A Day to Remember

On the 15th anniversary of becoming a mommy I collided with the biggest challenge of my mommyhood. Grace's tests showed Crohns and she was admitted to the hospital. I think it felt like an earthquake happened in our little consultation room when the doctor told us that. I had my bible opened to Isaiah 43 and it was as if those pages were all I had to see and touch to be still and safe in the midst of that earthquake.

January is ordinarily such a calm month. Calendaring, making soup, planning Luke's birthday and trying to stay warm are usually all of the main events.

Prayer warriors are lifting me up or I'd be a basket case right now. (what does that term even mean?) It's dark in this room and my baby is sleeping but I can't. This must be one of those times when it's good to have some of God's Words stored away in my heart, even if they aren't exact like "The Lord will go before me. Do not be afraid. The Lord himself will fight for you." He will fight for us. We don't have to. Praising Him for a diagnosis I can grab onto and move forward with. The unknown had me all baskety-casey. (See that doesn't work.) And Grace seems to be taking things in bits at a time, as she should. Her big tears came while calling her brother to tell him happy birthday. She misses him! Her little sister cannot come see her because she's too young and there's a strict rule because of flu season, so she is bummed about that but I'm sure Moriah will make lots of pictures to decorate her room!
She knows her tummy is going to heal but she is not happy about NOT eating or drinking for a while. She knows she could be here a week or so but the iv in her hand is what bugs her the most. This is a teaching hospital so my normally easygoing girl had seen one too many doctors when she decided she was ready to punch one in the face! She may be in for a wild ride on this collision course but I'm right here with her and our God promises to never let go...through the calm and through the storm, in every high and every low.

Isaiah 43 (SAL version) when you pass through this time in Grace's life, I will be with you.

Storms

I'm awake. Listening to the thunder roll across the Texas sky. Don't tell Grace or Luke, but I'm sort of afraid of storms. I get nervous and stay awake listening for tornado sirens, planning where to go, what to get and how to survive it. Yes, Greensburg has been on my mind. I'm connected to this Kansas town because I grew up driving through it to get to my Grandma's house in western Kansas. It had an ice cream shop on the highway we'd stop at, if we were lucky. Later, a good friend from my church camp days grew up to coach football & teach high school science there. Sadly, he passed away a few years ago. I know his family mourns all over again because the football stadium, where he spent so much time & his funeral was held, is no longer there. From heaven, I wonder what he wants to tell his students and friends. I bet it has something to do with....HOPE.

I can't imagine the devastation. I'm sure that praising God, who created the storms, is not foremost in the minds of those whose homes are gone. I'm sure they're crying out "Why? Why have you forsaken me?" like Jesus did on the cross.

But without that, without the cross, how would we cope with devastation? How could we find any HOPE in life at all? And without the storms, how would we ever realize our need for Him? How would we know that He is our Big Abba, our Daddy....and how MUCH He loves us and wants us to crawl up into His big ol' lap during the storms, so He can hold us? How would we come to know Him as our Provider, our Shelter, our Sustainer, if we didn't trust Him during these times of confusion and loss?

It's so much easier to see the world when the sun is shining, but it's so much easier to see heaven during the darkness of the storms.

Can you fathom the mysteries of God?
Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?

Yet if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then you will lift up your face without shame; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety. You will lie down, with no one to make you afraid, and many will court your favor. (JOB 11)

Goodnight.

Nothing

Just an overcast, windy day. All of the rain went to the east. We've been watching pictures we recognize in our ex-hometown, being shown on national news. It's sad to see places you've loved torn apart. Grace was born there. We haven't seen the church yet, but it's a block from where the reporters have been standing, near the Civic center. I'm sure there is damage, but it didn't flood, so that is good. It could have been a lot worse! Praise the Lord for His mercy.

Weather

Gas is up 8 cents since this morning, and going up all day, I imagine. I went to QT and filled up, and for 1:30 in the afternoon, it was hoppin'! Galveston has none and everyone is coming here to evacuate, so I guess the reason everyone has been told to fill up, is because they could run out? Wouldn't that be something?! I stocked up on batteries, water, bread and those little cheese crackers with peanut butter. This mother-bear instinct to store, prevent and protect from harm is so strong right now! And we're not even near the coast anymore! Rita is supposed to be a category 1 by the time it gets here, so we may lose electricity, but hopefully not for long.

And to add to the craziness and chaos that is our weather....It's the first day of Fall and a record 101 degrees! Isn't it an amazing "coincidence" that we are studying WEATHER the whole month of September. This week emphasizing clouds and next week, of course...rainstorms, thunder and lightning! Thank you God for the object lesson visuals!

Stay tuned.

Promises

Our weather station visit has been postponed due to another hurricane. Our Meteorologist friend headed to Galveston today, against the flow of traffic. Pray for my dear friends in Beaumont. I know of one friend, Phyllis and her 5 (yes, 5) kids that are traveling today to her mother-in-law's here in Dallas. Her husband is Chaplain at an assisted living/nursing home, so he will stay and help where needed. Pray for my pregnant pal, Laura. I haven't been able to get through to them.

Since you're praying, please lift up my friend who just had a miscarriage on Thursday. They had tried for over 5 years and finally...pregnant! They were so happy and now so sad. She doesn't know what God wants to teach her through this, and it's so hard to understand. I wish I could tell her exactly what God is doing in her life through this, but I can't. I can only love her and believe God will do what He promises in His Word.

God will love you forever! Ps. 136:1
God will never leave you! Heb. 13:5
God will comfort you! Isa. 49:13
God will help you! Ps. 121:1,2
God is always faithful! Ps. 33:4
God will keep you safe! Nah. 1:7
God keeps His promises! Deut. 7:9
from a poster in our playroom called "God's Promises for Kids"