Day one

Today is Day 1. 
Yesterday marked the end of a school year that, as a wife, mom and a homeschooling mom, sent me into a total tailspin. 

Sure, we had victories and some high fives. Yes, there were difficult school classes and fun but challenging assignments. There were projects and papers and tests. There was cramming and last minute deadlines. There were crayons and glue and scissors. But in the midst of all that normal school stuff and to-be-expected, we also experienced some normal *life* stuff: personal family loss and fear and out-of-the-blue-what-ifs and foundation-shaking moments from which we are still digging out. 
Have you been there too? You know the ones I'm talking about? The school ones where you look at each other over tear stained text books and say 'how did we get here?' And those other times you stand motionless in each other's presence after unspeakable personal loss and say 'what do we do now?' Yeah. That was us. All. Year. Long. Blow after blow - school, family, personally, we couldn't seem to catch a break. 

So tonight when the sun was speeding towards its resting place on the river's edge, I stood with those that my heart fights for and I stopped. I breathed deep the brackish air and let my lungs be filled not only with air..but hope... confident of the necessity of both to keep me alive. 

I was reminded of the great promises that joy comes in the morning. That mercies are new. That faithfulness is great and comes every single day. That our worst days are writing the preface of the story of our best days to come. That I needed this sunset to set my heart on the anticipation of the sunrise of Day 2 and it would write a new better story.

It just had to. 

So tonight at midnight as Day 1 of a new year turns to Day 2, not only does the date turn, but so does my heart. I'm thankful for the start of something new and confident in my declaration and proclaim with boldness, 'It's a new day now. Come on mercy, come on strength!' And to the precious ones for which my heart beats and fights ... hear me: We're going to make it little ones. Grab the hands of your family and let's walk this thing out ... together. 

Day 2 is on the way. 

​Day 2 is here.