Easter is almost here, wow..this past year went fast. Even though it may not yet look like it, Spring is upon us! I love the Spring, I love to see the flowers and trees in bloom. I love to smell the fresh cut grass and see the sunshine peeking through these steel Washington skies again, be it ever so briefly!

This year, Spring and Easter are especially meaningful to me. After having just walked through the hardest 2 years of my life fraught with turmoil, loss and stress that I feared would crush me...I am now standing on the other side blinking in the dawning light of my Jesus. Sorrow may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Amen. And what a sweet joy it is.

We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

2 Cor 4:8-10

We have been talking a lot about the blessings that have come out this past season. Not only have the Pilot and I both seen a richer depth to our walks with Jesus, but we were given an amazing gift in the midst of our trial. It is awesome to see my DH swell up with love and tenderness as we talk about the beautiful blessing of our newest baby and it brought tears to my eyes to hear him tell me that he would not trade one thing we have lost for the incredible privilege of having this baby in our lives. Every moment of that dark night of the soul was necessary to develop us into just who God wants us to be, for these incredible children, for our own growth and for the glory of our God.

I can say that I am thankful for my recent trials, but only just recently! I could not say that while I was in the middle of them. I can say to those who may be right where we were...hang on, God is with you even if you can't see that right now.

I believe there that God is in control. Not that I have it all down yet, not that I am walking in perfectly surrendered faith....but I am seeing more and more that even when things seem dark, God has an incredible plan for it all!

I pray that you all get a glimpse of God's unending love for you as you celebrate the resurrection with your families this week! Alleluia, He is risen!