Sunday, June 9, 2013

A Time for Everything

It has been quite the week. Caleb's parents came here to visit last weekend, my Uncle Harold died on Monday morning, Ben and Missy came to visit this weekend, Kaeli was dedicated at church this morning, and Caleb's grandma died last night. All together, it has been exhausting! At the same time, I've learned so much, been able to love and feel loved. God is so good and I have a lot to be thankful for.

First, for my family and Caleb's parents. It is awesome to have in-laws come for several days and I look forward to it! I know a lot of people don't feel that way, but I know that we will always have a lot of fun, and I also love seeing them enjoy Kaeli.

Second, I am thankful for my mom's family and that Uncle Harold is with Jesus having a blast in Heaven. I'm glad I got to spend some time with my mom and help her during a difficult time...losing her youngest brother. And that Caleb and I had the opportunity to play together at the funeral and that God brought some healing through music. I also loved playing along while cousin Trina sang "In Christ Alone." I can't describe how encouraging and spiritually challenging it was also hearing my 3 uncles share at the funeral. Sure felt like one of the most Spirit-led occasions I've been at in a long time and it is awesome to see what all God is doing in that family! Each shared fun memories along with describing what a great brother and follower of Jesus my uncle was. I wasn't ever super close to him, but have been really encouraged especially in the last couple years by his devotion and hunger for God, despite all he's been through with cancer and illness. I was encouraged by all of them to live a life thirsting after Jesus, and to spend more time in prayer. It was really hard seeing my cousins lose their father when he was just 70, and especially for his grandchildren who don't completely understand. It is just awesome to see a family where each generation is choosing to seek after God, and where I am seeing how the prayers of my grandparents and others who were gone are being answered. I want to be like them.

I am thankful that my sister got to come and be around for everything and also that she got to help spend time with Kaeli and be an encouragement to my mom. It was so fun having extra time with her even just for a bit.

It has been fun having Ben and Missy around and also getting to hang out with Jake and Laci...biking, and disc golfing! It was a good, fun break from all the emotional stuff of the week. :)

Finding out this morning that Caleb's grandma passed away was just one more thing to add to the mix of everything. I don't know what all to think, but I do wish we would've gotten to visit her more recently before she died.

It was exciting getting to dedicate Kaeli publicly in church this morning. We were given a children's bible for her. I know it will be a challenge bringing her up to love God and follow Him but I'm excited. Before she was even born, I prayed and felt like it is an awesome thing to bring kids into this crazy world, to be messengers of love and joy for Christ. That is still my prayer, that she and any other kids we have will bring joy, because of a love for God. One of the reasons we picked and liked her name, because it can mean "rejoice" and "shelter in the storm."

Psalm 8:2 has been an awesome verse I've read recently:

"From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger."

That is all for now. In conclusion, I am thankful for friends and family to love and enjoy life with and go through painful times together.

No comments:

Post a Comment