A Song Worth Singing

The other day when I was out and about, I saw a mini-van with a woman driving and what appeared to be her two young daughters in the backseat.  It looked like they were all singing.  And it brought memories flooding back to me.

When my two girls were young, it seemed we spent a lot of time in the car.  Living in a small town 10 miles away from our church, shopping, many of our activities, and a lot of our friends - it’s just what we did.  That was back in the days when we all had bigger hair, my eyeglasses were as large as my face, and I had a snazzy wardrobe that included leggings and razzle-dazzle tops.  We eventually moved to town, but we were still on the go a lot.  Sometimes they fought over who got to sit up front.  Make no mistake - it was not to be close to me.  It was for control of the radio! (I’m not sure I ever heard an entire song for a couple of years there in the early 90’s!)  And then came the age of the Walkman.  From then on, they were usually both in the back of my mini-van, each with their own knock-off version of a Walkman, both singing their guts out to a different song!

When I think back to those days of raising my girls, the hindsight thing kicks in and I wish I had done some things differently.  However, history is what it is and we can’t go back.  I know I made mistakes, and for that, I humbly apologize to my children.  But I was just doing the best I knew how at the time.  We had our share of mother / daughter disagreements, frustration, and trials.  But I think we also had some good times and fun along the way.  I know I have a lot of wonderful memories of their childhood.  I hope they do, too!  

But maybe I did some things right raising them.   In their metamorphosis from childhood years into the adult world, they traveled totally different paths.  And they have both emerged into amazing young women.  They are intelligent, articulate, driven, funny, compassionate, and fiercely loyal to those they love.  And they are both beautiful.  

They still march to different drummers and sing their own song.  And it puts a song in my heart to think about them.  My song is one of praise to God for allowing me the privilege of being their Mom!

So to you – Jenny and Katie – I just want to tell you how very special and precious you both are to me.  You are treasures beyond worth and I love you so much!

“Children are a gift from the Lord.”  Psalm 127:3 (NLT)

It's My B-Day!

Tomorrow I’m celebrating my B-day.  I’m not planning party or anything like that.  The celebration is in my soul.  You see, it’s not my birth-day, but it’s my baptism-day!

I was baptized as a child – I think I was in the 4^th grade.  But as I look back on my life I know now that I had no real idea at that time what baptism meant.  I was a rebellious child at best (so sorry Mom & Dad!) but I was also a pleaser.  My best guess is that when I was asked if I understood what baptism meant, that I said yes.  But over the last few years I have questioned if I was really saved and it has bothered me.  

For years I have prayed for many who are dear to me – especially my children – that God would speak to them in a way that was real to them.  But it seems that He has been working in and speaking to me also.  What I have discovered is that I knew who Jesus was, but I did not know Him.  In the past few months, I have truly encountered Him and I finally know with certainty what He did for ME on that cross.  For the first time ever in my life, when that knowledge finally sunk into my brain and into my heart, I fell to my knees, face down before God.  I am forgiven and free.  And I am grateful.  So now, it just seems like an act of obedience that I am baptized again, this time fully knowing the significance of the act.

Six years ago I married an amazing man.  It is in large measure due to him that I am where I am today on my spiritual journey.  We study together and pray together. He has encouraged me and taught me so much.   It is for that reason that I asked Mark if he would baptize me.  And he said yes!!!  I’m so excited!  We’ve talked to our Pastor, tomorrow is the day, and I am ready to celebrate!  God is so good.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good . . . Psalm 106:1

(In)Security Blanket

I'm pretty good about keeping the clutter at bay in our house.  At any given time you can usually find a box in the basement where I put things we no longer have a use for.  When it is full, I make a Goodwill run. 

But I have a had a hard time letting go of this:

And this:

And this:

That's not even all of it.  My clothes have invaded our entire house - most every closet, drawer, and flat space. They range in size from too big, down to the size 8 "I Have a Dream" collection.  My insecurity has kept me from letting them go.

I've finally decided my security cannot be wrapped up in clothes that don't fit me anymore.  I have to do something about it -  it's time to let go.  I think it's OK to do it.

A Walk in the Park

We walked out of church today to a perfect Autumn day.  It was too nice to be indoors, so we headed to our local nature center.  Come take a walk with us!!

 

True Love

Today The Drummer Guy took me to Botanica.  In the rain.  And then the lightning and thunder kicked  in as we strolled the paths under the umbrella he was holding over our heads.  Is that true love, or what?

It was a beautiful, wet wonderland.  There is just something about a lovely garden that soothes my soul.  Every time I go Botanica I wish that my garden looked better.  Then I have to remind myself that they have full time staff members and dozens of volunteers and generous financial resources that keep their gardens looking so fantastic.  And then I have to remind myself that I have a job.  And a house.  And other things to do in life.

If anyone thinks that a garden just comes together and it doesn't take a lot of money and sometimes back-breaking work to make it happen, they are wrong.  I noticed this past week when I was in the library that there are a lots of books on how to make a "low maintenance" garden.  Do NOT be deceived.  Beautiful gardens  portrayed by the pictures in those books don't just happen.  And sometimes you wonder if it is worth it, but other times it so is.

For today I am going to give myself a break and just enjoy the splendor of God's creation and thank The Drummer Guy for taking me for a walk in the rain.

Below are some pictures from our outing.

OMG

"May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in YOUR sight, O LORD, my ROCK and my REDEEMER."

Psalm 19:14

Today random thoughts have been bouncing off the walls of my mind. I don't know why. Sometimes there are just days like that. What I ended up kind of zoning in on was the phrase, "Oh, my God." I don't much like it. And that has nothing to do with God, although everything has to do with God. You hear it as an exclamation of surprise, as a venting of frustration, as a fit of anger. It is used as a response to almost any given emotion at any given time by adults, teens, and children. It can be a habit, just something we say. I'm no goody two-shoes - I've said it myself. But I don't like it because it uses the name of God in a non-honoring way.

Here's my next random thought. I don't know what brought it to mind, but I was thinking about the time Mark had to go to St. Louis for a week. I remember picking him up at the airport. I was standing in front of the security gates, anxiously waiting for him. Do you know that feeling of anxious expectation, that you can just hardly wait for something to happen? That was what I was feeling.

Now here's my last random thought. (I really am going somewhere with this!) I was thinking about God and His Word, and how I just long to know more of Him, and have a more intimate personal relationship with Him. That's when it hit me that every morning when I get out of bed, I want to feel anew that longing, that feeling of anxious expectation. That feeling of I just can't wait to meet with God this morning - to give Him glory, tell Him my deepest thoughts, listen for His voice, and to stand in awe. When I capture that feeling, that urgency - that should be the time to exclaim, "Oh, my God!!!!!"

Directionally Challenged Drummer Guy Learns a Lesson

By YOUR words I can see where I'm going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. Psalm 119:105 (The Message!)

The Bible study Janis and I are currently participating in is studying the letters to the seven churches in Revelation. Our challenge for this week was to choose a verse, or a thought, to intentionally focus on during the coming week. Psalm 119:105 is the verse I chose. Friday at work I saw my Heavenly Father - probably smiling - speak to me concerning this verse.

I needed to make a delivery with an Inman, Kansas address. Inman is a little town about 15-20 miles away. As usual, because I'm directionally challenged, I took a Garmin with me. I entered the address and took off, expecting the Garmin to tell me to head out of town the way I though I should go, and the way I thought was fastest. SURPRISE!! - It said to head in the opposite direction. But I thought, as is sometimes the case with a GPS, the Garmin was wrong. So I went my own familiar route. But I kept hearing the Garmin say, "RECALCULATING". I heard that so many times, I finally just turned it off. When I got to Inman I turned it on again only to find that it had not changed its mind and it kept telling me to go back the direction it had been telling me all along. Although it was an Inman address, the location of the house was out in the country. The Garmin was RIGHT!!! If I had listened I would have saved myself 14 miles of unnecessary driving.

I laughed and thought how GOD's ways don't always make sense to me. I go my own way only to learn I was wrong and HIS ways are right and good. I hope I've learned a valuable lesson about trusting HIM! HE knows best!

A Lesson From the Garden

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-29

I had a frustrating day working in my garden yesterday. Last night I was so discouraged I was wondering how much it would cost to rent a backhoe and get a big load of rock delivered.

The garden bed I was working on is surrounded by a sea of Bermuda grass. Bermuda grass covers bare ground quickly which makes it a good lawn grass. That same quality also makes it invasive. It travels by runners, called stolons, that are root-stems and which advance forward, putting down new roots. Once it has crossed over into a flower bed it can very difficult to get rid of. Over the years, I have pulled a lot of Bermuda grass and have made some progress. But in this particular area of the garden, there are several thick, tenacious patches of this grass where the runners just won’t let go. My hands and wrists were aching from trying to pull them out.

Today I went back out and worked some more, but my perspective was changed. The difference today was I chose to think more about the goodness of God than the scope of my problem. There is a wonderful song by Matt Redman called "You Never Let Go". I haven’t heard it for a long time, but I think God called it to my mind today. It just kept running though my head as I worked at pulling out more of that Bermuda grass. Here are the lyrics of the chorus:

.

Oh no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm.

Oh no, You never let go in every high and every low.
Oh no, You never let go; Lord, You never let go of me.

.

God’s hold on His children is somewhat like the grip of the Bermuda grass on the ground. He loves us so much that He holds on tight; He will not let go. Just as that grass cannot be separated from the ground, nothing can separate us from the love of God.

I will continue to wage my war on the Bermuda grass. But as I do so, I will have plenty of opportunity to remember and dwell on the lesson from the Garden.

And Now (Drum Roll, Please!) . . . A Word From The Drummer Guy

The Parable of the Lost Sheep

"Then JESUS told them this parable: "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." Luke 15:3-7

What image does a drum-set bring to your mind? A dark, smoky bar or a loud rock concert? Heavy metal or punk music on the radio? I think it is humorous that God chose to use drums as an “instrument” [pun intended!] of correction and discipline in my life.

Most of my life was up and down spiritually. I would go to church and/or listen to a radio Bible teacher for awhile. Then I would live like God didn’t exist. I didn’t engage in what most people would think of as terribly sinful things. But by not studying God’s Word, praying, and obeying Him, I was going my own way and that is as bad as any other sin you can commit. It was when I was doing my own thing that God used the drum-set for good in my life.

My kids were older and I was alone, so I decided to do something I like – buy a drum-set and take lessons. While I was taking lessons, my teacher, Ginger Z, told me of a local church that was looking for a praise band drummer. And, they would pay for it! I tried out and they liked me. I thought I would go Sunday mornings, play my drums, but probably not stick around for any preaching. But, in the end, I decided to stay for the rest of the service after playing. God used that to bring my wonderful, beautiful wife into my life AND to get me faithfully attending church, listening to the Bible on CD, memorizing HIS word, and praying and seeking God’s will like I never have before in my 50+ years of life.

Thanks be to THE GOOD SHEPHERD who wouldn’t let His stupid sheep stay wandering!! Isn’t it funny that God can use such silly things like music? He used an accordion (of all things!) in my younger days to bring me back into HIS GOOD WILL, and now my drums.

I have come to look at my drums as an Instrument for His Glory. I’m looking forward to marching to the beat of HIS drum and living to please HIM. I am so blessed!

Accessorizing

Every woman knows that accessories are the key to a well pulled together, fashionable ensemble. My gardening outfit is one that others could only dream of!

The basic foundation of this little number is a big t-shirt (courtesy of Mark) and a pair of jeans that are a size too big. It just gets better from here.

Look at these great shoes I found today for $3.50. They are called Muckers and they are actually pretty comfortable. Great for slipping on and off when I need to run in the house! Also,I can just rinse the mud right off.

I lost my pruners Saturday (actually, I lost 2 pairs!) So we made a trip to Lowe's after church on Sunday and found these great bright red handled pruners. Maybe they will be easier to keep track of. But it gets better . . .

Mark bought me a holster to put them in. Is that great, or what?!?!?

Add my stylin' sunglasses that fit over my regular glasses . . .

And my awesome sun hat (modeled here by the Basset Butler!)

Put all of these items together and I have a gardening ensemble that screams, Send In the Clowns!! Sorry - no photos of the complete outfit today - or ever!

Today I worked some more on the wildflower bed. One load to the dump this morning and another on the truck ready to go. I am beat but making progress!

Here are some before pics of the area worked on today:

Here are a few after shots:

(Lots of daylilies and other perennials that can be divided and moved around to fill in some bare spots.)



It's getting better! But still so much to do.

Fun Day!!

Yeah, it's Friday. Usually if I am not working on Friday, it is a catch up day at home - cleaning, laundry, yard work - whatever needs done. But not today, no-sir-eee!! Today was:

Rivers and Grandma's Day of Fun!!!!

We decided for our outing today to go over to Wichita.

First stop - Taco Bell for some crunchy meat and cheese tacos!

And then . . . . .

Off to the Warren Theatre to see the new movie . . .

"How To Train Your Dragon"

In 3D!!!!!

First - a little popcorn . . . .

Along with a cool, refreshing Root Beer . . .

And we are ready for the show.

It was awesome!

We can't wait for our next day of fun!

Goodbye

“A friend loves at all times; he is there to help when trouble comes.” Proverbs 17:17

Today is a day that I have always known would come, but that does not make it any easier. Today my Pastor preached his last sermon at my church and this week he and his family will load up their belongings and head for a new home, a new church, a new life in Plainfield, Indiana. I am so sad to see them go, but also know that they did not make this decision lightly. This is God’s plan for their lives as evidenced by the many details He has worked out for them – all because they answered His call.

Throughout his nine-plus years here I have experienced both the depths of despair and the heights of joy in my life. He has seen me through much of that and has been a compassionate counselor, a wise teacher, and most important – has come to be my trusted friend. I will miss him so much. He has helped me move a little further down the spiritual maturity road and for that I am grateful. Also during his time here I have come to realize and so appreciate the sacrifices a pastor’s wife makes supporting her husband as he ministers to his (sometimes needy) flock. She too is a treasure and I will also miss her greatly.

It’s very hard to say goodbye, but instead of feeling so sad about them leaving, I should focus on thanking the Lord for the gift of having known them. Changing my perspective helps comfort me – knowing that God has both them and me in the right place, at the right time because He does not withhold anything that is for our good. What a wonderful God!

So to my friends – Dusty, Debbie, Darci, DeAnn, and Denae – I wish you farewell. I will always think of you fondly, remembering your wonderful friendship and servant hearts. Love and blessing to all of you as you begin a new journey!

“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened!”

Dr. Suess

Expectations

“Behold, I bring you GOOD NEWS of great joy that will be for all people. Today, in the city of David, a Savior has been born to you; He is CHRIST the LORD.” Luke 2:10-11

Ever since I can remember, the Christmas season has been a stressful and emotional, almost dreaded time for me. I was never really sure why. I can’t trace it back to some terrible event in my childhood; my parents didn’t do it to me. We were by no means a wealthy family, but we were happy and had plenty. I think my parents worked really hard to fulfill our (reasonable) Christmas wishes. In fact, they deserve a lot of credit, providing for five kids! I can’t even trace it back to anything specific in my years of raising my two children and the hustle and bustle that ensues. All I know is from the day after Thanksgiving until Christmas Day I just experience a feeling of unrest. (I guess for me, Black Friday had nothing to do with shopping.)

Mark, bless his heart, knows how I am and he has worked very hard to make this the best Christmas season ever for me. This man is a great list-maker and he made a long one – not for me, but for us. He gently took me by the hand and went with me to complete all of our Christmas shopping several weeks before Thanksgiving. We have 5 grandchildren and we spent several hours playing with the toys in Walmart one Saturday afternoon in November, making our gift selections. We really did have a lot of fun! He saw to it that I had wrapping paper and supplies and that all the shopping chores were wrapped up (forgive the pun) by mid-November. With all of that done, and after spending a very enjoyable day with my family on Thanksgiving, Mark whisked me off to sunny Phoenix, Arizona the next day to start the season by enjoying time with his sister and her family for four wonderful days. Back at home, he became even more determined that all would be good for my December. He decided that this year he would not have me spending hours in the kitchen for Christmas. He has ordered Hog Wild BBQ for our family meal, has already bought the sodas, and has a short shopping list of the things we need to complete the menu. Is this a great guy, or what!!!!

So far this month, I am doing pretty good. But I continue to think about the why. Why does this season make me feel this way? I don’t think I am the only one that struggles like this, but I think I have finally figured it out - at least for me. The advertisers tell us we have to buy, buy, buy; we need more, more, more - or we won’t be happy. I can remember several years that I went out on December 24th buying more because I felt like I just did not do enough. TV portrays families that are so wonderful and everything comes together like a Norman Rockwell scene at the end of the show. If they happen to have any problems at all, they are resolved and all is fantastic and lovely by the end of the show. Everything is decorated beautifully and everyone is healthy and hap, hap, happy. The movies are even worse. They are full of madcap hilarity, and even the most dysfunctional of families have locked arms and all is calm, all is bright by the conclusion of the film. So here is what I have finally concluded to be the root of my problem: The problem is me - that I believed the lies Hollywood and the marketers tells us about the season, which leads to unfulfilled expectations in the real world.

Real life is not like that. The need continues to do our jobs, take care of our families, clean the house, cook the meals and all of the long list of daily details that must be attended to - but we get on the insane Christmas merry-go-round anyway. In real life, our kids get sick and we do to. I once read an essay by humorist Erma Bombeck where she wrote about being asked what her kids were getting for Christmas. She replied, “Oh, I don’t know yet. Measles, chickenpox, flu - I’m sure they will get something!” In real life the bills need to be paid, the car breaks down or the refrigerator dies, but there is all of this Christmas spending and the extra activities to go to. And we are exhausted.

Last year my daughter Jen, who tends to be a lot like me during this holiday season, said to me, “Mom, why do we do this?” And she is right!! Why has Christmas moved so far away from the original intent for the celebration? I don’t believe God ever intended it to be this way. Rather than trying to trump last year, buying the biggest and the best, and decorating with a million more tiny lights, shouldn’t we focus more on the real meaning of Christmas and simply celebrate Jesus?

So this year, I am trying to give myself the gift of perspective and realistic expectations. This is the year that I have decided it is OK to keep it simple if it means I have a little energy left over for the people in my life. I really do love Christmas decorations and will enjoy seeing them if I am in the homes of some of my friends who decorate so exquisitely for the season. I will also enjoy driving around town with Mark, enjoying the beautiful outdoor light displays. But, I will not allow myself to feel guilty that Christmas decorating on a massive scale is not my thing. We have some great, but modest gifts ready, but I won’t allow myself to feel like there must be a dozen packages for each kid under the (small) tree. I will eat healthy and take care of myself. Most important - I think I will turn off the TV, study my Bible more, and concentrate on the goodness of God - thanking Him for is indescribable gift of Jesus Christ! Now that’s GOOD NEWS; He is the reason for the season!

Wishing joy and peace to you for this Christmas season!!

Blessings

“Count your blessings, name them one by one. Count your blessings see what God has done!”

Johnson Oatman, Jr., 1856-1922

Today is Mark’s birthday. Traditionally we give gifts to the one having the birthday, but I feel like the gift has been given to me. He is amazing and I am so grateful that God sent him my way. I tend to make things so complicated and he is so not complicated. Many times at home I will come upon him and he is just sitting quietly. (I don’t really have that ability!) I will frequently ask him what he is thinking about. Quite often, the answer will be, “Oh, I was just thinking about the goodness of God.” He is such a reality check for me – while I am compiling a list of worries, he is counting his blessings.

Thank you, Lord for sending me a Godly man. Happy birthday Mark! You are such a blessing to me; I love you!

Thanksgiving

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to GOD. And the peace of GOD, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in CHRIST JESUS."

Phillipians 4:6-7

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day and I have so very much to be thankful for. I shared earlier this month that there was a time in my life that it was difficult to just get through the day, much less, give thanks. But I have learned that regardless of the challenges that life brings, I have so very much for which to be grateful.

Several years back, I was serving about once a month as a relief house mom for an organization that served pregnant teens. I always took the girls to church and I was there on the Sunday prior to Thanksgiving. The Pastor’s sermon was related to Thanksgiving. I really don’t remember anything he said in that sermon, but I do remember what happened at the end of that service. The Pastor invited people to share what they were thankful for. People stood and stated thankfulness for many of the things one might expect - for family, jobs, their church, Gods blessings, etc – and I too, am grateful for all of those things. But as I was sitting there listening, I had a wave of realization wash over me of what I was also to be thankful for. I knew deep in my soul that I was supposed to be thankful for the hard times because they were what brought me closer to God.

I can choose to have an attitude of thankfulness and focus on what is right in my life, on who God is, and what He has done for me. Thanksgiving is a nice event, but I don’t need a special day to thank the Lord!!

God is working in my life. I don’t always understand it, but I know that He will use it all for His glory. And that is the best reason for giving thanks!!

Providence

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

For Mark and me, November is a wonderful month of remembrance. In November of 2004, Mark went down on his knees and asked me to become his wife. I can still see his earnest (and nervous) face and hear his sweet words. We talk a lot about the providence of God and how He moved in our lives to bring us together. All of the details aren't important, but the bottom line was that we both had experienced similar struggles in our lives - challenges with children, the heart break of a spouse leaving, and the ensuing pain and loneliness. I did not think I would ever marry again, but God in His perfect wisdom and timing brought us together; it was not by chance. He had all of the details worked out. There are many things that make us perfect for each other, but it is so comforting to both of us that we know what it has been like to walk in the other's shoes.
I went through a period where I was pretty sure God had abandoned me. It was all I could do to stumble through my day at work. In the evenings, I would return to my empty house and lay on my bed, mostly crying and staring at the ceiling. I couldn't eat, I couldn't sleep at night. One of those sleepless nights I was channel surfing and stumbled on some TV evangelist program. I don't remember the topic or her sermon, but the thing she said that grabbed at my heartstrings was this: Sometimes you will be standing at the edge of the cliff and God will gather you in His strong arms of protection and hold on tight - keeping you from the fall. Sometimes He will let you go over the edge, but you can rest assured that He will take you by the hand and go with you all the way. After this, I started to heal and get back into life. It was still hard, but I finally understood that God had never left me and He was holding on tight.
The things Mark and I both struggled with the most were feelings of rejection and profound loneliness. After about a year had passed, I started asking God what His plan was. One thing I had decided was that I was not going to go looking for a man, because then I would not know if any relationship resulting from my search was God's will or mine. After that initial period of feeling as if God had abandoned me, I found myself searching for answers and walking closer with God than at any other time in my life. I prayed a lot about it and I asked God for three things:

• I asked God, if He wanted me to be married again, to please not make me date a lot of men. (I had been married close to 30 years and prospect of dating was frightening.)
• I asked Him for a Christian man who would be spiritual head of our household.
• I asked Him to please not take me out of the church I was attending at that time.

Little did I know, the answer to my prayer was sitting on the other side of town. Mark too was questioning what God's plan was for him. At the time he also found his nest empty. When he was younger he played the drums and found himself now with time on his hands and started playing again. God dropped Mark in my church as a drummer for our Praise Band and that is where we met. Mark always says that for him it was love at first sight. It took me a little longer - I was still terrified at the prospect of another relationship. We had gone out several times and had made plans to go out again. The appointed time of that date came and I had decided that I was going to break it off. There were just too many things going on, and I was not ready to move on with a dating relationship. I think we had gone to a movie and when we got back to the house I was going to tell him. Mark sensed that something was troubling me that night and asked if he could pray for me. That, my friends, changed everything. I think God clearly showed me on that night that this was a man of God and that I needed to take another look at the guy. A coincidence that Mark prayed some might say?? I think not!

God answered all three of my prayers. He gave me everything I asked for and more. Mark is everything that I never knew I wanted. The Merriam Webster's dictionary definition of providence is "God conceived, as the power sustaining and guiding human destiny." Holman's Illustrated Bible Dictionary adds, "In so doing [in His providence] God attends not only to apparently momentous events and people but also to those that seem both mundane and trivial. . . Indeed, so all encompassing is God's attention to events within creation that nothing happens by chance."
Mark and I have experienced trials and much pain. But we both know that if even one detail of our lives had been different, our story would not have ended the same way. It was worth it all!! We are so grateful to God, for His love and providence - for working out the details to give us a beautiful life together! We are so blessed!