Back on my feet...

I firmly believe that God uses everything for the good... and have had to embrace that as I was on the couch for 7 days with the flu and pneumonia this week. I have never been this sick in my life... and it was so much harder with a 13 month old and a husband out of town. So, God taught me a lot this week... He taught me how little rest I have been giving myself and how I have been allowing my crazy life to cause me to neglect my body. I have learned humility and to accept and embrace those offering to help. I have had all of my needs provided for by amazing family and friends... and for that I am eternally grateful. It made me realize how, normally, I am very healthy; and made me incredible thankful that I would recover soon and did not suffer from a chronic illness like so many that I know and love. Therefore, being sick has helped me to empathize with those that are struggling with their health, and it helped me to understand some of the frustration that they experience on a daily basis. Most of all I have felt prayers of family and friends and experienced the healing hand of my Father. I am praising him that Jason and Amelia didn't get sick and that I am finally feeling better. Sometimes He has to knock you off your feet to get your attention... and for that I am thankful. He has done great things!

Amelia in the leaves... 12 mo

Our Family Update

Here's the Gebbink update...
6 months ago Jason was offered a job in Chicago in a money management firm trading bonds. Although this was something that he had never done and we had no idea how the logistics of it were going to work being 3 hours from us in Bloomington, we had total peace about the situation. For the first time in my life I was actually upset that I had peace. This job was not in 'my plan' and I did not have a hiccup like this figured into 'my plan'. Well, we all know what God thinks of our plans... ha ha... So, going completely on faith he accepted the job and we went from there. From day one God opened doors and provided for all of our needs. From a very nice, very affordable rental house that was completely gutted and fixed up just for us, to a houseful of furniture that was loaned to us, to my job being INCREDIBLY understanding and flexible and allowing me to work from home 2 days a week... God provided.

Now we are going on 6 months of Jason working in Chicago, and it's actually going pretty well. He heads up on Sundays via Amtrak, then I work Mon-Wed while Amelia is watched by grandmas and a friend, then she and I head up to McHenry on Wed evenings where I work from home on Thursdays and Fridays and we all drive home together Friday nights. Saturdays we do stuff around the house, Sunday is church (Jason is still working in Peoria as a worship leader at our church), and Sunday night we do it all over again. Whew. Hopefully we won't have to keep it up for longer than a year before he is able to work from home. God has provided for us every step of the way and, although somedays are much harder than others, we have grown and learned so much already. So, praise to Him!

Here we go...

What better thing to do today after having been stuck in the house for 5 days, sick on the couch, than start a blog? Truthfully, I love and adore reading our friend's blogs and keeping up with their lives, kids, struggles and joys. I have received so much wisdom, insight, joy, and laughter from everyone else that I thought it might be my turn to contribute. So, enjoy!