What 2011 taught me...

I have never been more excited for a new year, but this past year deserves some reflection.  Some of these may seem like "duh" statements, but they have become a reality for in 2011.
*Life is utterly unpredictable.
*God is completely trustworthy and in control.
*Losing a child is the hardest thing I have had to experience to date.
*It is easier to mourn with others when one is rejoicing, than to rejoice with others when one is mourning.
*We are surrounded by a loving and caring community of friends.
*Allowing others to minister to a person requires humility.
*Becoming a mother filled my heart with a love that I cannot explain.
*It does not make sense to go from three to two.
*Grief is one of the strangest phenomena...comes and goes, catches you off guard, but there is no fighting it.  One must 'ride the wave' - or, as my dear friend Kerstin put it, 'dive deep and hang on tight'.
*Sharing a loss with another person can draw you much closer to them.
*Life does go on...
*Certain people bring comfort and healing, simply by their presence.
*Contentement doesn't have much to do with what we have or don't have.
*Beauty comes from ashes.
*Powerful inner transformation comes through suffering.
*Even in the midst of grief, it is good to serve others.
*Most of my great ideas are borrowed from other people...thanks for the inspiration, Sara P!
*I really love roadtrips (and air travel, for that matter).
*A new sister-in-law is a sweet blessing.
*I actually enjoy some crafts.
*My husband has become a "Les Mis" fan - yes!
*Anonymous gifts on a regular basis for a few months bring a smile to my face.
*Whatever the means, God wants to draw us closer to Himself. 
*God sometimes speaks to me through pictures/analogies - and I love it!
*I don't need to always be a step ahead of everyone.  It is good to take the backseat. 
*There is a sweetness in sorrow.
*Always hope.