GRATITUDE

 

Gerber daisies...one of the visual reminders of care shown by loving friends during my difficult recovery.

 

Meals, texts, calls, visits, flowers, cards, taking our kids to the park, the Peace Lily that came to the door, friends by my bedside,

all of these things communicated God's comfort and concern for me. He used people to wrap me up in His LOVE.

 

 Lord, help me show the same comfort and care for another in their time of need as I've been shown in mine.

 

Gratitude.

 

"Be kind to one another."

Ephesians 4:32

RECOVERY

Oh, the sweetness of communion with Christ.

 

Oh, to be bedridden...not a typical longing, I know. But, the fellowship of sufferings is one not easily replaced.

 

It's been a few days now of beds and meds and pain and recovery. More than we expected. And, what a gift!

To think that we hustle and bustle through days filled with pleasures and stressors, missing the opportunity to saturate in the presence and nearness of the Lord through the gift of nothingness. It's a fellowship worth longing for.

 

Hymns by my side all day and all night...words with depth and richness only to be truly ingested through the comradery of sufferings, I've tasted it. Again. And, nothing is sweeter. I remember this place.

 

The lessons to learn, the retrospect coming, I ponder it even now from afar. Hours turn days and soon I will hustle and bustle again, but prayerfully changed once more with layers upon layers of God's handiwork on my heart. This is grace. Receive it.

 

Thank you for meeting me here these past few days, Lord. What a wonderful Savior!

 

"One who is full loathes honey, but to one who is hungry everything bitter is sweet."

Proverbs 27:7

PSALM 91:4

 

 

A friend sent me this in prayer for my surgery today...praying likewise.

 

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge;

his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart."

Psalm 91:4


ON HOLD...

It's an odd thing to be "on hold".

 

I remember the last time we found ourselves in this place, I thought for sure nothing could stop us.

 

BUT...

 

Oh the grief of our untold story...the letting go, the ripping.

 

AND...

 

It seems we've been offered a second chance. How in the world is this so? We can hardly believe it.

Only God. He writes such amazing stories.

 

Believe it or not, he's back on hold...and I'm not even going to try and guard my heart, though history might beckon I do.

It's just not me to erect walls. I'm fine with vulnerability...because God's got this whole thing nailed. His plan is perfect and wise.

 

WOW!

 

This journey has been quite the surprising road. With an unexpected turn of events this week,
the seemingly impossible has occurred. The VERY closed, "real no" door has swung "yes" open.

And so, we find ourselves JOYFULLY in...all in...and once again on hold.

 

"But Jesus looked at them and said, 'With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”

Matthew 19:26

NEW PHOTOS!

We received new photos of our little sweetie yesterday!!

Oh wow, it's so real and she is so precious. Her countenance seems dear. She has the headband on we sent. She is holding the teddy bear, stamping the stampers, twirling the ribbons. She is pointing to the photos of Mama and Baba and seems to be saying our names with her mouth as she points. She looks so much older than the other photos we have of her. She is, after all, nearly 4 now. It's difficult not to long for those 4 years with her. And, it's comforting to know the Lord had them, every one.

Abba Father held our daughter every day of her life. He was near to her before we even knew she had been born.
He created her fearfully and wonderfully in His image because He LOVES her. He had a plan A for her life
and we're blessed to be scripted in. I can hardly wait to be the ones to tell her these things.

"For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them."
Psalm 139:13-16

Our little girl...she is on the other side of the world. My mommy heart is ready to welcome her in.
Once again, the borders of my heart have expanded. There's no division in LOVE...just multiplication.

I've multiplied.

{again}

Little one, we are coming soon. Jesus is your Best Friend. He is with you now.
He will never ever leave you nor forsake you! He will hold you until we can. SOON...

Until then, we are cherishing this gift...our new photos!

"God places the lonely in families."
Psalm 68:6