One.
“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.” –Zechariah 4:10
This blog has been rolling around in my heart for a few weeks. Patrick and I talked about launching our blog with this one year anniversary post and yet as I sit here during a layover in the airport, 10 days before our one year anniversary, I’m at a loss for words. It doesn’t feel like a year yet there has been so much newness it seems like a lifetime. I get so excited thinking about how God is just starting with us. This year has been a whirlwind of new beginnings…and endings. When thinking about writing this post, two Bible verses kept coming to mind. Zechariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin,” and Isaiah 46:10 “I make known the end from the beginning.” God has been so faithful in bringing us to newness and showing us when to begin and when to end. The Lord led us to a church where we met some of the kindest people and helped start a young adult ministry. About a year later, He led us away from that church into what we’ve named “the wilderness” since we don’t know exactly where God wants us to put roots down in a church yet. God also led to us to Geneva to begin our married adventure and what a sweet season that was. It was in that house where I became a wife and a home maker, gained a hospitable heart and a slight obsession with my coffee hutch. It’s where we spent our first night married. We celebrated so many firsts there and learned the beginnings of being a husband and a wife. I loved that home and it broke my heart when God called us away to move in with Patrick’s parents. God led us to two great jobs and is in the midst of calling us both away. God has been continually leading Patrick and I to wilderness yet has drawn us closer than I thought would be possible with another human. To be honest, this year has been a lot of give and take. And I don’t write that to say that I think God is playing a game with us, no. I truly believe He has a purpose in leading us to the wilderness. Jesus is so faithful. And we believe He is good. So we trust Him in the giving and the taking. There have been so many lessons I’ve learned this year of being a wife. But the one lesson that surpasses them all is that God has rejoiced in this first year with us and that He distinguishes the beginning from the end. And you want to know the best part? He’s in the beginning and the end because He is the first and the last. In Revelation 1:17 God says, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last.” What peace that brings.
This first year has been the best wild ride. I believe year two will be a year of prepping to begin the adventure with our Alcantara Army. People ask us all the time when we are having babies (ahem..mother) and how many we want. I always answer how we want an army and to fill most of a row at Christ Community Church…just kidding…kind of. God’s timing is perfect and that’s all I’ll say about that. There is so much hope going into year 2. Patrick and I both have grateful hearts. I personally am so grateful for a God-loving husband who loves and leads me so well. Bring on year 2 with more change, more journeying, and more adventures for The Alcantaras.
