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:
Looks great! Love the pictures!
Oh my, your blog header pictures change - I love it! Sorry about the another comment!
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.
i love it, they did a great job
Love it...it is so bright & beautiful..just like you Matt, Jonah & Gabe...
It's awesome. So bright and colorful. Fits you guys well!
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
I love it!
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
Just awesome God is good he always comes to us when we least expect him. So love your new look!
It is BEYOND AWESOME!! great great job!
It does look great and I welcome the added color!
It's terrific. I'm glad you found the inspiration you were looking for. You never know when the moment will strike.
Love the new look!
Definitely love it!! Made me smile as soon as it loaded. And great title too!
I love it!
love it soo cute!!
It's awesome!!
Liked the other blog better, but this is YOUR blog!
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!
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
I love the new blog and that is right now one of my favorite songs........it very well may become my VERY favorite song.
It. Is. Gorgeous!!! Love it!
Love the vibe of the new layout!!! Great pictures too!
I love the new blog! The header and sidebar pictures are beautiful and the new title is perfect. <3
Love it all - the layout, the inspiration, it is beautiful!
Love your blog makeover! Looks awesome! :)
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!
it is perfect!
It's so bright and cheery! I love it. Great song.
Love the new look, and love that song!!
I absolutely love it!
The new blog is fabulous! Loving all your pictures! Praise God for sweet boy Jonah AND his parents.
I LOVE it!! And I love how the pictures change at the top! It really looks awesome.
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!
Ohhhh I LOVE LOVE it! Gorgeous!
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!
oooh ahh! love the new look! :)
I love it!! Very beautiful!! I love the song too!!
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
Love, love, LOVE the new design!!
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!
Looks FABULOUS!
I love the new blog! Great job with the title - so inspiring!
Love,
Karla
I LOVE the new look! And the title of the blog is awesome! I have never heard that song. It blessed my soul! :)
LOVE LOVE LOVE the new blog!!!! It's beautiful :)
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.
Love the new blog design and LOVE LOVE LOVE the song! Thanks for introducing me to it. Praying for Jonah.
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
love the new look!
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!
Absolutely beautiful! Congratulations!
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!
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.
I DO love it!!! Awesome!
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.
Wow, it's awesome! Love the title, love the pictures, love the colors, love ALL of it. Miss you a ton.
LOVE IT!!!
The title and tagline are perfect too, and the colours - wow!
i love it!
very springy/summery!!!
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
LOVE THE NEW BLOG AND I LOVE ALL THE PICTURES! love you girl
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!!
Love the new look...love the new pictures!
LOVE IT!!
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!
Love the new blog and the title is great and so appropriate.
ohh. awwww. love it! so cute. it looks great. can't wait to read more~ much love and blessings from ga~ erin
LOVE, LOVE the new blog design and all of the pics! Great job!!
my but I think I see rotating headers!!!! Love the second set of pics too!
Jennifer of Southeast, NC
Love the song :)
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.
LOVE the new look! Perfect blog title :)
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!
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