To everything there is a season

Today is a bittersweet day. This is the day our oldest granddaughter will be moving out of our home and back with her family. She has been with us off and on for the past 3 years. Ever since Covid and her 18th birthday when her grandfather fell and broke his neck and she rode to the hospital with us. She also waited outside in the car in the parking lot with me for hours waiting to hear an upsdate as we couldn't go in becauase of C0ovid mandates. Afterwards she stayed off and on to help me care for him as he recovered. In that same tine frame fires tore through the canyon and burned her family's home to the ground and she moved in with us.  Rebuilding has taken time, not only for my husband's physical strength, but for the new structure for her family and for her as she has adjusted to life as an adult. 

It will be a good move even though we will miss her. Especially her hugs in the morning and at night. Last night when she came home from work the hug was a little bit longer. We knew today would be bittrrsweet.

But I know her siblings and parents are especially happy they will all be together again. And for that I am happy. 

It's been quite a season. 

But as Ecclesiastes says..to everything there is a season.

So now aa I see this one close I look to the future with confidence that all things are working together for our good and God's glory. Nothing is outside of His notice or care.

So as we enter this season of thanksgiving I will thank Him for the privilege I have had to spend extra time with her. I pray it will have made a positive impact in her life and that whatever seasons she faces in the future she will be able to do so with strength.

As the oldest grandchild she has a role of leadership and I know God has great plans for her and all those whose lives she touches. 

May His blessings be upon all of them.

The Velveteen Grandma: Why I want to be the Velveteen Grandma

The Velveteen Grandma: Why I want to be the Velveteen Grandma: The Velveteen Grandma One of my favorite stories is the Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. The story is the journey of a stuffed rabbit ...

Living the "Is" not the "What if'"

"...the just shall live by faith." Habakkuk 2:4b

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen." Hebrews 11:1

Every day I need to remind myself to live in the now. As one who likes to "have a plan" and often has a full calender, staying in the moment can be difficult. In part I think it was the way I was raised.  There was often the question mark of the"what if?" that loomed over many of us during the late 50's and 60's. (Yes, I'm that old.)  When I was in grade school I remember the drills in case of nuclear attack. As I high school student the concern was whether or not friends would be drafted to fight in the Vietnam war, and if they would survive if they were forced into service. As a young wife who saw too many families split because of divorce there was always the question of whether my marriage could survive. (I am happy to report 48 years into it we are still madly in love and holding strong.) 

The battle to avoid the pit of the"what if" continues though. The question of which one of us will proceed the other in death is frequently put before us as we age.  Worry could easily consume if we let it, 

But we have chosen instead to embrace everyday that we have together with joy and live well in the moments we have. Tomorrow isn't guaranteed for any of us.

I like how Jesus reminds me not to worry.  " Therefore I say to you do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. It's not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither so nor  reap, nor gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to their stature? So why do you worry about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field how they grow, they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all theae things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all the things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-34 

 I am continually reminding myself that it takes faith and trust to live in the "is".  But God is faithful and trustworthy and my "mustard seed" size of faith is enough. For that I am eternally grateful. May you find His grace sufficient, His love trustworthy, and your joy in Him complete.