Joy in the Journey

Every once in a while, God gives us the opportunity to redo something that was done poorly in the past. Most of the time, we think of it as a mountain...something negative that we have to get around, over, or through. But today, I have an excitement...and unspeakable joy about something good that we are able to redo from the past. I can't really give too many details, mainly because I don't have them all at this point, but suffice it to say, God, in His awesome way, is allowing us to right a wrong that was made many years ago, and we are so excited about it! It's not every day that we are allowed to retrace steps of the past, and then, from the vantage point of a traveller who has a little more experience and understanding under the belt, make adjustments to a path that once led to heartache, and redirect it to a divine destination. Yesterday, in our Bible class, Josh, Jonathan and I read the story of Joseph, one of my favorites. As I was teaching the boys about how God is always with us, even in the midst of circumstances that seem so bleak, God deposited that truth into my own heart once again. The beauty of how Joseph walked upright, even in the midst of adversity, with integrity of heart before the Lord. How his character never waivered, even when no one was looking. And the fact that what his brothers meant for harm, God fashioned for good, in a way that only He is able. Yes, he was betrayed by the brothers that he loved, yes, he was falsely accused, yes, he had to spend some time in a foreign land, and yes, he had to wait in prison more than two years...but I have no doubt in my mind that after everything was said and done, Joseph didn't regret a single moment of his journey. I so relate to Joseph at this time of my life, and I am so looking forward to the thrill of living out the truth of what the enemy meant for harm, the Lord meant for good! I think I can almost hear Joseph cheering us on...

~~Joy in the Journey, song by Michael Card~~

"There is a joy in the journey,there's a light we can love on the way. There is a wonder and wildness to life, and freedom for those who obey. All those who seek it shall find it, a pardon for all who believe. Hope for the hopeless and sight for the blind. To all who've been born of the Spirit, and who share incarnation with him; who belong to eternity, stranded in time, and weary of struggling with sin. Forget not the hope that's before you, and never stop counting the cost. Remember the hopelessness when you were lost?"

T'was the night before Friday, and all through the house, not a creature was sleeping!!!

That's right! It's 10:30 pm....and everyone is awake! Yes, even Jonathan, my sweet three year old, is playing like it's the middle of the day. Luis is watching TV with Josh (some "Nick" sitcom) and I am listening to them laugh out loud. Usually, by this time, I am the only night owl at her "perch" (the computer)...but not tonight! Jonathan just walked by, and went to pull out his toy train box...then Josh came in and hopped on his bed...I was sure he was going to call it a night...but he grabbed a pillow and headed back to the couch with his Dad. This night is definitely gotten off track...time to round up the troops...and time for Mom to get off the computer!! Goodnight to all my family and friends...love to you all!

Josh and Jonathan wanted to be buried in the leaves...all but their faces! (Look at the size of the leaf on Josh's chest!! I have never seen one that big!) After, the boys started collecting pinecones...and we made a Fall garland from gum tree seed pods and leaves...then we decorated our front porch and made it into a Fall wonderland!

Josh, after I gave him a trim...my little boy is growing up!!

Little things..

The boys and I drove to Walterboro on Friday after school, and I couldn't help but notice how beautiful the leaves were! I don't remember the trees ever looking this pretty down here in South Carolina. As we drove home from all of our shopping excursions, the boys were sleeping in the back, and I was just taking in all the colors of fall. I was reminded just how very much God is in control of every little detail...and that He is concerned with the things that concern His children. If he takes the time to paint a pallet of beautiful colors on each tree, how much more so is he interested in our lives, and the things that effect us.


"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34