In my new house...

...there is a plaque hanging on the wall. It reads:

"For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "Plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11

This plaque was given to us as a gift from our church in Victoria just before we left last August. Given at a time when it seemed like all the plans for us were for "evil". Plans that left us *without* a future and without a hope. I read the plaque and thanked God that HIS plans were different. And I couldn't see those plans, but I thanked God for his people at Saanich Community Church, who embraced us so fully while we were there, and sent us off with so much love and support. Many of them had/have no idea the entire reason we left, but I hope they know somehow that their support during that horrible month of August, 2007, helped carry us.

Today, we got 4 of our boxes we had shipped to ourselves over here. In one of those was this plaque. This plaque that so beautifully displays this beautiful verse, this beautiful promise of God. A promise that has never felt more real than in this past month. We have experienced SO much GOOD!! A new, fully embracing church who already, in 3 short weeks, have ministered to and blessed us beyond our wildest dreams. They've helped furnish our home, they've fed us, they've helped us get started on our winter firewood (and even helped chop it!), they've befriended us and our children, and have shown us hope in a very tangible way. We have a future here. It is a good one. We have hope. There will be healing. There has been healing. God's plans for us are good.

This plaque now hangs in my kitchen, within plain view every time I am cooking, or washing dishes, or preparing any meal. There it is. It reminds me of where we've come from, and reminds me of our God, who carried us through the darkest trial of our lives, and continues to carry us, and WANTS to bless us. What an amazing God he is!