the best maternity purchase she made. This red cardigan is my most-worn item over the past 2 pregnancies.
37 weeks and thinking that Baby Sister has 'dropped' -

The bright 9am dawn:
My wonderful, handsome husband:
If there is one thing we learned in 2008, it is that things don't always go according to plan. We did not expect to ring in the new year in St Andrews this year. We fully expected 2008 to take us to a job or post-doc somewhere in the States, but our St Andrews chapter was extended. God has been very good to us through quite a bit of disappointment and discouragement this year, and we are deeply grateful for all of the ways he has cared for us, stretched us, and given us an abundance of joy (not to mention extending our stay in a beautiful place among great friends/colleagues). As we face 2009, our hopes are the same as last year in terms of Luke's completion of his PhD and securing a job or post-doc to take us into the next chapter. But, we walk into this year a bit more humbly and open to a path that might not look exactly like what we envision. We know with all certainty that, come 2010, we will still be serving a graciously faithful and loving Lord. We hope that our plans will be led by Him, and that we'll have the faith to be obedient to His call in our lives.

If you're a regular reader of our blog, thanks for keeping up with us! May 2009 be rich with blessings for you and yours.

2009, here we come!