Content and Contentment

Hello to anyone who may find us on the web. It has been awhile, almost a year! I am sitting here on our third snow day in a row, reflecting. Funny to think how a year changes us. The days really do turn into years. That saying is true for children (where we hear it applied most) for work, for hobbies, etc. In one year, Garrett's career, our children's education, our time and our hearts have changed so much. We hope that there has been growth. It's been through the paralysis of job loss, the pivot of Covid, the hope of new ideas, and the hard earned strength of work that we have had glimpses at God's work in our lives this past year.

We started this blog and instagram when Garrett lost his job. We may talk about that at some point. Garrett thought it would be fun to share some projects that he had completed because at the time, he was thinking about starting a contracting and construction company. While that may seem out of left field being that he had been in home health - it was and is a hobby and passion of his. I really can't wait to tell the story of how he came to do mortgage lending and then the formation of our renovation company but for now, you can know, it has been a blessed place for him and our family.

I am writing all this to say that we realize our "content" has been lacking. We had high hopes that dwindled with the rest of the world's New Year's resolutions. Collectively, we experienced a different last year than we all planned. But in that year, we experienced hardship and growth, lost plans and new found mercies, incredible fear and simple thanksgiving. I am thankful for the immense mercies found in 2020. We didn't find them in stories of magnificent triumph, but in the small conquering of the heart. The prayers that filled our last year were for provision and contentment (along with health of course).

Maybe I will use this space to write about how, sadly, so many of my heart's longings are driven by discontent and unthankfulness. Maybe I will just confess the ugliness of my dissatisfaction with God's blessings in my life. Maybe I will publicly search for the gifts in my day. Whether the moments of peace, the interruptions of laughter, the provision of trying to do my job while watching my boys rearrange furniture and hearing the distant cry of my toddler being patronized by her big sister, the relationship-strengthening disagreements with my beloved husband - all of them, gifts to be unwrapped, maybe slowly, so that they can be cherished, pondered, acknowledged, prayed over, learned from, loved.

Maybe in my ramblings, you can help me see clearly. Life always gets a little foggy. We need the wind to blow it away, the sun to shine brighter, a new prescription, a listening ear - intervention is always needed. I welcome it. Maybe this will be a collection of my earnest attempt to be content, or even more - thankful. Sometimes blessings are disguised. Sometimes my heart doesn't look for the light. My friends, sometimes I just need help. Here's to 2021. Already we have been provided time to reflect, try new things, and to enjoy what we have.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above ye heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

Our year can't be fully articulated or captured. But here are some glimpses into the everyday. Garrett began a new job and found a love for martinis. Trace went from homeschooling to being a CCS Warrior. The three littles tasted dairy and eggs and didn't look back. Trace learned to read. I rediscovered my love of gardening with less sunlight than ever. We bought a house to renovate. We moved our church membership and found a rich gospel community. The kids knocked down fence boards and found their new best friends behind us. We leaned in, we learned, we grieved, we loved, we grew. And now we are onto the same in this new year God has given us.