Thanks for your prayers for my trip...it was a good one! (Despite coming down with chills and a fever for the second week of it...)
Feeding the horses at Middle grove with Matt...
Trying on Matt's snowboarding case at our family Christmas...
Bridesmaids waiting for pictures at Emily's wedding...
Regrettably, I did not do a good job of taking behind the scenes photos, so this is the best I can share.
The wedding was special and heartwarming beyond expectations. All my congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel Cooksey!
Second time taking Megan to "The Hog Trough" for breakfast. Let's make this a tradition!
Justin's date...Bass Pro Shops of course and a quick look at the Illinois river.
I was blessed to spend my last weekend with Philip in Kitchener, Canada and flew back to Tucson from Toronto.
We visited a farmer's market, a book store, and his work. This clock at the Farmer's market reminded me of Dr. Seuss.
I learned that you take your shoes when you enter a house in Canada. However after reading the instructions on Ingrid and Joni's door in multiple languages, I proceeded to march into the house with my boots. Apparently I was more interested in the languages than the content.
"In Canada we remove our shoes to enter the houses. Please leave your shoes at the entrance."
Pau, Marce, and Nicole gave me a special welcome at the airport, and we celebrated Marce's first trip to the US since receiving her visitor's visa.
Second-hand shopping...of course.
My transition back ended up being the most difficult I've experienced, a lot of anxiety, depression, and basically Satan's lies.
After two weeks, I'm thankful to say that I have learned something more about my thoughts and the importance of keeping focused on God's truths. Also, GOD IS MORE POWERFUL!
Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
Isaiah 41:10
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Philippians 4:13
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
Romans 8:37
A few of God's many promises to me and to all of us!
There are so many thoughts that I could share, but I'll share one from yesterday. As I felt the burden of what I'm called to do here, the worries of the future, the responsibility weighing on me, I remembered the phrase from "What a Friend." Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pain we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer...
"So, wait...I can give my burden to the Lord. Yes, I need to be responsible in my work, but He's got it all under control. He knows the way ahead. I don't have to figure it out. He doesn't measure success like I do and what He asks of me is to be faithful in this moment. He has a perfect purpose. This is His plan. These are His boys. This is His battle."
The same lesson we all learn again and again wherever and whatever God has called us...that our God is in control and we can trust Him with this moment and with our very lives. Help me remember this Lord when the future looms and when even the moment seems too big to handle.
So praises for the ways He continues to work in my life, in Marce's life, in our house, and throughout CVE and the community. Prayers that I would let God fight the battle instead of beating the air with my own fists.
On Saturday, the youth choir sold breakfasts, so I spent the hours from 6-9 AM making pancakes...many, many pancakes.
And then I enjoyed them with Marce and my boys.
Saturday night we had some great joy building time with glow in the dark balloons, a gift from Kaleigh Schipf.
Speedie, Whiz, Zoom , and Tag holding their balloons on the couch.
They were a blast!
This week Bill and Joan are moving back to Peoria. So prayers for them and us as we all adjust are much appreciated.
Also an important announcement is that Speedie has become a part of our little family, so now it is Marce, me, Speedie, Zoom, Whiz, and Tag. Speedie turns 12 the beginning of next month. I continue to do therapy with him in the mornings and well, here we are, two women and four little boys, seeing what the next day brings...
