The gift of a new year

Happy New Year, friendly folks! 2013 was replete with blessings, particularly Serene Joy's birth. As I snapped these pictures today before we headed to a family friend's for a legit homemade sushi feast to celebrate the gift of this new year, I reflected on how Serene's sweetness and vulnerability daily reminds me of God'surpassing kindness towards us, and His great love for His Son. Her life also exponentially reveals to me how amazing Alex is, and how blessed I am to stand alongside him as he leads our little family and learns to shepherd our church family, all for God's glory. Thankful for God's grace that allowed me to complete last year's resolution of completing this reading plan (a day late), and looking forward to finishing this one in 2014. Love is the overarching focus this year, as this past year revealed my lack of love - loving the Lord, loving my little family, and loving others. So Lord, help me to love others radically, as you've loved us in Christ.