The post below is a follow-up to events on the horizon in our lives at this time. All individuals weather unique life storms. We share our story hoping a single soul is encouraged.
Greetings Family and Friends!
This year, we treasured visiting family and friends, both near and far, in addition to watching our girls reach their own milestones. Constance (turning age 3 in about a month) determinedly completed her first official hike in Hocking Hills — “I have to use my muscles!” Addy (turning age 1 just before Christmas) experienced many of the “first year firsts” and desperately wants to play chase with big sister on her own two feet. We traveled to the beach for the first time with the girls. Constance often reminds us how she “tripped in the water and fell down in the ocean” — evidently her strongest memory! Thankfully 2021 was a joyful and (mostly) healthy year watching their personalities grow… and our family also! We are thrilled to share that Baby Welch is joining our family in late June 2022! Life will be quite full with 3 God-given miracles ages 3 and under.
Our training ground is shared. By far, most of our days were spent exploring, learning, encouraging, guiding, understanding, loving, and pursuing God — plus housework, yardwork, and work-work. It’s important that our children see us enjoying life even in the midst of those latter tasks.
Speaking of work, we are grateful Janessa had the opportunity to fully transition away from work-work to more intentionally cultivate life and daily rhythms with the girls. This was vital as our world is changing significantly in another way next year. Ben has Army orders to deploy during early 2022 for approximately one year, reminding us that deployments like this are still going on. Time apart from our #1 guy will be downright difficult — yet this is part of our story and we said “I do” to all our days, not knowing what they all hold.
Even so, we are confident that God is sovereign, God is good, and God is completing His work. We know that there is no doing it alone — that no matter where we are, God is there holding and guiding us (Psalm 139:7-12). God’s track record shows that He provides, time and again, even when it’s not the provision we desire. We are choosing to be thankful for the blessings-we-simply-wouldn’t-have-any-other-way. Even in the messy, His mercies abound.
We covet your prayers as we head into the unknowns of 2022, specifically that God would receive the glory due His name through us (Psalm 29:2). We are praying to keep our vision set on the long view — not to be taken captive by momentary struggles (Ecclesiastes 3:11). God alone is worthy to receive glory, and honor, and power because He is creator and sustainer of all (Revelation 4:11).
These days —
with all the good, the bad, and the in-between —
ARE the good old days… the Glory Days.
Much love,
Ben + Janessa
Constance, Addy, and Baby Welch