There's A Sun Coming Up

"There's a sun comin' up - in  my soul, Lord in my soul. There's a sun comin' up in my soul, Lord in my soul. I see the light. I see the light." - David Crowder

This song immediately came to mind as I looked out the window and saw the sun peeking through the trees. I was not able to capture it on my phone. But it is there. And it's promising to be a pretty day with warmer temps and the possibility to go on a bike ride or a walk along the MillRace.

After the flooding - the drudgery and depression of seeing all the damage and the cleanup required and the devastation to homes and business and the interruption of life to many in our area. It does make one thankful for what remains.

Thank you Lord that the sun comes up and it's a new day and we look to the Light to bring us hope for the future and anticipation for the adventure of today.

Be blessed today.

New Experience Never to be Repeated

This week there was an historic catastrophic event that happened in Goshen, IN where we live - which was the "100 year rain" (somebody told Steve that was a thing) on top of 14-18" of snow that we had a few days before. It was first time ever that we lived in a house where it was threatened by rising flood waters. It was such an eerie, helpless feeling as we watched the water rise and knew that there was absolutely nothing we could do to make it stop.

Steve had measured with his laser and put out markers so we knew where the levels were and how much more levels of water we could take before we had to bail. Thankfully, we never had to bail. But we kept watching the water keep inching up to those markers.

Then to top it all off - our sump pump quit working and quickly the basement began to fill up with water. Steve rushed to get one from a coworker who lent us his that he said may or may not work - it worked for a while and then that one gave out. Steve then had to run around trying to find a place that actually had any in stock. While he was at Big R - within just a couple of minutes - 3-4 more people came in looking for sump pumps and evidently Steve looked like he knew about those kinds of things cuz they all kept asking him questions. Finally, he said "sorry but my basement is filling up - I gotta go."  One the greatest attributes of his character is kindness. Our basement got to about 4-6" which wasn't bad but nevertheless set us to scrambling on getting some of our precious photo albums and memorabilia out of the danger zone.

Woke up this morning to the water quickly receding - we are flood free and never want to experience that again.We are very aware of others who's homes and business's are devastated by the flood waters. We are counting our blessings - it could have been so much worse for us. One of the neighbors down the road had to be rescued by boat. The firefighters wading in to get here had water up to their waists. Another "older" couple had to evacuate their house right there on the corner because of rising water and foundation beginning to crumble.

A Foggy 6 Mile Walk

Donning my galoshes and umbrella in hand, I walked through the woods, along the river and by the dam to take some food to my very good friend and adopted Grandma. It was such an amazing walk. Because of the fog, everything seemed to shrouded in mystery and anticipation. When I started out, the visibility was very limited. I could only see just a few feet in front of me. When I gazed beyond, I could see very dim outlines of buildings and trees and because I knew the path well, I knew what was ahead. The sloshing of melting snow lapped at my ducky boots and I breathed in deeply the moisture and the quiet. All I could hear were the birds chirping and the river and the rushing of the water as I neared the dam.

I felt my soul some alive as I walked. Now and again, I saw bright splotches of red as the cardinals flitted from branch to branch. Amazing to me that within the fog, objects seemed sharper in color. The detail of each object stood loud in contrast to the white density of the fog. It was altogether unearthly, like I had stepped off into a fairy land. It is so difficult to describe my heart as it felt every nuance of the walk.

I began to imagine the feeling of being surrounded by the Presence and Glory of God as the fog enveloped me. There was nothing to see up ahead - all I could see, touch and hear was the spot that I was in at the moment. How powerful is His Presence and Glory when nothing else  matters and is no longer felt or seen or heard - just the here and now - in the moment of Him. Wow!!! 

Real with a Touch of Elegance

My husband gave me something this morning that I have never received in my entire life up to this date. A real to life, genuine, authentic, preserved gold-gilded rose. I kept touching it and running my fingers over every little detail of this rose, amazed by the fact that it is real and yet will never die. A rose that has been preserved to be a symbol of love and romance for the rest of life. This rose will never die or fade or dry up or shrivel away to nothing. It is and ever will be a symbol of my husband's love for me.  My husband is  genuine, down to earth, authentic, loyal and real and tenderhearted. Whether he realized it or not - this rose that he gave me will forever be a symbol of the way he loves me. I deeply appreciate and treasure his way of being real and authentic. He is solid in his love - it will not die or fade away or dry up or shrivel away to nothing. It is not showy or false in any way and I have learned confidence in who I am because I am confident in his love for me. I love my life with this man.  We have lived life and continue to live life to the fullest. We have traveled around the world and lived in exotic places. We have raised 3 beautiful daughters and we have gained 3 amazing and incredible sons and our lives are full to the brim as we continue to celebrate life with them and our 2 adorable grandsons. And we are able to hold our heads high with the reality that together we live our lives in the Love and Reverence of God. I cannot be any more loved by this man who exemplifies integrity by the way that he loves God and loves his family.
So thank you Steve, for my never ending rose - that is real with a touch of elegance.  The touch of elegance is all the little ways of his care as in always opening the door for me, taking my hand or my elbow when the way is a bit unsteady, building things for me, encouraging my dreams, fixing things that break down, starting campfires, the list is endless.  The little things matter and it's the little things that bring the touch of elegance to everyday life.

Nothing New About Staying

One morning this week, I was reading in Exodus about when God was telling the Israelites how to build the Ark of the Covenant. And I was skimming over all the detailed and intricate instructions that God was giving them. Because after all, I'm not a builder and I could really care less how long and wide and deep things were being measured. But even while I was skimming, my mind began to wander a tad bit and I heard the Lord whispering some truth to me. Something about the fact that He hasn't stopped giving detailed and intricate instructions - I'm just not staying long enough to listen to them or being  patient enough to pay attention to them. It kinda stopped me up short.

You see, if you don't know me very well, I tend to be a pretty impatient person. I have a difficult time just sitting around waiting. And that is something that even in my mid 50's, I still struggle with. One would think that One could learn to wait and be patient about it. Yes, One would think that but I am still not that One. I'm getting better at it, but still...who really has time to sit around and wait when One could be up and doing something about it all.

So.....God has had me in a "resting" place since July of last year. And, after all I don't want to be lazy. And really, shouldn't I be all rested up by now?  So getting back to this "staying" to hear ALL the instructions.  Whenever God lays out a plan for me - I tend to hear or see the big picture and I'm like "yeah, let's do this" and I get all excited and I jump up and begin to run with it and figure out all the details as we go. But this time, God is saying, I want you to learn how to stay and hear and learn all the instructions. He keeps sitting me back down on my butt.  I'm taking baby steps towards this new plan that He's laying out for me. Within each step, I'm only taking by instruction, which is different and new for me. And it's requiring a whole lot of patience, but perhaps I'm "old" enough to learn this time around.

And as the snow continues to fall and sit on top of all the life that is happening underneath, so I am learning to enjoy the beauty of staying and listening to all the instructions before I run off. At least, the instructions that He's wanting me to learn. There are details and instructions that He gives as I'm building and doing but there are blueprints to be made and pictures to take and steps to learn. And if I want something to be built correctly, I need to begin correctly with a sturdy foundation. So what I'm building will stand strong and true. So I'm staying until He tells me that I'm done staying.

New Life Around the Corner

One morning last week, I took a 2 1/2 mile walk. The sun was shining and life was looking up. As I came close to the house, this scene across from our house caught my attention. The openness, the blue sky peaking through the clouds, the tree line and the tall grasses, all spoke to me. Even in the browns and what appears to be lifeless - it is not at all what it appears. There is life - even underneath the deadened grasses, even in the shadows, even in the tall brown grass and even in the clouded sky above - the sun is shining.  THERE IS LIFE!!!

Beginning of February and the winter finish line is up ahead. I can see it in the distance - not too far distance. The promise of new life and spring is just around the next corner. It's not too much longer and life will spring up from underneath where it has been all this time - we just haven't been able to see it. The signs of spring are not here yet but it is coming. 

Life happens whether we see signs of it or not. Don't give up hope - just when you feel you can't hold on any longer - remember that God is holding on to you. Newness is just around the next bend - don't give up, don't give in, don't quit. If you don't quit....YOU WIN!!  All we have to do is NOT QUIT!!!  I promise you that the warm winds will blow again. The green grass and leaves will appear. The bare, brown ground will spring forth with life and life abundant.