Cause I have seen the signs of spring....

The past year has been a tough one.  I have learned a lot about myself.  Most importantly, God will never leave me.  He will always be with me and guide me though the trials of this world.  My life is never going to be the same.  There will always be some level of sadness when I think of my dad.  However, God has shown me signs of spring.... signs that even though life will never be the same, God will be with us always and will take care of us.  He will give us hope and a future and one day we will be reunited in Heaven.  

Cause I have seen the signs of spring....

Running....

This deserves its own blog post....keep reading for an explanation soon :)

Cabin....

When we went to the cabin over Labor Day, it was emotional.  Every trip is emotional up there; everywhere I look there are memories of dad.  With those memories come sadness, but also hope.  This became so apparent to me over Labor Day.  It had been a year and the time was right to take the flower from my dad's casket and leave it on the cabin property just as I had with the flower from my grandpa's casket and my grandma's casket.  It wasn't easy to do, but it was the right time.  I woke up early and spent some time down on the dock with God, praying.  As the sun rose, I heard and saw the Eagle.  Tears streamed down my face because I knew that was a sign of spring....

Bev also came up to the cabin this trip.  It was very difficult for her, but for me  it was another sign of spring.... It was like a missing piece was being put back into place.  She is such an amazing woman.  Her example gives me strength.  Even though it was difficult, it was like God showing me that even though things will never be the same, He will make sure that we are all taken care of.

He will never leave us without hope.  

It doesn't mean that life will be easy.  It just means that we are never alone through the struggles and trials regardless of their size.  

Beauty Will Rise

It was the day the world went wrong
I screamed til my voice was gone
And watched through the tears as everything
Came crashing down

Slowly panic turns to pain
As we awake to what remains
And sift through the ashes
That are left behind

But buried deep beneath
All our broken dreams we have this hope

Out of these ashes beauty will rise
And we will dance among the ruins
We will see it with our own eyes
Out of these ashes beauty will rise
For we know joy is coming in the morning
In the morning, beauty will rise

So take another breath for now
And let the tears come washing down
And if you can't believe, I will believe for you

Cause I have seen the signs of spring
Just watch and see

Out of these ashes beauty will rise
And we will dance among the ruins
We will see it with our own eyes
Out of these ashes beauty will rise
For we know joy is coming in the morning
In the morning

I can hear it in the distance
And it's not too far away
It's the music and the laughter
Of a wedding and a feast
I can almost feel the hand of God
Reaching for my face to wipe the tears away
You say it's time to make everything new
Make it all new

This is our hope
This is a promise
This is our hope
This is a promise

It will take our breath away
To see the beauty that's been made
Out of the ashes, out of the ashes

It will take our breath away
To see the beauty that He's made
Out of the ashes, out of the ashes

Out of these ashes
Beauty will rise
And we will dance among the ruins
We will see it with our own eyes
Out of this darkness
New light will shine
And we'll know the joy that's coming in the morning
In the morning
Beauty will rise

Oh, beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, beauty will rise
Oh, oh, oh, beauty will rise

Lyrics and photo from http://stevencurtischapman.com/node/229