Sad

There are moments that happen around us that words really cannot describe how we feel.  Yesterday was a day like that.  The loss of a legend at such a young age gives me pause.  It confirms that we don’t know when our time here will end.
My prayers and thoughts go out to all the families that are impacted by this tragedy.  There is a community that is hurting deeply today.  Mothers, daughters, sons, husband, wife, cousin, grandparents, siblings, etc.  The list is long.   The mourning is real, the grief unbearable, the future unimaginable, the hurt indescribable.
This is the time when we see humanity in the hearts of people.  Reach out and in to their hurt.  Allow them to grieve.  The range of emotions that this trauma produces is vast.  Lift them up in prayers.  Because only our Heavenly Father can give them the peace that is needed.
I hugged my kids extra long yesterday.

blessings?

When the Blessings become the Trials.

Oh boy this is a hard one to write about.
There are so many aspects of my life that are such tremendous blessings that I am in awe of all that God has given to me or allowed to occur in my life.
But then there are the moments when those blessings are the trials that I would love to get rid of.

November Recap

November Highlights

Thanksgiving Eve Service

Josh and Gabe before they left for Kenya

The team that went to Kenya to help the Simpsons.

Bill teaching the guitar

Josh giving a lesson too.

Enjoying some time while on safari

Josh B and my Josh practicing for worship

Pause

We can see injustice all around us.  But it is so interesting that when we perceived the injustice to be on our behalf, we truly are blinded by the reasons the other person/people behave the way they did.  It is a hard pill to swallow when your child/children tell you that you were an unfair parent when they were younger.
Perceived experiences are so experiential that we forget to consider the place in which the other person was coming from for said experience.  We must remember to pause before we respond.  Because when we respond without consideration, we lose the opportunity for conversation.  It only invites dissent and argument.
So, I say pause and reflect.  You may not even need to answer or respond.  Be humble.

Birthdays

November saw birthdays for 2 of my kiddos.

Stephen and Sarah are just 4 days apart.  So thankful to be able to celebrate them. 

Life

In the midst of all our struggles, life still continues around us.  We would like for it to halt when we go through trials.  When we are in an unknown, undesired, unplanned, and unsure situation, we want the dailies to cease to be.  That everything that we are responsible for and to would just pause as we try to figure out where we are.  But life doesn’t work that way.
It is because of that that I am forever grateful to have Jesus in my life.  It is thanks to His presence that I can move forward in the direction He has for me.  This by no means makes it easier, it makes it doable.
I have been reminded that in Christ, I stand from a place of victory not defeat.  I am an overcomer so no matter what I am in the midst of, I will be victorious on the other side.

Senior Year

So my youngest is entering his senior year at Calvary Christian Academy in Philadelphia.  He will be the last of my children that will graduate from this school. 
He asked me yesterday if I was sad.  I am not.  I am excited to see what God has for our family as we end an era and begin a new one.
Seasons come and go all the time.  And while it is great to remember moments from them, we must not look back too long or we will miss what is right in front of us. 
This is going to be epic.  I cannot wait to see how the Lord will work.