Our holidays have been very blessed this year. For two weeks, our new home has been filled with friends and family whom we love dearly. We are utterly and completely grateful for this very, very precious time with them. We wouldn't change a thing!!! Life is wonderful in many, many ways!
Eventually, all of us learn that life is never going to be "perfect." Even when we are celebrating the most wonderful times, (those things we've built up in our imaginations to be nearly fairy tale-like) there is also something going on that isn't so good. We have tried to trust the not-so-good things to Him who knows all, so that AT THE SAME TIME, we can fully enjoy and celebrate the wonderful times. We've haven't totally accomplished this, but we're working at it!
The specific things we are trusting to Him right now are:
We are slowly losing my dad to Alzheimer's. He is in mid 1st stage and still very aware of what is happening to him. No one dwells on it, but anyone who loves my Dad and has been around him the last few months to a year, is particularly aware of his terrifying struggle.
During some very special, significant family celebrations this year, we have missed several loved ones whom we care for very deeply. We pray that the Lord will intervene on several levels and change this situation. Irby and I are so thankful that after 33 years together, we can tell when the other one is about to crater in sadness, and we try to step in to encourage or talk it over.
Two songs by Stephen Curtis Chapman have brought comfort (and tears of relief!) in recent weeks. Both are listed on the player at the bottom of this page if you'd like to hear them:
MY REDEEMER IS FAITHFUL
As I look back on the road I’ve traveled
I see so many times He carried me through
And if there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life
My Redeemer is faithful and true
My Redeemer is faithful and true
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is faithful and true
My heart rejoices when I read the promise
There is a place I am preparing for you
I know someday I’ll see my Lord face to face
'Cause my Redeemer is faithful and true
My Redeemer is faithful and true
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is faithful and true
And in every situation He has proved His love to me
When I lack the understanding,
He gives more grace to me
My Redeemer is faithful and true
Everything He has said He will do
And every morning His mercies are new
My Redeemer is faithful and true
My Redeemer is faithful and true
WE WILL DANCE
I've watched the sunrise in your eyes
And I've seen the tears fall like the rain
You've seen me fight so brave and strong
You've held my hand when I'm afraid
We've watched the seasons come and go
We'll see them come and go again
But in winter's chill, or summer's breeze
One thing will not be changin'
'We will dance when the sun is shining in the pouring rain
We'll spin and we'll sway and we will dance
When the gentle breeze becomes a hurricane
The music will play and I'll take your hand and hold you close to me
And we will dance
Sometimes it's hard to hold you tight
Sometimes we feel so far apart,
Sometimes we dance as one
And feel the beating of each others hearts
Some days the dance is slow and sweet
Some days we're bouncing off the walls
No matter how this world may turn
Our love will keep us from fallin'
And we will dance when the sun is shining in the pouring rain
We'll spin and we'll sway and we will dance
When the gentle breeze becomes a hurricane
The music will play and I'll take your hand and hold you close to me
And we will dance
The music will play and I'll hold you close
and I won't let you go
Even when our steps grow weak and slow
Still I'll take your hand and hold you close to me
And we will dance
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