Back on the Blogging Wagon

I have decided that I am horrible at blogging. Horrible.

I think I have commitment issues. My thirties are going to be my project of follow through. 

Yep, I turned 30.  So far I love it. I feel grown up with still a touch of young, so I am digging that combination. Does anyone remember the song by Deana Carter, “Strawberry Wine?” Well there’s a line in it that goes, “I still remember, when 30 was old….” I was 12 when that song came out, and I remember thinking that 30 was old! YIKES! 

Speaking of which, my father’s 50^th birthday came and went. It was uneventful but really made me reflect. I guess motherhood does that. I was 12 the year my father passed away. He was 32 when he died, and I remember everyone around me exclaiming how young he was. At the time I couldn’t grasp it, but now that I am only 2 years younger than he was when he passed, I am shocked at how young he was.  I am thankful in some ways that I went through something so colossal so young. It really opened my eyes. What followed were some immensely painful years, but looking back, it tethered me to Christ. Up until that point I had no real faith, and that was a huge stepping stone that fixed my path. I wouldn’t take it back.  My eyes were opened to my heavenly father in losing my earthly father.

In other news, Solomon is turning 1! People are asking how I feel and if I am sad. The answer is no, not really. That sounds a little weird to say. God has blessed us with this little person and it amazes me every day how awesome this kid is.  Don’t get me wrong, the baby stage was a blast, but he is so much fun now. He is doing something new everyday, and it is a blessing to watch him learn about the world.While I was pregnant, our prayer was that God would grow Solomon to be a mighty man of God that honors him. Our prayer is still that for him, and God is honoring that prayer every day. Turning 1 is a reminder of how much God has blessed us. Solomon isn’t mine, I know that he is God's, but I am thankful that I have the opportunity to be his mom while on this life. 

Well, yay, I have finished an entry! I am applauding myself right now, and I have a little man who has just woken up and really needs to snuggle. I am taking advantage of these moments while I have them!

365 Days

No I have not fallen off of the face of the earth.


To say the least, things have changed. We were thrown a curve ball.  A big one.


This happened.....

Yep.

About a week after my last post I was shocked to find out that I was pregnant. God led me through one of the scariest but blessed journeys getting this little guy here. My family is proof that God has a plan in all things. We received the devastating news that we lost our precious Joshua Jr. on October 20th, 2011 and 365 days later, on October 19th, 2012 we were blessed with Solomon Hosea!

There were many times that my faith faltered, and we had our share of bumps in the road, but this picture is proof that God is faithful.

I will post much more to follow on the many ways that God has moved in my life, although I am so undeserving of it.

Thank you all who have followed these posts. The countless messages I have received as well as the words of encouragement and prayers mean more than you will ever know. I am one blessed lady!!

Glorious Day

I am taking a break to write something that has been on my mind lately. In situations like mine, people tend to focus on the sadness. No doubt, my husband and I are in a sad situation, but like I have said before, there is good.

I have some amazing friends; God has used them to minister to my family in mighty ways. I thank God for them. One night recently a group of us were together. During our fellowship, we had a time of prayer. Many of our friends have small children, and most of them prayed that one day God would lead their children to Him, and save their souls. Their prayers were heartfelt, honest, and real. Their hearts were understandably heavy with the love of their children, and the desire for their security.

Tears welled up, but not for the reason you might think. I was completely overcome with relief. That is one prayer that I will never have to pray, at least not for Josh Jr.

When I was pregnant, we prayed nightly, and Josh’s prayer was always,

“God we pray that you bring our child to term, and ultimately save his or her soul.”  

God fulfilled that prayer. I was full term when we lost little Josh, and 2^nd Samuel 12:23 says it best, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” If it is in God’s will for us to have more children, I will undoubtedly join my dear friends in prayers for my children, submitting to the faultless will of the perfect God, whom has sustained me.

 I take great comfort in looking to the Resurrection, when Christ returns in full glory, seeking His bride. I rejoice in seeing my son there, but my heart longs for Christ, and an eternity worshipping Him. This loss here on earth, is preparing me for that glorious day, when I will be in the presence of my Savior. A time when this loss won't even compare to the glory to come. Soli Deo Gloria

Carrying Their Crosses

I had something else in mind when I sat down to write this. I had a meticulous plan to do a series of articles on people who have faced trials and shown the glory of God by doing so. They were going to be very well written and plotted out, but that has been thrown out. You will read on to find a barely edited, almost stream of conscience window to my thoughts. It just seemed right, so please read this post with grace.

Nancy Guthrie had to be the first in this series. She is a truly gifted writer and has faced the death of two of her children. If you as anyone of my friends, they will tell you she is my home girl. She is one of the best examples of obedience in suffering that I have ever seen.

 After we lost little Josh, people came from near and far to give me books and literature to read. I received Holding on to Hope, from one of my mother’s coworkers, whom I haven’t spoken with since my wedding in 2008. It is by providence that this one caught my eye. I read the book cover to cover in two days.

If I explain the book in detail, I may never finish, and I don’t want my poor writing skills to discredit her God given gift in any way, but I will tell you this; God used her to reveal things to me that have made this suffering worthwhile.

God calls us to suffering. He allowed for her two children to pass away, just as He allowed for my little Josh to never take a breath. He did this for His glory. We give Satan too much power in our lives. Satan did not do this to us, God allowed it to happen, and there has been so much good to come from it. There are days that I still want to curl up in a hole, but I am where God has ordained for me to be, and He used my son to do mighty things for His kingdom.

I can accept what God has for me with open arms because of the Christ’s death on the cross. God is still good. On the day my son died, God was still good. He is merciful and gracious, and blessed me more than I will ever deserve.

If any of you are going through a trial, even if it doesn’t involve death, I would recommend any of Nancy Guthrie’s writings. I have read most of them and if you would like any specific recommendations please let me know and I will be happy to do so.

The title of this blog is Count it all joy… for a reason. We are to accept any trial with joy, because through them we are becoming more like Christ. Thank you Nancy Guthrie, for your obedience, God has used you to grow His kingdom in a mighty way!

Count it all joy...: Happy New Year!!

Count it all joy...: Happy New Year!!: 2011 was a year full of blessings for our family. Some of those blessings were received with gladness, others were received with tears. I pr...

Happy New Year!!

2011 was a year full of blessings for our family. Some of those blessings were received with gladness, others were received with tears. I praise God for His sovereignty and look to the next year with a heart full of joy! 
I am currently working on a series titled, "Carrying Their Crosses." This will be focused on people who have glorified God and His perfect plan through their suffering. The first installment will be posted soon. 
I want to thank each and every one of you for your support through reading since this has been posted in October, the response has been more than I could have ever expected.


Soli Deo Gloria


--Halley

Merry Christmas from the Caldwells

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”  (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)

The word Immanuel means “God with us” in the Hebrew—the language in which Isaiah’s prophecy was written. Isaiah prophesied this Word from the Lord 700 years prior to Christ’s coming to dwell on earth. But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.

(Galatians 4:4-5 ESV)

                What is significant about the birth of Christ? Christ came to earth to live a sinless life, to die a sin bearing death on the Cross to redeem a people to Himself. He asks those who desire to be a part of His family to repent of their sin and believe in His good news. Thank you Christ, our savior and master, for saving us from hell and punishment by your death! Thank you for giving us your righteousness and eternal life!

In another sense, Halley and I have felt “God with us” this year in the loss of our son, Josh Jr. We have felt the presence and guiding hand of the Lord throughout this entire ordeal; He is an ever present help in time of trouble! We are still reeling in pain over our little Josh, but we take comfort in the fact that God makes no mistakes. We take the greatest consolation in knowing God has used our loss for His Glory, and we pray He continues this work. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord!

We hope you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May you take time in all of the gatherings and gift-giving to remember why we celebrate this holiday. We hope you won’t just celebrate yourself because Christmas is not about decorated trees, or family, or gifts, or an enormous guy in a red suit. Christmas is about the Gospel.

Grace and Peace,

                                                  Josh and Halley