What is better? Having the flu go through our family within 36 hours or have each of us take our turn over days? The jury is still in deliberation. That said, there is really no good answer.
I was reminded of a few things:
~My kids truly are the best
~I am thankful that I have a master bathroom
~I am thankful that there are three bathrooms in our home
~My husband goes far and above the call of duty
~TV is not a bad thing
~At least I did not have to cook
~Tomorrow is another day
The voice on the other end of the phone began the conversation questioning whether there was a chair close by for me to use. That can never be good. Her next statement that our babies’ mother was four months pregnant . . .with twins . . . made my heart pound, my voice accelerate, and my mind ask, “Why.” I searched for a chair.
I know little of how the next few months will unfold. The trial date may be in jeopardy. We continue to hope, to pray, to fight, and to wait.
We practically cannot take in any more children. Seven is a lot. My heart would love to wrap my arms around those little ones to protect them, but I know that is impossible. I do know that those little ones are a gift from God no matter how you look at it. He is far greater than I to take care of them.
I thought yesterday that I have not written a gratitude post in a while. I think now is a good time. God, help me to readjust my thinking, calm my heart, and remember how awesome and powerful you have shown yourself already.
I am grateful . . .
Do you ever wonder who Christ sent in to Jerusalem to secure the donkey he would ride triumphantly later that week? Christ chose only two of his disciples. There were many. Were the ones chosen the most agreeable? Was he confident that they wouldn’t argue at such an unusual request? Were they simply available?
Did you ever wonder why later that week Christ cursed a tree just because it did not have any fruit? Wasn’t it normal for a fruit to be barren out of season?
Did you ever picture the scenes one by one of Christ’s entry into the temple, his arms wiping the tables clear, his voice bellowing the warning, his righteous anger pouring onto the religious sinners?
I just love the following verse in Mark, the passages where the above questions originated: “Teacher, we know that you are true and do not care about anyone’s opinion. For you are not swayed by appearances, but truly teach the way of God.”
I wonder how different my life would be in light of Christ’s example of decisions in real life, discernment of good and bad, and disgust of sin. My life would exude truth more obviously if I did not care about what others thought.
Mark’s gospel continues to prick my heart where I am.
I grabbed her in a wild bear hug as she made her way from the office into the kitchen. She may be almost 18 and heading to college next year, but she is my girl none-the-less. She may be taller than I, but my arms still fit round her sweetness quite well.
In that brief moment of conversation, Angel reminded me that she will be going to college and may never really be coming back. She may just find someone special and get married. Oh, can’t you just feel the twinge in my heart! Then again, that would be a wonderful thing. Not that she will not be back to stay, but that she will have found someone to spend the rest of her life with, a husband.
Marriage is a beautiful gift given by a loving all-knowing God. I am blessed to have been married for 21+ years. It is much about the courtship and the marriage ceremony, but it is so much more than that. I reminded Angel that marriage is a good thing to plan for, but marriage is just the beginning.
Being married means that are able to spend the rest of your life side by side with your best friend. It means you have a forever partner both in ministry and in parenting. It means that you should never be without a date on a Friday night. It means that you have a hand to hold when things get tough and when things are not. It means that you have someone to share life with – both the good and the bad – until death parts you.
I love my children. It will be a long time before our nest is truly empty. Angel is our first child, though, to spread her wings a bit. I would love for her to land not too far from home. Marriage may not be ultimately what God has planned for her. I pray, though, that a very special Godly young man sweeps her off of her feet and loves her more and more each day for the rest of her life.
My emotions look like a pot of stew: all good stuff but all mixed up. The babies’ hearing determined a trial date for the beginning of May – good. The court granted the mom additional visitation time – not so good. These little ones will have been with us almost two years by the time that the trial occurs – not so good. They will be in our home for sure until the trial – very good.
We knew in our heads that these little ones may be with us only temporarily, but our hearts swelled with love, pushing aside the potential pain and heartbreak, to delight in the now. Delight may be a strong word as two and three year olds bring their own set of frustrations and wildly crazy days. They push every button both literally and figuratively. Yet they have captured our family for good.
Today, I am mixed up. Tomorrow may be the same. I am so thankful that my heavenly Father designed all these emotions and cares about my today and my tomorrow.
My sweet hubby who spent his Saturday fixing the washing machine
A cord of wood delivered and piled for use in our fireplace
Christmas decorations boxed up for another year
My first Valentine from my little one
My Sunshine’s silly scribbles and smiles
Easy Sunday dinners and lazy naps
INDOOR soccer leagues in winter
Happy, healthy children
Hope
Ladies with whom to share in Bible study
Fun photos
