Thankful

First of all, thank you from the bottom of my heart to all
that prayed for my father in law. He came home a few
days after surgery and is doing o.k. He is quite bummed
that the surgery did not work and that he will have to
have another. This hospital stay seems to have taken a
toll on him also. He is not springing back as quickly as he
would have liked. He had trouble talking and expressing
himself after surgery. All testing came out fine so he just
has to have therapy to help out. I have been taking care
of his household quite a bit since he came home. A few
months ago I prayed for God to show me how I can be
more Christlike in my every day. I see this care taking
as an opportunity to serve the way Jesus served. I just
wish my human side didn't feel the exhaustion and at
times I have found myself grumbling.
How humbling that has been.

Another sobering reality of the last few weeks is the
frailty of life. My grandfather has been very ill. He has
come from many states away to live in my parents
house. Hopefully soon his biopsies will come in. I'm
anxious to know what is causing this wonderful man
to be so sick. His wife, my grandmother, is the
sweet lady that passed away in November. I am deeply
sad for him losing his wife and facing this right now.
However, I got to spend the day with him today and
listen to his heart. He told me that he was never scared
during his hospital stays. He has great comfort in
knowing where he is going after he leaves this earth.
He has such enormous faith. I will treasure the
talks we had today forever.

Tonight I was reading to my children. They each have their
own bedtime devotion books that my mom gave them for
Easter. Each book fits each child so well. It has been such
an incredible blessing to read these to them. After reading
their devotions they can read in their bed on their own.
Mara picked up a chapter book that Autumn just read. It's
a little above her reading level but it has a picture of a
horse on the front and I assumed that was the reason
she wanted to read it. (She loves all things with horses)
I opened the front cover and found this letter written to
her. Click on into enlarge it. It is incredibly sweet.


My garden has been planted, my children are all
well, my hubby is truly my bestest friend, and
summer is almost here. I am thankful.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
I have drawn you with loving-kindness."
Jeremiah 31:3