Decisions, decisions....

So, its been awhile. I guess I've had a lot on my mind. But not just me, my daughter as well. We're both facing some pretty big decisions, you know, the kind that are life changing. I've promised my ever-patient husband that I would have a regular job by the time school started. He has allowed me the luxury of spending time with my children this summer, especially since Alex was on his way out of our home. Our life has been full & crazy & my ability to focus on them has been an enormous blessing. I've also had the wonderful opportunity to help out some friends who have needed help with moving, various home projects & looking after their small beautiful children. I thank God for allowing this, and I thank Norm for giving me this gift this summer. I also owe much thanks to my friend Phil who saw fit to employ me for various organizational projects in his home/office so I wasn't completely broke all summer...but I can't shake the feeling that he & his wife have blessed me way more than I have blessed them. Thanks to you both. I recently have been offered a new job that, on initial examination, seems like something that I would be holding out for. I'm just not sure its the right thing for me. While I'm grateful that I am being considered for this job, its taking some serious thought & prayer to make sure it will not only suit me, but also my family.

My daughter is going to be a senior this year. If you remember what that's like, the pressure is on to choose a college. At the very least, narrow it down to a reasonable number and start the application process. We did take her to visit Geneseo (picture) & she really liked it. But who knows...its just the beginning. She is debating between living near home or whether to venture out a little further in the world. We're both finding ourselves needing to understand what God has for us. These are those times when you cannot simply trust you're own instincts.


In reading my friend Erik's blog recently, he's asking "What's the point?" As in, what are we really doing with our lives? I realize that every decision hinges on this. His point is beautifully made (please check it out - his link is in my list of friends). I believe that decisions about jobs we should take, schools we should attend, churches we should commit to (or not), homes we should live in, should all be run through the filter of not just what's best for us, but what will help make a difference in the world around us. Its hard...you want to take care of your family, but you also want to care about more than who's inside your own 4 walls. Again, I'm grateful that God has allowed me the time to be a blessing to those friends who have needed some extra hands, but I know that He needs me to do more. And while my daughter needs to choose where to get her education, she also needs to understand where she can make a difference in the lives of others. It's all a balancing act, loving yourself, your family & your neighbors - and praying that our decisions reflect them all. But mostly, for me, its loving the Lord enough to trust Him, and making the best use of the crazy & wonderful life He's given me.

P.S. Your prayers in all this would be greatly appreciated... Thank you.

God's Hands...

Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that you were in God's hands? I mean I know as Christians we "know" this, but aren't there just real times when you know, that you know, that you know, "I wouldn't get through this if I wasn't in His hands?" Or you feel the details of an event in your life fall so perfectly into place that you, once again, know you are cared for & directed by His mighty yet loving & gentle hands? It's hard to even go into detail here of all the changes, major changes, that have and are occurring in my life. From one child leaving the "nest" to begin his life in a whole different state, to the other traveling across the ocean to minister to others, being unable to communicate with us while she's gone. From losing a home and jobs, to friends moving, to seeking a new place to worship. All of this, piled one on-top the other. And yet, as we traveled to & from Florida to help settle our son in his new home, I had an overwhelming feeling of being in His care. I know that He began the work of our being able to let our son go long before we had our final hugs. We marveled day after day at how wonderful this journey was, how He allowed us to leave our son with a peace in our spirit & a limited amount of tears. While we'll miss him, to be sure, there's this beautiful peace that it was God's perfect timing for him and for us. Our son was ready...and so were we. To any parent, you know, this is a miracle. Our daughter arrived safely home late Sunday night, exhausted yet elated at the experience God had blessed her with. Friends of ours were in a pretty serious car accident that very night & walked away with minor injuries. Again, we rejoiced in the loving way He took care of them...how He takes care of all of us. I love Him beyond words & trust Him each day with the crazy details of my life. I don't know where I'd be without Him & praise Him that I'll never know. I am forever His child...who truly has learned how to "rest" in her Father's hands. I pray the same for you.