What an incredible year. Some have said to us that they are glad it is coming to an end because of all that we have gone through, but we consider this past year to have been filled with amazing blessings, and we hope that 2009 is equally as blessed (although, maybe a break from the medical drama would be OK with us too).
As I write this, I'm also looking back on the last few posts of 2007, and I am, as I have been for several months, in awe of how far God has brought us. My Last Post of 2007 was a simple request for prayer for Tricia and the baby...I can distinctly recall the desperation and helplessness I felt that day, knowing that we would need more than one miracle...
Yet, that desperation also seems so far away, as I truly have experienced God's miracles and blessings in unimaginable ways. The birth of my daughter. The rebirth of my wife. And so many more.
Nearly everyday, we learn more of how God is using this past year of our lives to bless others, many who we'll never meet. So, while we wouldn't wish many of the events of this past year on anyone, we also wouldn't change a thing.
We have no idea what 2009 will bring. But, we do know for certain that God continues to hold us in the middle of His will.
So, my very dear friends,
don't get thrown off course.
Every desirable and beneficial gift
comes out of heaven.
The gifts are rivers of light
cascading down from the Father of Light.
There is nothing deceitful in God,
nothing two-faced, nothing fickle.
He brought us to life
using the true Word,
showing us off as the crown
of all his creatures.
James 1:16-18 (The Message)
Nate
I hope this year has just as many great things happen for you and a fewer medical challenges!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story and your miracles with a watching world. I have been blessed to see God's hand at work in your lives. I am grateful that your two beautiful girls are doing so well. Each time I read your blog I am reminded that God intervenes in our lives and answers prayers.
ReplyDeleteI hope 2009 is filled with love and laughter and overflowing joy for you and your precious family.
Thank you for sharing some of your life with us. It has been an honor to have prayed for your family. I will continue to do so in 2009.
ReplyDeleteI too am in awe of the blessings our Daddy has lavished on you this year. I know that He has been faithful and will continue to be. He has counted you worthy to take His love and truth to places that could only be touched because of your trails rather than in spite of them. Thank you for you continued ministy. I pray continued grace and provision for you and the girls in 09.
ReplyDeleteYes, what an amazing year!! God is so good and you are so blessed. Can't wait to see what 2009 brings!
ReplyDeleteHappy 2009. Your journey has been an incredible one to follow and I hope that the coming year brings wondeful things for you all.
ReplyDeleteWhatever it holds, I wish you the continued love, faith, strength and spirit that has got you this far.
Much love xxx
Happy New Year Nate, Tricia and Gwyneth!! =)
ReplyDeleteI consider one of my blessings of 2008 was being able to meet you & Tricia twice.
ReplyDeleteI pray that 2009 will be an incredible year filled with many blessings for the whole Lawrenson clan and that God continues to use to to show the world miracles!
I will pray for the family members that has to enter their first new year without their loved one and pray that they know that another family got to see 2009 because of the act of kindness they did in their darkest moment.
Happy New Year to you and all of your family. I feel blessed to have found your blog and have been able to read and share your story.
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year, Nate. May God continue to bless you in 2009 and every year after....
ReplyDeleteNate,Tricia & Gwyneth~
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
God Bless you in 2009!
Giving thanks for all His blessings in 2008.
Beautiful and inspiring, as always. Thank, Nate. I'll be back next year!
ReplyDeleteBarbara
Happy 2009!!! May the blessings continue to flood your lives daily.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great post! You have a wonderful family and God will take care of them. Happy 2009!
ReplyDeletei loved looking back at how far i have come. it has been an interesting year or two. and the best is yet to come.
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing your journey with us. if someone has known your story and not been blessed, it's because they were not willing to receive the blessing.
always praying for your girl's health.
I'm a firm believer that the best is yet to come. God always provides and your family is living proof of His will be done. God is so good.
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to bless and keep you Nate. Blessings to You and your Girls.
a miraculous year 2008 was for many of us on so many different levels. may 2009 bring you more joy and love, peace and health than ever before. god bless you and your family nate.
ReplyDeleteNo boring life for you guys!
ReplyDeleteHappy and healthy 2009!
May 2009 bring many, many blessings to you and yours! Happy New Year, Nate, Tricia and Gwyneth!!!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Happy almost birthday to Gwyneth! My daughter is just 1 day younger than her!! :o)
All I can say to that is a huge, "Amen!" There just aren't any other words....
ReplyDeleteMay God continue to bless you in amazing ways in the New Year!
Your story has changed many lives. We are hopefully a little kinder and we have truly seen the hand of God. A blessed 2009 for you and yours
ReplyDeleteVery well said! Happy New Year to you, Tricia, Gwyneth and your extended family. I hope this year is full of 1sts: 1st year w/o extended hospital stays, 1st year anniversary of new lungs, 1st year in new house, 1st year to enjoy being a beautiful family, 1st year to thank God for all his wonderful goodness through his miracles and caring for Tricia & Gwyneth so well and last but certainly not least 1st birthday of the beautiful white rose. Thank you guys for letting us all be a part of this year with you. You have reminded me how powerful our God is and all the wonderful things that can be accomplished by prayer. Hope you are ringing in the new year in your new home!!
ReplyDeleteMany ,many Blessings.God Bless
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteWe are so happy for the three of you that you have had many miracles this year. May 2009 be filled with many more. We wish you a blessed and healthy year. Thank you for your words. Have a wonderful New Year!
ReplyDeleteTricia and Family (N.VA)
Happy New Year! May the Lord continue to bless you and your family with health and happiness. Thank you for your honesty-especially when it comes to your faith in God. Your life experience brought me closer to God-praying for your Tricia and Gwyneth actually helped me so much more than you can ever imagine..and I really feel that that might have been part of His plan.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless,
L
Happy New Year Nate, Tricia, and Gwyneth!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing so much of your 2008 with the rest of us. I am blessed by you in more ways than you can imagine. Have a safe & joyful New Year!
ReplyDelete~Sara in MD
I feel so incredibly blessed to have been part of your year, every step of the way,every tear, every scary moment, every prayer uttered, every victory achieved. It has made me stay strong in the midst of feeling weak and given me hope.
ReplyDeleteI rejoice in all the miracles, all the ups and downs of this past year and look forward to hearing all God will continue to do in your lives.
Thanks again for letting us come along on the journey.
peace, love, joy!
j
Blessing for the outgoing 2008 as we give thanks to our miracles and challenges. And behold what we have in store for us in 2009. A brand new blank slate full of choice blessings and new adventures that the Lord has in store for us! Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteGod Bless you guys and thank you for sharing your lives and story with us. I am praying 2009 is filled with far fewer medical emergencies and LOTS of fun in your new home with your precious Baby G!
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteNate, Tricia, and Gwyneth,
ReplyDeleteI hope 2009 brings many blessings. May God continue to bless all of you. Enjoy your first year in your new home! Thanks so much for continuing to share your story...it is inspiring. The pictures are awesome as well. Gwyneth is really starting to show that she has a lot of her daddy in her with some of those silly faces she makes at the camera. Tricia, you've got your hands full and I bet you love every minute of it :)
Happy New Year to you all! Wishing you the best in the new year! :-)
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year!
ReplyDeleteLove to all.
It seems to me that you are smack in the middle of the LORD's will- you bless us daily.
ReplyDeleteNathan and Tricia, last night I kept thinking that a year ago today Burnie and I drove to Durham to pray with you for Tricia and then-as-yet-to-be-named darlin' baby girl. Today I thank God for every answer to every prayer.
ReplyDelete".....He brought us to life
ReplyDeleteusing the true Word,
showing us off as the crown
of all his creatures."
Amen to that.
Prayers for an overflow of blessings for you and your family for 2009
Peace
*~Michelle~*
Nate,
ReplyDeleteYou mentioned the Lockwood family on your blog a while back and I have been a reader and fan of her blog ever since. I was wondering if you check that blog regular and if you are aware of what is going on in this family. They are in need of our prayers, now more than ever.
Just thought you would want to know.
Beth Johnson
Montgomery, Al
It is hard to realize that so much happened in your lives during 2008, isn't it? So many highs and lows and faith-walks and blessings. Here's praying that 2009 will be a great year for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you yet again for the encouragement!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year,
ReplyDeleteI am sure that God has many more blessings in store for your family.
I am one of the many, whose life you have touched, that you will proably never meet. Your openness and honesty, have helped me to find my way, in a year that has been trying and difficult. While I do not see you as perfect or superhuman, you are an inspiration to me. If you can still find God amongst the trials you have been through, I to can cont to look for God in the difficult times in my life.
Thank you for the gift of sharing your life so openly with so many.
I hope some day to get to your church, as it looks to be a wonderfully joyful place to worship. If I lived closer, I would have visited by now!
Cindy
May God continue to bless you and your family in the new year. Thank you for sharing your lives with us.
ReplyDeleteNathan, I too am looking back at the blessings in my life. January 1st, 2008 I was on my way out the door to work at 630 (I'm an ICU nurse) when God turned me back. He sent me back inside to find my husband "Code Blue" on the couch. I started CPR, called 911, and prayed (not necessarily in that order). After a long 14 days (nothing compared to your lengths of stay) I brought my husband home. He has been restored, not to 100%, but he is good. My little boys have their daddy back, and I have my hubby back. It would be easy to look at the grim side...I choose to look at the blessings. I am humbled to have been a part of God's miracle. He shows Himself to me daily...sometimes in big ways, sometimes in a breath. My prayer for you, Trisha and Gwyneth is that you would have a new year filled with love, laughter and the contentment of our Saviors love. Blessings!
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about looking over the year you've had is now and forevermore you will be able to look into the eyes of others with assurance and truly KNOW the grace of our great God! You can pass it onto others with confidence that you know HIS WORD is TRUE. And when you see others walking in their own valley, it will still bother you but you will have a quiet peace within knowing all will be well when they trust HIM. Praying for you still...
ReplyDeleteWhat a BLESSED year. I am happy to have found you guys on the blog. Your story has been one of encouragement to me in my walk of faith. Happy 2009!
ReplyDeleteSo ... are you blogging somewhere else now? I keep checking back here but no updates! I hope you are all doing well. I miss reading this blog ...
ReplyDeleteMatthew 5:10-11, Luke 6:28, Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:9
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for sharing your story. I have been following it since Tricia's pregnancy, and as a mother of several children with cf, I have received much encouragement from your blog.
Grace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Heidi