Changes Are Coming

 I have been muddling through a situation that has knocked me off balance the last couple of days, it wasn't that I didn't have warning that changes were coming, I just thought it would play out differently. My response has been anything but biblical, I have been fuming, stewing and even losing sleep over some decisions that were made that would directly effect me.

The Holy Spirit was nudging me...you need to stop... but I was like a dog gnawing on a bone, I wasn't ready to give it up. Who doesn't like tossing and turning with sleep out of reach because your playing that stupid tape in your head over and over again, with all those imagined conversations your gonna have.

Again this morning the Holy Spirit nudged me...you need to stop reacting. What is it that you say that you believe?

Do you believe...Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes

Yeah that one, do you believe that?

Time to step back from the drama of the situation and begin to respond like I believe what God's word says. I prayed this morning that God would change my attitude...he has. Weeks ahead are going to be interesting and the temptation to get pulled right back into the drama is going to remain, after all the situation hasn't changed....but I am praying that when I am tempted to despair he will remind me once again that nothing comes into my life that is not filtered by him...and that he uses every situation for my good and his purposes. There is comfort in that when you really think about it.

Grace Moments

It was the day after Mother's day last year that we got the call from a concerned friend.


There were problems with my SIL, she had a doctors appointment that Friday...could we be there? Not knowing what we would find we packed up the car and made the eight hour drive to the mountains. After our arrival we met the friend and got more information...we quickly realized we could not leave without her, she could no longer live alone.

We weren't prepared for this at all, had no idea how we were going to do a move, what was going to happen after we got her to our home? Remember I'm the one who likes a plan...there was no plan.

But God did have a plan...things "fell" into place and Sweet Lady was moved to our home within days. So many evidences of God's grace that still amaze me even today


There was the friend that called us, she helped us in so many ways, the doctor office who went out of their way to get all the information we needed...ever tried working with a doctors office on no notice?
There was banking that needed to be done, mail to forward, records to obtain, did I mention she had no ID on her, birth certificate to get, packing and sorting, and there was still that doctors appointment that we had to go to, a second vehicle to rent.....so much to do with so little time...but God made a way

People I think God strategically put in place,a lawyer who lived across the street, a bank manager who had worked with my husbands uncle years ago, she remembered my husband and his sister...made the business part of all of this easier. Then there were those that volunteered to clean the apartment once we left and take care of the mountain of stuff we could not take.

I write this today because I want to remember...I want to remember what God did...I want to remember that I don't always need a plan because he always has one.

It has been almost a year now and it has not always been easy but it all has been good. Sweet Lady  likes her place, her memory is a little better since her seizure medication was added. She remembered today was my FIL birthday, even bought him a card when she went out with the group last week, I was stunned when I found it in her cupboard... a little grace moment

She is usually sitting outside on a bench when I go to see her, today when I drove up she was walking the facility's dog (the Assisted Living has a teacup yorkie that belongs to the activity director and the dog goes to work with her everyday) Seeing her like this blesses me...and reminds me of God's abundant grace.

Letting Him Direct My Steps

A song will often minister to my heart or make me stop in the midst of whatever I may be thinking about. A song may remind me of a truth or in this case a prayer. There are times I get "stuck" on a certain CD, 4Him Hymns is a CD that is in my car and one I am "stuck" on right now, it  has many of my favorite hymns and I never tire of listening to it.

 This is a little interlude between two of the songs on the CD, it is the first two verses of Take My Life and Let It Be...whenever I hear it I am reminded of what my prayer each morning needs to be

                                                  Take my life and let it be
                                                  Consecrated Lord to Thee
                                                  Take my moments and my days
                                                  Let them flow in ceaseless praise
                                                
                                                  Take my hands and let them move
                                                  At the impulse of your love
                                                  Take my feet and let them be
                                                  Swift and beautiful for thee
                                                        written by Frances Havergal

My life is not my own, it belongs to another, I would do well to remember that as I go through my day

        Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me  Psalm 119:133

Pinker Nail Party

Little Miss is three and we recently celebrated her birthday, She had asked for a "pinker nail party" so thats what she had. She is one of four children, each child with their own unique personality, each so different and so much fun to watch from a grandparents vantage point

Little Miss is the middle girl, she is the little momma of the bunch, always carrying around a baby doll or pushing one in a stroller. She is a girlie girl, likes jewlery, dresses and will be frequently be seen wearing a tiara or carrying around a pink sparkly purse (thrift store find) Her cake for the party...pink of course.

Have you figured out what a "pinker nail" party is yet?

                                It's a party where you paint fingernails...you knew that right?

Finding Peace

Life can be a lot like the weather, it can change very quickly, sometimes you have warning sometimes you don't. There are all the indications that a "weather front" is getting ready to move through our lives, I can feel the winds against my face. I am not sure what's ahead...but change is coming.

When thinking about all the different scenarios that could play out, I  remembered a song by Sara Groves that I heard a couple of years ago...I was reminded of the faithfulness of God in times past...he has always provided what I have had need of. My biggest need right now is peace for today and the days ahead...trusting he will continue to provide it. Thought I would share the words from that song that gave me so much peace tonight.


He's Always Been Faithful
Morning by morning, I wake up to find
The power of comfort in God's hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

I can't remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can't remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful to me

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He's always been faithful, He's always been faithful
He;s always been faithful to me