Emily and Noah

 It is with joy, and great love, that we welcome Emily into the family. 

Aimee and I like to say that Noah is more of our little [big] brother than our cousin because we have grown up together. He is an only child and his family started coming to our church during his formidable years. Besides seeing him every week we also spent all the holidays together. We've been to all of his major life celebrations and were so proud to bear witness to the biggest one yet.

The wedding was simple but beautiful. It was a family event - Dad did the ceremony, the kids were ring bearers and flower girls, and Blane was the best man. The most memorable moments - Noah and Auntie Ruth dancing to Great is Thy Faithfulness, Abby and Emi, Blane's speech, Em in her dress, the kid table + individualized boxes for each kid complete with colored pencils, yummy treats, and with a handmade and personalized activity sheet. Em's gifts of creativity and care on display.

We decided to let the kids stay up to celebrate and, while they may be suffering at school this morning, it sure was worth it. The kids all had a blast. But the joy in Abby's heart, on her face, and in her feet when it came time to dance - none of us will soon forget. She was nonstop on the dance floor for at least an hour - dancing with strangers, pulling people out to join her, elation plastered across her wide grin while she jumped, danced, spun, and twirled.

Mom texted me on her drive home that night. 

While the sentiments are flattering, the truth is only Abby (and each of us) get to decide if we will chose joy in the Lord. It's one thing to know all of the truths about God in your head, but it's quite another to take that head knowledge and actually let it change our hearts. This is emotional maturity in Christ. 

May we all chose the joy of the Lord, even in the most sorrowful of times. It is there that the scope of the power of God is revealed.