Tuesday, May 11, 2010

NEW BLOG UP!

So... do you LOVE it? I do. :)

I have really wanted to rename the blog for a while, but I just could not think of a good title. How do you sum up your life in just a few words? I wanted to pay tribute to Gabe in the title somehow and emphasize that although we have been through so much and it's been SO hard, we have found much happiness in our present and wait in hopeful expectation for the joy and promise of our future.

And any pain that Jonah feels or we feel is only for a little while.

I had thought and thought for weeks and asked my friends and siblings to help me come up with something. Nothing. (Or at least nothing that was right.) And then I was driving to my Girl's Night (can I get a 'what what') last month, and I heard this song on the radio.

Before the Morning - Josh Wilson

And the Holy Spirit just hit me in the face with the realization that this was the one as I listened to these words -

Do you wonder why you have to
Feel the things that hurt you
If there’s a God who loves you where is He now

Maybe there are things you can’t see
And all those things are happening
To bring a better ending

Someday somehow you’ll see you’ll see

Would you dare would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

My friend you know how this all ends
You know where you’re going
You just don’t know how you’ll get there
So say a prayer

And hold on cause there’s good for those who love God
But life is not a snapshot
It might take a little time but you’ll see the bigger picture

Once you feel the weight of glory
All your pain will fade to memory

It’s just the hurt before the healing
Oh the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning

(Shudders. Smiles. Sighs.)

I had found my blog title.

And the tagline I had decided on a couple weeks before, from these verses in 2 Corinthians 4:

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

And there you have it:

Before the Morning, Fixing our Eyes on the Unseen

Danielle (The Design Girl) did an awesome job and was so patient, even though I know I was a pain in the butt. Thank you so much, Danielle. You're great. :)

I hope you guys like it as much as I do. We all need a little more color in our lives, don't we? Thanks for continuing with us on this journey.

________________________

And check out Danielle's blog for a chance to win a blog makeover!!!

76 comments:

flynnfamily said...

Looks great! Love the pictures!

flynnfamily said...

Oh my, your blog header pictures change - I love it! Sorry about the another comment!

Tayarra said...

Pretty close to perfect. The pictures on the header and on the sidebar are just perfect. It is bright and cheery. I really like it.

trooppetrie said...

i love it, they did a great job

Wanda Wilkinson said...

Love it...it is so bright & beautiful..just like you Matt, Jonah & Gabe...

LeeAnn said...

It's awesome. So bright and colorful. Fits you guys well!

Jennifer said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it! The pictures are so great. I am so glad that God gave you the name in His perfect timing!
Jennifer in Southeast, NC

Kaira said...

I love it!

dragonflyz in June said...

Love Love LOVE the new blog! The song is perfect, and the words are right beside sweet Jonah`s picture with his hands together almost as though he is in prayer! Hugs Patrice & gentle hugs to Jonah. Happy Belated Mothers`Day to one of the strongest mom`s I know!
Peace & blessings
Crys

Gilda said...

Just awesome God is good he always comes to us when we least expect him. So love your new look!

Janel said...

It is BEYOND AWESOME!! great great job!

Laura said...

It does look great and I welcome the added color!

Jill said...

It's terrific. I'm glad you found the inspiration you were looking for. You never know when the moment will strike.

Tricia said...

Love the new look!

Valerie said...

Definitely love it!! Made me smile as soon as it loaded. And great title too!

Jessica Kramasz said...

I love it!

stiner0305 said...

love it soo cute!!

Amy said...

It's awesome!!

Unknown said...

Liked the other blog better, but this is YOUR blog!

Imogen said...

Beautiful!

And I just have to add - Jonah is SO so soooo cute!! The pic on the header of Jonah is just absolutely adorable.

Love the story behind how you came to the new blog name too!

John and Crystal Pinegar Family said...

I love the new look! I love your family pictures, they look great! I just wanted to say that I think you are so inspirational! Truly you are! I check your blog frequently and I find myself praying and hoping for the very best for your family.

There is a blog that I also check frequently. It's about a woman that was in a plane crash that burnt most of her body. She is amazing! You should check out her blog. I know that reading about how others handle their trials in a positive way helps me with mine (like you). I have given you the link to her blog and a video her church (and mine) did about her. It's awesome. I know you are busy but you should check it out when you have a second.

http://nieniedialogues.blogspot.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHDvxPjsm8E&feature=player_embedded

Beth said...

I love the new blog and that is right now one of my favorite songs........it very well may become my VERY favorite song.

Heather said...

It. Is. Gorgeous!!! Love it!

Kirsten: said...

Love the vibe of the new layout!!! Great pictures too!

The Smittys said...

I love the new blog! The header and sidebar pictures are beautiful and the new title is perfect. <3

Rebecca said...

Love it all - the layout, the inspiration, it is beautiful!

Kris said...

Love your blog makeover! Looks awesome! :)

Me, the boys and a Farm... said...

Love the new blog! It is so beautiful and I love that the photo headers alternate! Thanks for giving the explaination for the new title...it helped me understand your meaning behind the words. Love the song...made me tear up! And, the verse at the end...Galations 6...I have at the top of my own blog! So glad you are happy with your new design!

Kristy said...

it is perfect!

Rebecca said...

It's so bright and cheery! I love it. Great song.

Amanda said...

Love the new look, and love that song!!

Laura Kathryn said...

I absolutely love it!

SandraDee said...

The new blog is fabulous! Loving all your pictures! Praise God for sweet boy Jonah AND his parents.

vanettens said...

I LOVE it!! And I love how the pictures change at the top! It really looks awesome.

Tara said...

Love the new blog!!! I too need to rename my blog but I have hit a wall with it! I have about 10 weeks to figure out a new name before the new baby gets here. I hope it hits me like yours did!

Lift Up Your Hearts said...

Ohhhh I LOVE LOVE it! Gorgeous!

RLR said...

So I tweeted that I loved the pictures, and then I realized that they change! Promise I refreshed once before that - I guess the same ones just came up again!
Anyway.... the new look is FANTASTIC!

Jennifer Strosnider said...

oooh ahh! love the new look! :)

Gene and Annie said...

I love it!! Very beautiful!! I love the song too!!

Laura A said...

What a great blog makeover! I love all the thought that you put into it and the Scripture that supports it.

And of course I love that sweet boy!

Hope you're having a great week so far!

Love from TX!
Laura

Deanna said...

Love, love, LOVE the new design!!

Katherine @ Grass Stains said...

Of course you already know I lurrrrrrve the new design! Such a huge fan. Gorgeous, just like all of you. :) Glad it's finally up!

Just Diane said...

Looks FABULOUS!

Halfsicilian said...

I love the new blog! Great job with the title - so inspiring!

Love,
Karla

Shari said...

I LOVE the new look! And the title of the blog is awesome! I have never heard that song. It blessed my soul! :)

Anonymous said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE the new blog!!!! It's beautiful :)

Stef said...

I love this song...& I love your blog redo! It fits perfectly!
My heart has been squeezing for that big little-man of yours with his surgery last week. Hope recovery and adjustment is still going well.

alane said...

Love the new blog design and LOVE LOVE LOVE the song! Thanks for introducing me to it. Praying for Jonah.

Sara said...

I love it!! And you know what I love most about it? That picture of Jonah on the left sidebar - he looks like he is praying, with the biggest smile on his face! I just love it!!

I'm not great at explaining things, but the other day at my one-on-one Bible Study with my friend, we were talking about why bad things happen. She told me that God looks down and that He has the WHOLE picture - we don't. Which kinda fits in with your blog title, I think :) He knows that what's coming is much bigger, much better, and so worth waiting for!!

Thank you Williams Family, for allowing me and all of the other blog followers to be a part of your lives. You have all enriched MY life more than words could say! (Especially that cute little boy of yours <3)

xoxox~
Sara

Lizzie said...

love the new look!

Kim M said...

ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!! Wonderful job! Love Jonah's picture at the top and the ones with Matt and with you. Love Gabe's balloons at the top. sweetness all around!

Love Gabe's picture in color and Jonah's on the left looks like he is looking Heavenward!

Great Job!

Libby said...

Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations!

Krista Flynt, saved by grace said...

I love the song you chose. I needed to hear that this morning. It describes so many difficulties and situations perfectly. I am a single mom struggling to make ends meet and I needed to hear that song today! What an inspiration!

Toni :O) said...

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the new blog design...it's so bright and cheery and how can we not love seeing those bright baby blues of sweet Jonut! Beautiful song for a beautiful family! Many blessings to you as always.

the-mommy-person said...

I DO love it!!! Awesome!

Lisa said...

Loving the new blog, its really cool and hip, not that your other one wasnt.
The video was very nice I think it was meant for me to hear this morning, it really touched me. Thank you for sharing.

Lindsey Sowers said...

Wow, it's awesome! Love the title, love the pictures, love the colors, love ALL of it. Miss you a ton.

Jannette said...

LOVE IT!!!
The title and tagline are perfect too, and the colours - wow!

Anonymous said...

i love it!
very springy/summery!!!

Mrs.Simple said...
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Linda said...

Hi Patrice:
I really do love the new blog. The pictures are awesome. I really like the one of Jonah with his hands together, I just know he is praying. So glad you had a nice Mother's Day.
Thanks for keeping the button for Leah on the new blog. I just love seeing her smiling face. We all miss her so much.
Give Jonah a big kiss for me. Take care and remember the prayers are still coming your way. Love Leah's Nana

Unknown said...

LOVE THE NEW BLOG AND I LOVE ALL THE PICTURES! love you girl

Cheryl Ezell said...

Love it and love that song! We got a chance to see Josh Wilson in concert a couple of months ago. I was going through a rough time then and that song really ministered to me!!

Cheryl Ezell said...
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Cheryl Ezell said...
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Phyllis said...

Love the new look...love the new pictures!

Catrina said...

LOVE IT!!

alane said...

P.S. I posted your song to my facebook profile last night and just wanted to share with you how much it blessed some friends of mine who just lost their grandmother to cancer. Thanks again for sharing it!

MWalker said...

Love the new blog and the title is great and so appropriate.

erin said...

ohh. awwww. love it! so cute. it looks great. can't wait to read more~ much love and blessings from ga~ erin

Didi said...

LOVE, LOVE the new blog design and all of the pics! Great job!!

Jennifer said...

my but I think I see rotating headers!!!! Love the second set of pics too!

Jennifer of Southeast, NC

Anonymous said...

Love the song :)

gooddog said...

I LOVE it!!!
I have been a lurker for months and months now. We used to be on YL staff and heard about you through the grapevine as we live in greensboro now. Anyway, I have been praying for you guys and for Jonah and just wanted you to know. Peace be with you.

christy bode said...

LOVE the new look! Perfect blog title :)

mamatree said...

Thanks, Patrice! I love this song. I hope it's ok. I posted it on my blog with your lyrics, too. I've been looking for this song because it sums it up for us and our journey. I love your new blog, too!