Mother's Day

Happy Belated Mother's Day to all you Moms, Grandmas, Step-Moms, and others who fill that role in someone else's life. I hope you had a lovely day! I thought I would just post a few pictures and highlights.

In the morning, Rachel made me coffee (before I woke up, even!) and brought it to me in bed. The girls had handmade cards and gifts for me to open, and Grace brought the newspaper so I could read a little of it in bed before church. The girls both made a small breakfast for me so I wouldn't be hungry before brunch, and we had a nice morning together, as Craig had to be at church early to do Tech Ministries.

After church, we went to a wonderful brunch with Craig's mom, Helen. It was so yummy! I don't get to go out for brunch very often, and this was a special treat, because the restaurant is one of the most established and well-known in our town. The food was so good, and we sat outside because the weather was warm. Our waiter even gave the girls fish food in envelopes so they could feed the koi that were in several surrounding ponds!

Here are pictures of us after we ate...don't we look content and happy?

This next picture is of Craig and his mom

After brunch, we spent the day relaxing at home. One of our pullets (young chickens), was very sick, and we spent some time looking after her, especially Rachel, who really has a heart for animals.

I was not hungry enough to eat another meal for the rest of the day, but the girls were, so my wonderful husband took care of feeding them, and I was truly able to enjoy my day. Thank you, honey! =)

What a week!

The Lord is good

A refuge in times of trouble

He cares for those

Who trust in Him

-Nahum 1:7

This little verse has been a favorite of mine for several years now. A dear friend shared it with me, and as soon as I read it, I knew I had to memorize it, sure I would need to refer to it often, and I have!

This week, for example...On Sunday, I made a rather big decision. I decided to take on a big responsibility, one I am both excited and greatly challenged by. I feel good about the decision, Craig supports me, and the girls are even a bit braggy about it (I made them stop, of course!)...And then...it was like the floodgates of calamity were thrown wide open! Our heater broke, our daughter was throwing up, our dog was throwing up, I cut my finger, banged my head, had a migraine, cat pooped in the house, heater couldn't be fixed for three days, found a live mouse in the cat food bin...and I'm leaving some out because I want to get to my point.

THE LORD IS GOOD! I found myself in the midst of these things seeing God's goodness. These mishaps were not going to alter the course of my life. Yes, I hate, detest, abhor cleaning up dog vomit - my husband & I have an agreement that I deal with the kid "give-backs" and he deals with the animal "give-backs." Only, lucky him, most of the animal "gifts" happen when he's at work, so I am blessed with getting to clean it all up! =) Anyway, it didn't kill me, although by Tuesday, I was asking God for more grace and mercy to get through the week and by this morning, when I found the mouse in the cat food, I was pleading with Him for, "no more!"

A REFUGE IN TIMES OF TROUBLE So what did I do when I found the mouse? Well, after the initial shock (and prayer), I laughed. And when our heater went out and I got up the next morning and saw that it was still 71 degrees in the house, I laughed. In fact, the first morning with out heat, it was 71, the second, 72, and this morning when I got up, it was 73. I prayed when our heater broke that the Lord would keep our family warm at night. Boy, did He answer my prayer...so I laughed! Honestly, I don't usually laugh when bad things are happening to me. Ask my calm and level-headed husband. I usually whine, complain about being punished, finish it off with some crying (it's true!)...So why the change? I don't know, but I do know that...

HE CARES FOR THOSE WHO TRUST IN HIM Somehow I know these trials are temporary, even if more come, and surely they will. Were they a result of making that big decision...a test? I don't know, but I am grateful that this time I trusted in God, and laughed in the face of mice and calamity. I hope it's evidence that I am learning that trust is more than just a word in some great Christian songs.

This new position I am taking on soon is something I have never done before and there are so many ways I could fail, but I know the way to succeed is to remember that The Lord is good...all the time...A refuge in times of trouble...only God can shelter me from the world and its sorrows...He cares for those who trust in Him...when we put our trust in Him, He never fails us.