One Year

I've been wanting to write a post about this for the last couple months, but am just now getting to it. In some ways it's much more pertinent to count back a year from now though, instead of from when we first arrived in Rochester. We had been here for a couple months and things were just starting to get, well, let's say, "interesting."

At this time last year we had just bought our new car (Toyota Matrix), we were thick in the search for a place to live, Caitlin hadn't begun to crawl yet, my sister was visiting, I was already beginning to feel lonely in my lack of friendships, we were searching for a church home, Grady had just begun to work for the startup company, "Hardcore Computer," we were dealing heavily with reverse culture shock and at a very low point in our marriage, the Canadian dollar was actually stronger than the American dollar for the first time since the 70s, gas prices were at an all-time high, and the snow was finally mostly melted after what seemed like a long winter (even though we only jumped into it in the middle!).

Well, the snow is once again finally melted, but that's the only similarity to this time last year.

It's not always so defined to think back to "one year ago" and remember what was going on, but in this case it is so clear for us. It is so refreshing to look back and be reminded that time does put so much in perspective. Life was super intense at this time last year; there were so many questions in our minds, so much unrest. It didn't stay that way though! (in some ways it actually got worse before it got better.)

When I look back next year, this is what I will remember about right now:
- the ecomony is officially in recession, and we are unsure how long Grady's job will last
- we welcomed a beautiful son into our family (--surprise!--) and are settling into life with him
- Caitlin is not only crawling, but walking, jumping, running and climbing everywhere plus chatting about it along the way
- we are gearing up to do a bit of a kitchen remodel in hopes of adding value to our home
- we have a home, and in our favorite neighborhood of Rochester too(!)
- we love our church family along with the friends we have made there and the challenging Bible studies we are a part of now
- I have found moms to meet with and get encouragement from who share the same parenting principles and am part of a fun and insightful book club, MOPS, and Mothers and More
- our marriage is not just surviving, but thriving (praise God!)
- our car has proven to be the perfect fit for our lifestyle and family
- my sister and her husband just passed their six month "anniversary" of marriage and of her living in Australia, and she's finally found a job too
- we still have "major missing Germany" moments, but are not bombarded and stressed with the constant small differences of the culture here anymore, what a relief

And all the time, God is there. Such a comfort!

What will you look back and see a year from now?