The voice of the Lord is powerful...

Can you imagine creating anything just by speaking? But that's exactly how God created the world. Psalm 29 describes how powerful God's voice is.

Verse 3 ~ "The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters."

Verse 4 ~ "The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic."

Verse 5 ~ "The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon."

Verse 7 ~ "The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning."

Verse 8 ~ "The voice of the Lord shakes the desert..."

Verse 9 ~ "The voice of the Lord twists the oaks and strips the forests bare." 

We were living in Washington state when Mount St. Helens erupted. The forests were stripped bare and the mountain looked desolate. Unbelievable power was evident in that destruction. There's no doubt about it, God is omnipotent - all powerful. 

But the amazing thing is that the final verse of Psalm 29, after talking about the awesome power of God, gives this assurance:

"The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace." 

There is so much Scripture to support this truth. Over and over again, God tells us that He gives us his strength.

Isaiah 40:29 ~ "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."

Isaiah 41:10 ~ "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."

Philippians 4:13 ~ "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

And what about the display of God's power in the resurrection of Jesus from the dead? When you think about death, it can feel so depressing, so final. We do whatever we can to avoid it, or at least, avoid thinking about it. But because of Jesus, death has lost its sting. There is hope beyond the grave. Death is only a door into a fuller life.

I went to a funeral yesterday. I was actually looking forward to going. Then I started wondering if I was being morbid for "enjoying" going to funerals. I've been to several recently. When the funeral or memorial service is for a Christian, it is an opportunity to remember the person, the contribution he made to our lives, and how he lived his life to glorify God. 

Maybe because I feel I am closer to death because of Andy's suffering, but my heart seems more tuned in to the hope that God offers to those of us who grieve, as well as the picture of him welcoming us home to himself. Pastor often uses the illustration in his devotional about how when Paul was nearing the end of his life, he wrote to Timothy to tell him the time of his departure was near. (2 Timothy 4:6) But this only indicates a journey. Yes, there is a departure...but there is also a destination. I love the picture in 2 Peter 1:11 where we are told that we "will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." That sounds like a party to me! Yes, we're sorrowful here, but it's party time in heaven when he calls his children home.

My days are so emotionally up and down. I mentioned to a wise counselor this week that I feel so emotionally fragile. He was very kind and validated my feelings. He visits Andy occasionally and affirmed that it is so difficult to visit and see Andy in his condition. But he can't imagine how I do it when I visit Andy every day. 

As it was such a beautiful spring day yesterday, I decided to try to get Andy outside for some fresh air. So after dinner, I took him out for a stroll around the courtyard. We had only gone a quarter of the way around, when I noticed he was walking with his eyes closed. I asked him what was wrong, and he mumbled something. I told him he needed to open his eyes to see where he was going, but he kept them shut. Fortunately, I was holding his hand and leading him along. I got him back inside as quickly as I could, took him to his room and helped him lie down on the bed. I don't know what was wrong. Was the sun too strong for his eyes? Was he upset about something? 

I got him settled, then read the book of Ruth to him. He seems to do better with me reading the stories of the Bible. I finished all four chapters. Then he got up off the bed and walked out of the room - back to "normal." A couple of days ago, I read the book of Jonah to him. I was amused that when I got to the part where the sailors threw Jonah overboard, Andy interjected with, "Bummer!" It made me chuckle.

 Another difficult thing for me is that I feel I'm living two lives. On the one hand is the extreme sadness I feel as I think about and spend time with Andy. I miss having him live life with me and share in the experiences I'm having. On the other hand, there is a lot of joy that I experience - with family, friends, my home, work, nature, etc. 

Amy and the kids came down on Tuesday. It's always such a treat to see them. We ate lunch together, then went over to see Andy. He seemed glad to see them. We spent some time in the ice cream parlor before taking him back to his room. His ability to handle long visits is just too physically taxing for him.

I went with Amy to Laurel Acres Park to walk around the lake and hike through the woods. We were pleasantly surprised to see some woodland flowers blooming along the way.

The kids were happy to pose for pictures...where do they get all their energy? Oh, the exuberance of youth!

Yesterday was another lovely day, so after the morning funeral, I met up with three friends and went over to Amico Island Park on the Delaware River. We saw turtles sunning, deer (if you look closely), the far off Philadelphia skyline, and enjoyed being out in nature with other women.
 

 

 

 

I appreciate people's concern for me and assurances that they're praying for me. When they ask me how I'm doing, I can only answer that I'm doing this in the strength God supplies. He is a great God, powerful and strong, giving strength to the weary and increasing the power of the weak. If his strength is made powerful in weakness, then there you have it!

1 Peter 4:11 ~ ..."If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."

2 Corinthians 12:9 ~ "But [Jesus] said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness'."

Our church had a ladies retreat this weekend. The theme for the weekend was "perseverance" and discipleship. I was honored to be invited to be part of a panel for the perseverance theme. I don't really feel like I'm an expert at persevering, but when I told my daughter that, she responded with some very kind and encouraging words: "...Being that an expert is someone who has a comprehensive knowledge about a particular subject I would say you qualify to talk about suffering. Maybe you don't feel that you are suffering well, but you do know it well and will certainly have wisdom to share. I'm sure it will be good for you and I'm glad you are going."

I'm glad I did it. I spent a lot of time this past week thinking about the subject, looking up Scripture and praying about how the Lord could use me to minister and encourage others who are going through hard times. One of the questions that was asked was: "How have you maintained your faithfulness in your journey?"

Anyone who reads my blog knows I am a reader. I constantly have 2 or 3 books going. I choose books that will challenge me in my walk with the Lord, books that focus on the goodness of God, on the purpose of suffering, or biographies of people who have endured through hard times. 

Here is a list of some of my favorite books:
1. Be Still My Soul, by Nancy Guthrie
2. The Rest of the Gospel, by Dan Stone
3. Holding on to Hope, by Nancy Guthrie
4. Hearing Jesus Speak into Your Sorrow, by Nancy Guthrie
5. If God is Good, by Randy Alcorn
6. Walking with God through Pain and Suffering, by Timothy Keller
7. When God Weeps, by Joni Eareckson Tada
8. A Place of Healing, by Joni Eareckson Tada
9. Jesus Wept, by Bruce Marchiano
10. Abide in Christ, by Andrew Murray

Music also ministers to me. Often times, songs are developed in the heart of the song writer because of difficulties they are facing. Those kinds of songs speak to the heart, reminding us of God's faithfulness, love and presence. 

My suggestions of songs that are uplifting and God honoring:
1. O My Soul, All My Days by Casting Crowns
2. More Than Anything, by Natalie Grant
3. Even If, by Mercy Me
4. Reckless Love, by Cory Asbury 
5. Trust in You, by Lauren Daigle 
6. The Cross Has the Final Word, by the Newsboys
7. At the Cross, by Chris Tomlin


And there are many more.

One of the things I mentioned that helps me through the hard times is Scripture memory. Years ago, when I started memorizing Scripture, I promised God I wouldn't brag about how many verses I knew by heart. It would be a secret between him and me. But I felt him prompting me to mention the importance of "hiding God's Word in our hearts." I confessed that I have memorized whole books of the Bible, as well as whole portions of other meaningful texts. The reason I felt this is an important step in being able to cope with life's trials is that now when I have a night where I can't sleep, I have something to think about. Reviewing passages I have memorized places my mind in the right place - instead of going to the worry place. I do that anyway, but I'm so grateful that I can leave the worry and go to the Scriptures for peace and comfort. Sometimes, I review for hours, but usually, it only takes a minute or two before I feel myself relaxing and drifting back to sleep. 

One of the passages I memorized a while back was 2 Peter 1:1-11. As I was reviewing it this week, I was struck with the word "perseverance" in the middle of a list of qualities that we receive as a result of knowing Jesus. Perseverance is next to godliness (not cleanliness!). But that list of qualities, faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, love, are given to us by Jesus' divine power for life and godliness.

All of life is dependent on Jesus living in and through me. Apart from Him I can do nothing. He is faithful and helps me to be faithful. He is the God of encouragement and encourages me to do what I need to do. Jesus persevered through what God had called Him to, and He helps me to persevere. Even the perseverance is from Him. Without Him, I would quit...this is too hard. 2 Thessalonians 3:5 ~ "May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." He certainly didn't quit, but was faithful to the task the Father had planned for our salvation.

Spring is taking its good old time to warm up. Everyone seems so ready for it to get warmer, but I think the flowers are staying with us longer because it's cooler. It's like they're refrigerated!
 

 I "borrowed" a book I saw at Christy's the last time I was at her house. It wasn't even her book, someone had loaned it to her. And I didn't ask her permission to read it, I just picked it up and told her I wanted to read it! So because of that, I felt I needed to read it quickly since I didn't ask permission and since it wasn't hers. The book was When God Doesn't Fix It by Laura Story. She tells the story of how after only one year of marriage, her husband developed a brain tumor. He underwent surgery to remove the tumor, but the surgery affected his vision and his short term memory. He will never get better. He's young with a young family. Laura is the bread winner, working a full time job, taking care of him and her children. How does she do it? She writes candidly and honestly about their situation. She felt prompted to tell her story, "a story without an ending. A story, not of hope, but of being held by Him during [her] hopelessness."

It got me to thinking. How often have I wondered "how long..." It's already been 5 years that Andy has been ill. He continues to decline, it's painful to visit him and see him suffering. How long??? But there others who are suffering and have suffered their whole life. I know a family that has a severely disabled daughter. She is currently 18 years old, has been in and out of the hospital those 18 years. How long can this family endure? I know another woman whose husband died several years ago. She has a daughter who is in her 40's with the mental capacity of a 3 year old. How does she endure? Or what about Joni Eareckson Tada who has been a quadriplegic for 50 years?

Then I was reading Psalm 13 where David asked 4 times in the first 2 verses: "How long?"

"How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?" But then David appeals to the Lord.

"Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death."

And he concludes with this declaration of his faith in God: "But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me."

What a perfect ending to our angst and questions...look to God, trust Him, focus on his goodness and love and the many blessings we enjoy.

In spite of the difficult journey I'm on, I feel incredibly blessed by God. His hand is on me and I experience moments of great joy and fulfillment. I also thank God that He has opened my eyes to be able to see and give thanks for those blessings.

Let me count the ways I saw God's blessings this week.

Earlier in the week, I received a text from Christy saying Claire wanted me to attend the spring concert she would be in on Friday evening. Grace and Aiden were also involved in a different choir for older kids, participating in the same program. I agreed that I would like to go. As I thought about it, I got brave and decided to stay with the family overnight instead of driving home late. I say that was brave of me because I knew I wouldn't get good sleep even though I would not be getting to bed as late as if I drove home to my own bed. It turned out as I expected. The concert was great - such a joy to watch my dear grandkids singing in a choir, participating in ministry to their parents and relatives. Of course, my grandchildren were the prettiest and best up there! When we made it back to their house, we got ready for bed. I was pretty tired, but as I had anticipated, I couldn't get to sleep. I lay there, tossing and turning, watching the minutes tick by. I finally drifted off, but then woke up at 4:40 A.M. (What's wrong with me!) But I think I'm finally learning not to fight it or be upset when I get only a few hours sleep. The amazing thing I've discovered is that I really don't feel that bad all day, even with only 4 hours of sleep. This is a blessing in itself: to be able to "rest" in lack of sleep, to not fret or be upset or greedy for more.

When I woke up so early, I lay there hoping that when I finally did get up, I would not disturb the rest of the family. I got my shower, did some reading and still no one else was up. I was beginning to think about leaving and going home, even though we had talked about me taking one or two kids back with me. I was packing up my things, when Claire arrived at my elbow. She was hoping to go with me, so I told her I was ready to go. She quickly ate something and off we went. 

She is a talker and we did not lack for interesting conversation all the way home. We stopped at Starbucks for a coffee for me and a cake pop for her to break up the long journey a little. When we got to the house, Claire and I played a couple of games before the rest of the family arrived.

This is another wonderful blessing. Christian, in the tree trimming business, also has developed a mulching side to his business. He brought his truck filled to the brim with free mulch, with a trailer, hauling a MultiOne to help with the work. 

All of the kids are good, hard workers which is so helpful with all my gardens. They mulched, raked, and did a lot of grunt work all morning. Claire took her job as water carrier seriously. Can you catch it if I throw it?

  

It was a beautiful spring day with lovely blue skies and flowers bursting out in full bloom. This magnolia tree makes me so happy every spring.

I fed the family their lunch and everyone was very hungry after all their hard work. I'm glad I had enough food. I was beginning to worry a little before everyone said they were full.

After lunch Christian cut down a tree for the neighbor who lives right next to me. It was a tree that kept dropping branches, including a branch that landed on his car a couple of weeks ago. I love to watch Christian do his work. He is so knowledgeable and skilled in his work.

 

I'm not the only one who likes to watch him work. He had quite the audience.

Another blessing is how God brings along the right person as a resource for my needs as they arise. In Andy's days of dealing with helping people, sometimes that involved finding a lawyer to help with their issues. He became acquainted with an elder law attorney that assisted several people in our congregation with their legal issues. As a result, she developed a great respect and liking for dealing with Andy. When Andy became ill, she redid our wills and I came to know her as well. I have hired her to help me get the paperwork together to make my application for Medicaid assistance. I met with her to submit more paperwork this week and for her to go over final details with me so that application can be filed soon.

And speaking of the right person at the right time...I've been thinking I might need to try to find another facility that's cheaper for Andy to be moved to. But that task seems daunting to me. How do I figure out the best place? He needs a certain level of care...it can't be just any nursing home. He needs help in all his daily living tasks. But then a person stopped at the office one day this past week as I was getting ready to leave work. We got to talking and she told me she works in nursing homes and has experience with them and can give me a list of possibilities for me to check out. She encouraged me to make appointments for a tour in each of them to get a more realistic feel for what they are like, which you can't necessarily get by just a phone call or even a check online.

Last night after all that hard work outside, I was sitting in my chair, when my phone dinged. I got a text from a friend asking if I wanted to walk early this morning. Wow! God was thinking of me, to put the idea in my friend's head to want to spend a little time with me. I love this woman, have known her for twenty years, and any time we can be together is a treat. So off we went this morning. The weather was foggy and misty and we came back pretty damp, but our conversation was encouraging to both of us.

As I visit Andy each day, I've been wondering how much he really remembers or knows. So one evening I experimented by asking him a couple of questions. I asked him who he was. He didn't answer. Then I asked him what his name was. He tried, but still didn't answer. Then I asked him if he knew who I was. He mumbled something unintelligible and seemed a bit frustrated. So I asked him if those questions were too hard. And he answered with a clear, "Yes." Now this is the amazing thing: a little later as I was preparing to leave, he looked straight at me and said very clearly: "You're beautiful." What makes some things so impossible to penetrate to his understanding, but other things as clear as day? This, too, was a gift from God. My heart was happy and I still, several days later, gain pleasure from remembering that moment.

These examples are clear indications that God is present with me, ministering to and encouraging me. He truly is a good God, personally involved in the details of our lives. I am spiritually strengthened by contemplating the sovereignty of God. 

 

Psalm 71:5

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
 

Psalm 73:28

But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell of all your deeds.

Psalm 109:21

But you, Sovereign Lord, help me for your name’s sake; out of the goodness of your love, deliver me.
 

Psalm 140:7

Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, you shield my head in the day of battle.
 

Psalm 141:8

But my eyes are fixed on you, Sovereign Lord; in you I take refuge—do not give me over to death.
 

Isaiah 25:8

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
 

Jeremiah 32:17

“Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.


Nothing is too hard for our Sovereign Lord.  

Spring is making the attempt. It's still chilly, but the flowers are starting to bloom and the trees are budding.
 

My yard work was hanging over my head. There was so much to do and I finally had some time and energy to get out there. I spent all Saturday morning raking little sticks and branches into piles, then bagging them and getting them to the street. It felt good to be out there working, but I have to admit, I'm pretty sore and tired today. There is still more to do, but I'm happy to be well on my way.
 

I didn't have a lot of appointments this week, but I did some babysitting on Friday evening so Dawn could get a little time out. Earlier in the week, I drove Tommy to the Atlantic City airport for his flight to Nicaragua and a week of surfing.

This coming week I have an appointment with my attorney to work on the Medicaid application for Andy. I'm a little nervous about that, but am excited at the same time. Hopefully, I will get some closure on that process and be able to submit the application soon.

Visits with Andy remain difficult. I never know what to expect. One night he can lie down on the bed when I take him to his room, then peacefully fall asleep. The next night, he will be restless, pacing around the room, and even leaving while I'm still there. A couple of times this week, I read the story of David and Goliath to him. Yesterday, when I finished the chapter, he commented, "That is a really good story." Sometimes I understand what he is saying, but most of the time, I don't. And he "talks" constantly. I've learned to either make agreeable noises (uh-huh, oh really? oh, that's good, etc.) or to tell him it's all taken care of and he doesn't need to worry about it.

I'm reading through Be Still, My Soul again. The book is a compilation of different authors' articles on suffering. The sub-title of of the book is: "Embracing God's Purpose and Provision in Suffering." When you're in the middle of suffering, it's so helpful and comforting to be reminded that God does have a purpose in what we're going through. Chapter 17 is written by Donald A. Carson, who is a Research Professor of New Testament at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He wrote about dying well. He says "we are all under sentence of death; we are all terminal cases." It's hard for us in America to think like this because so many of us live the "good life." We can pretty much buy whatever we want and if we get sick, there are so many medications for doctors to prescribe. But really, we're not living in the real world if we don't face our mortality. Dr. Carson asks: "Is not some of the pain and sorrow in this life used in God's providential hand to make us homesick for heaven?" I know that has helped direct my thoughts a lot toward heaven. Are you kidding? Who wouldn't be eager to live a life of "no more sickness, no more tears, no more death"?

Revelation 21:4 ~ "He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

Dr. Carson makes the point that the "time of death becomes far less daunting a factor when seen in the light of eternity. Although death remains a formidable opponent, it is, from another perspective, the portal through which we pass to consummated life. We pass through death, and death dies."

I don't know that I ever thought of death in that way, but it is so true. Death will die. It will never happen again when we are in heaven. Everyone dies...but only once. Jesus conquered death by his resurrection, and so we too will have victory over death.  We will pass from death to life. 

2 Corinthians 5:4 ~ ..."what is mortal will be swallowed up in life." I love that picture! Life is more powerful than death, like light is more powerful than darkness. Even a small candle can pierce the darkness.

Isaiah 25:8 ~ "He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces..."

1 Corinthians 15:54-56 ~ "When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immorality, then the saying that is written will come true: 'Death has been swallowed up in victory.' 'Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?' The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

This is our hope. Some day all this suffering and heartache will be over and we'll be forever with our Lord and Savior.

1 Thessalonians 4:17b-18 ~ "And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

"Jesus Christ was not spared by his Father. Whenever Paul was tempted to think, 'God might have spared me that,' this truth was what came to his mind: God had not spared Jesus! God did not single out Jesus to give him special protection from the harsh experiences of life. Indeed, 'God did not spare him' might be putting things as mildly as possible. For from the cradle to the grave, Jesus was certainly not spared!

Think of his early life: born in a stable, miles away from home; carried by his parents to Egypt for a couple of years; brought up in Nazareth, where perhaps his earthly father, Joseph, died while Jesus was in his teens or twenties. Then he knew hunger and poverty during his ministry; as well as the sorrows of bereavement; suffered the abuse of others; was eventually betrayed by one of his own disciples and then hours before his death, denied by one of his closest friends. He was beaten, spat upon, and ultimately exposed to public shame and crucified. Jesus was not spared at any time during his life. 

But Paul saw something more than human sufferings in this drama of the Messiah's life. He felt there was something almost unnatural about it, which haunted him until it eventually became the source of great comfort and joy. He was familiar with God's revelation of himself as the Father of his people: 'I will spare them' God had said through Malachi, 'just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him' (Malachi 3:17). Jesus had served his Father, as a son should serve a father. But contrary to all that is natural, his Father did not spare him.

Yet Jesus deserved to be spared. He did not deserve to experience the cruelty and malice of men in this world. He did not deserve to be poor, or hungry, or to feel his heart breaking as he stood before the effects of sin in man's life. If only we could see ourselves in the light of God's holiness, we would never defiantly ask, 'What did I do to deserve this?' We would know that before God's righteous judgment we deserve nothing good. But Jesus could quite righteously have asked, 'What did I do to deserve this?' In a sense that was the meaning of his cry of dereliction on the cross: 'My God, why have you forsaken me?'  Why had he not been spared? In the horror of his loss of his sense of communion with God, nothing seemed to make sense. There, on the cross, it must have seemed as though right had become wrong; good, evil; God's righteousness, the terrible judgment and condemnation of an innocent man.

Yes, Jesus deserved to be spared. Think of what he had accomplished in his short ministry. He had preached about a Father he knew and loved, and who knew and loved him. He had introduced a whole generation of men and women to this Father in heaven. He had healed the sick, given sight to the blind, even on occasion brought men back to life. His words were glorious, his life impeccable, his whole being perfect before both men and God. Everything about him seemed to point to the conclusion: here is One who deserves to be spared.

But Paul tells us Jesus was not spared. And in saying that, he is simply summarizing the teaching of the gospels. Yet almost certainly Paul knew something more than just the fact that Jesus was not spared...Paul knew Jesus had prayed that, if it were possible, he might be spared. In the Garden of Gethsemane, on the night before he was crucified, Jesus had cried to God, apparently in terrible agony, 'Father, if it is possible, let this cup [the sufferings of the cross] pass from me. On the cross he later cried, 'My God...' but in the garden, his appeal was that of a son to a father. What father could possibly fail to grant his child's cry? But Jesus was not spared."

From chapter 6, "The Savior", in A Heart for God by Sinclair B. Ferguson

I was grateful for God to lead me to this reading this week before Easter. As many times as we have heard the gospel story, I want it to be fresh and meaningful every time I read it and contemplate it. What a sacrifice from both God the Father and God the Son to devise this plan, then carry it out. When thinking of the relationship the Father and Son enjoyed, how painful and heart breaking it was for the entire Godhead to endure. But it was done so that I might be brought into the family of God and enjoy eternity with God and his people forever.

Hallelujah! What a Savior!

It somehow makes my own heartache a little less significant. If God the Father loves me as much as He loves His Son, and He does, then can't I trust Him to make all things right? That is a rhetorical question with an assumed positive answer.

John 17:23 ~ "I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Romans 8:32 ~ "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave him up for us all -- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

I didn't have any appointments or obligations on Tuesday so I went and picked up Kasey for another "girl" day. She brought a bag full of horses and was happy to set them up. It's something she likes to do, but she plays with boys all day who get great pleasure in coming along and knocking all those horses over.

We also played Candy Land with 4 year old "rules" or lack, thereof!

We checked out the pond - and there happens to be water in it right now, thanks to all the snow we recently received.

Several things I had been waiting for have finally happened. What a relief to at long last have some closure and check them off my list. 

On Friday, I went and got Grace and brought her back to stay with me overnight and all day Saturday. Her birthday is early March but because of school work and other commitments, this is the first time that worked out for her to be free. 

On Saturday morning, we went over to see Andy. Some of the residents of the facility were out in the lobby waiting to participate in an activity. But when the activities director saw Grace with her violin, she said they didn't need to do the activity, they would listen to Grace's playing. Of course, when they heard her, they just wanted her to keep playing. She played a number of songs, then we took Andy back to his room.

While we were in there, the activities director came looking for us and asked us to please play some more for the residents. So we stayed a while longer while Grace played everything all over again. Well, since it's a memory loss facility, it didn't matter how many times she played a number. They were happy to sit and listen. 

After spending some time there, we went shopping together for her birthday outfit. It was such a nice day, so we had to get in some hiking, too. We went over to The Black Run Preserve and hiked about 3 miles. It was a gorgeous day - perfect for being outside in God's beautiful creation.

 We got back to the house in time to prepare for the rest of the family to join us for dinner. Amy and Ricky, Dawn and Tommy, Christy and Christian and all the kids. It can get pretty wild and crazy but I love it.

We ate together, then had an egg hunt for the kids. 

Spring is such a beautiful visual reminder of the dead coming back to life. It helps lift the spirits and puts a "spring" in our step again.



Matthew 28:5-6 ~ "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as He said."

Mark 16:6 ~ "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here."

Luke 24:5-6 ~ "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen!"
 

  
Because God did not spare His own Son, the resurrection could take place. And because of the resurrection, sin and death are defeated, and we will also live again after we die. 

He is risen! He is risen indeed!