Before/After

Before

After

Today marks our 4 year anniversary in Jamaica. We committed to stay here for 2 years and somehow I think we lost count. Wow, how things have changed! The first picture was taken not long before we left for Jamaica, a happy, clueless, blessed, anxious, committed, naive, passionate family of 4. The second picture was taken very recently, a happy, even more clueless, blessed, anxious, somewhat committed, not quite as naive, passionate family of 6. The most natural inclination is to look at the before/after picture and only see the 2 additional kids, 100 additional white hairs, and 10 extra pounds. But, what about the inside? What has changed? If I could only show you a picture of how we have changed on the inside. Actually, I am not sure I would show you that picture, it may be uglier than the addition of white hair and extra pounds. But, I am convinced that in the midst of the potential ugliness of that picture, their would be some beautiful streaks. Not of our doing, but of the Lord working in our lives. In the changing, wrecking, tweaking, and crushing, you would find beauty. We honestly cant believe that we are here 4 years later and there are certainly times that we are not too happy about it. Then, there are other days that we wouldn't want to be any place else in the world. It has not been easy, but it has been good. We have had these conversations with God, we have shared our disappointments and we have shared our thanksgiving. We praise the Lord for His faithfulness and steadfast love.