The Joy of Grace

Just Writing Oct 16

I keep on meaning to write a blog.  Every time I think about it, I then quickly think:  "Ugh, but it has to be long!"  Which it doesn't.  Which I don't know why I think that.  So, I finally decided to sit down and just write one.

   We just returned from a trip with my family to Big Cedar Lodge in Missouri.  I had never realized how wonderful Missouri is until my parents moved there last year.  Now, the little town they live in is called Licking, which isn't that wonderful.  They are about to move to a town named Houston, where they are building a beautiful house situated on land with a natural waterfall cascading down in their backyard...that, my friends, will be a wonderful place to visit!  Anyways, back to Missouri~I love it!   Big Cedar Lodge was much fun, and Savannah was even more fun on our trip! She loved having not just two set of eyes on her at all times, but a total of five set of eyes captivated by her silliness.  She'd "dance" (Remember the wiggle dance I wrote about in a previous entry?  Well, she's still doing that just sitting up...it's quite funny), she'd giggle, she'd attempt to "crawl" from me to my mom to my sister (basically, she would lurch forward on her tummy and wiggle and roll her way to us), and she'd dance some more.  I believe Savannah is Aaron through and through.  So very silly just like him (yes, Aaron is sillier than some of you may ever know) and looks like his twin.  The only thing she may have like me is her love for jewelry.   And, Charley turns 4 on Thursday!  I must write that yes, we will have a birthday party for her, and yes, we will have popcorn for her,and yes, we did invite her best friend Maggie, who did make the 4 1/2 hour trip for the event.  Maggie is my parent's dog (for those of you who remember him, Prancey did pass away...you can laugh, Prancey was a he, not a she.  Now my parents have Maggie, and Maggie is a she.) and although she did not come solely for the event, we told Charley she did to make our somewhat still sad beagle feel special.   No worries~I'll post a picture of the event as soon as it transpires.  (Hopefully...see next paragraph)

To end this "just writing" post, I want to post the words of a song that I presently love and share a few of my thoughts on the my Gracious Lord...No guilt in life no fear in death/This is the power of Christ in me/From life's first cry to final breath/Jesus commands my destiny/No power of hell no scheme of man/Can ever pluck me from His hand/Till He returns or calls me home/Here in the power of Christ I'll stand!  I've been reminded lately that He is worthy.  As I was talking to a dear friend this past weekend who is facing a trial of trials, we discussed how you just do not ever know how things will turn out.  Just when you think you've got it all figured out, your plans explode, leaving you feeling desolate and confused.  And, even in this shaking, He is worthy to take your plans and to make them His own.  Who are we to claim what a day will bring forth?  What a year will yield?  And, so often we do.  It used to make me furious, now it just brings tears to my eyes, when someone would discuss the time table for the future.  Tears  because He alone is worthy to do what He will when He wills it.  Oh, how slow I was to learn this lesson and still, I am learning.  And, oh how wonderful it is to watch His plans unfold instead of our own.  What joy He brings forth, joy indescribable, joy complete, joy to grasp onto eternally.

 So there.  I wrote an entry.  Finally. And, it wasn't so bad after all...