one year later
December 14, 2009
I flew into Columbus, Ohio from South Africa last December, just ten days after my husband admitted his affair.
And as I drove into Columbus last night, almost an exact year later, I was overwhelmed by all that’s happened in the last 365 days. Things turned out so unbelievably different than I ever would have imagined.
A year ago, I came to Columbus with my heart set on restoration. Instead, everything unraveled out from underneath me.
I’m back here now visiting my friend Kitty, but I’m also facing old ghosts.
And I realized my heart is still set on restoration.
It just looks different than I thought it would.
I love the last sentence in your post: “It just looks different than I thought it would.” That’s how I feel about certain things in my life!
You are one amazingly strong, faithful and beautiful woman of God! I pray that the next 365 days will not be what you expect either, but so much better! God’s gotcha girl!
Columbus, OH is lucky to have you. But, it better treat your heart with some respect this time around – is all I’m sayin’!
@gritandglory says:
AMEN!
@moweezle says:
loving you from across the pond tonight!!!
Love to you. I will let you know tonight about the weekend. Praying for your heart.
@maryjohess says:
Hi there –
I found your site via http://www.cindybeall.com and http://www.sarahmarkley.com. I just wanted to say that I can’t imagine what you’ve been through but the process (having read all your posts) is simply amazing.
Praying for you and just wanted to say hello. (I lurk more than I comment – fyi).
Mary
@gritandglory says:
we’ve got some wonderful mutual friends!
i appreciate you delurking to let me know you’re praying for me!
@bahava says:
So much happens in a year…and even for myself I see how things look so so different than I thought they would.
Hope you enjoy seeing Amy and that you guys have a blast!! Wish MN was closer to Ohio :)
It sure has been a year. Enjoy Si-Guy and Ellie…..they are good medicine!
@JewelzSightings says:
Alece,
I’ve discovered that His restoration often looks very different than I imagined it would.
I ask Him for things, and often it appears like the exact opposite is happening.
As time progresses I begin to see that He is in fact answering my prayer, just not in the way I imagined it would look.
I know this. He is after your heart. He is wild about you and He wants you to know it.
He won’t stop pursuing you until you know that you are deeply and intimately loved. He will go after each lie that speaks the opposite of who you really are. He longs for you to see yourself wrapped in the robe of Christ’s righteousness. He longs for you to know who you really are.
I see Him coming for you… I really do!
@gritandglory says:
wow. such power in your words. thank you…
Isn’t it a blessing that you are able to recognize it even though it looks different than you thought. What God gives me rarely looks the way I expect it to. I ususally end up liking His ideas better anyway. Not always, but usually. Then I have to align my heart with His, yet again.
@atangie says:
I am so grateful that God gave you such a good friend.
yes! yes! yes!!!!!
He is faithful … of course you already know that my sweet friend. I am standing in awe of all He has done in you and looking forward with anticipation of what He has planned and is going to do. Praying that walking through last year will be an epiphany and not heart-breaking. Breathe! Love you!
@gritandglory says:
[oh my goodness! the new pictures you posted are SO beautiful!!!]
Beautiful.
Alece,
Please know that I am praying for you as you go through this journey of restoration. God is with you always and I can see from all blog post comments that you have a bunch of friends that love you too!
Praying for you friend. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you.
AMAZING how sometimes we want something and get it but it looks and feels completely than we anticipated.
@gritandglory says:
you are so faithful in asking what you can do for me… i honestly don’t know — but it means so much simply that you ask.
Praying for your continued restoration. Love you much!
@rfbryant says:
When I went through this, I clung to Romans 8:28, believing in the full restoration of my marriage, because, of course, that would be the “good” that God would work everything out to.
Uhh, who was I to tell God what “good” is? I’ve learned that while I might pray for what I believe “good” is, sometimes He will say no, because He KNOWS.
“And I realized my heart is still set on restoration. It just looks different than I thought it would.”
Yeah.
that’s something i truly love about God – that he works differently than we think. sometimes it sucks, sometimes it’s just plain surprising… but dang. that guy knows what he’s doing. and deece? lots of good has already come of this past year.
i’m loving you. and would be making you some serious chai if you were around!
@thebeth says:
Lovely. Learning restoration doesn’t look like what I thought it would be was a difficult thing for me to realize. I still can’t grasp it some days.
I don’t even really know you but I love you and am praying for you (also, Ohio rocks!)
Bethany (in Cincinnati)
Alece – I think one of the great tests of our faith is discerning when the answer to our prayer is “No” and when it is “Not yet.”
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.” Psalm 37:7
You and I both are not where we thought we would be. For me I can say, thank God that His thoughts are higher than mine. And His grace is unending. I hope you see that even now in your life. His ways are just better than ours. He will restore everything that you lost with even more joy than you have ever known. I know this because He has done this for me. If He did this for me where I was He is sure to do even more for you because your heart always was to please Him where mine was to please myself. I love you and am believing this winter to be amazing for us both.
It has been one year for me as well. One year since my husband of 24 years left. As I sit here in my little studio apartment, having just moved from my home of 20 years in So Cal to Omaha, NE, I am *amazed* at where my life is…one year later. Certainly not where *I* would have imagined or honestly, had hoped. And you are right…restoration does not look like I thought it would either. But the Lord is indeed restoring….
Praying for you dear Alece…
@gritandglory says:
my breath caught in my throat when i read your comment. i can’t even begin to imagine what you’ve gone through. i’m so sorry, mishel…
@mandythompson says:
Proud of you. Can’t wait to see you when we’re both in the same state soon!