Tikvah

When my daughter moved from VA Beach to Jersey, oh wait, maybe it was from her from her rental to her next location, or her next location to her home now...regardless, it was in one of her many moves ( with babies in tow) that happened in a year and a half, she had this book in a give away box.

I saw it and grabbed it.

I don't know why.

Being the minimalist that she is, she gave me a mini lecture as I was taking it, making sure I would really read it and not take it just because and now it will be in my home creating clutter.  ( she is her father's child to the core)

Well, I did want to read it.  I don't know why.  This guy never appealed to me, and I was not 'into' his music and really, I have about 8 books I have to read ( in my nook, no clutter), but for some reason, I took it anyway.

Despite her look, lecture and as well as my husband's right behind her, I bought it home.  It has been 'creating clutter' for more than a few months.

Well, last week, my nook spazzed out and I haven't had time to go to B&N to get it fixed.

So the old concept of reading a paper book came back into my life.

This book was front and center.  I still ignored it.  For a few days.

But then I grabbed it and walked around with it and put it down where I was and grabbed it again, but didn't really open it to read it until bed time.

Just didn't want to or thought it would be boring-ish, and like I said, I never really had an interested to begin with.

Now I chalk it up to...' Its a GOD thing'.

I have wept several times while reading this book.

And it has bought me back to the Throne.

HE is so good to me.  I hadn't realized how laxed I had become in my faith.  I hadn't realized I was wading the ocean flat on my back instead of working the waves.

The funny part is, I like this guy more and more with each page.  I did not expect that.  I was just interested to see ...what happened.  More of a gossipy heart than a searching heart.

He is so not my kind of 'hero', and oh how he would hate to be thought of that way.  Just read the book.  But now, I so wish I was more like him.  I am not finished, and I a reading it WAY more slowly, to savor the words as well as the faith.  Last night, I read some excerpts to Samuel out loud.  It humbled him, too.  He didn't want to hear it, but he was glad he did.

Anyway, I think this book it a keeper.  For me.

On another note.

I miss my mom.  She is  at the motherland visiting.  She visits for weeks on end.  The girls miss her, too.  When we go to the house to check up on it, they mope around and ask how much longer.  Samuel has a count down calendar, and he is 15.  He already has expressed she has to come over for dinner the day after she gets home. She is a good grandmother.  And she feeds them.  :)

Less than 3 months until Precious Grandson #3 is born, but he will be #1 from our firstborn. Have I mentioned being a grandmother is such a blessing?? There really is nothing like being a mom.  Except being a grandmom.  I love both roles and am thankful for the privilege.  Even being a mother in law is a delight.  I love my children in law dearly.  They are more than I could have hoped for for my children.  I had nothing to do with the pickin' and choosin' but I did have something to do with the raisin', so they would make good choices, and trusted that.  They did good.  <3  ( I know, I know, it should be 'they did well ', and the grammar lady in my is wanting to change it, but let's move on.)


HE is good.  ALL THE TIME.

Remember to always seek HIS face.

This Good Day, It Is A Gift From YOU.

Life is so very devastatingly hard.  

But GOD is so amazingly good.

And our hardships are often caused by our sin.  Or at the very least, sin in this world.  

But usually it's us.

And thankfully, HE is merciful anyway.

Well, it's February, which means it is about that time of the year that we put down the deposit on the summer house.

Specially since we are not going to Martha's Vineyard.  That would have required we do that at the beginning of January.

I miss going there.  I don't miss the whole ferry fiasco of getting there, but very much enjoy the island itself. I can't wait for Obama to get out of the White House so we can start going back!!  I was so sick and tired of being there the same week he was there.  :P ::: gag:::  No matter what week we would choose, whether it was the last week in July, the first week in August, the second week in August, there he was.

We vowed not to go back until he is gone.

I even know what house we will rent when we DO get to go back!  We rented it before and it was my favorite.

I can't wait.

Anyway...

Boo had her birthday. 

She is 7.

SEVEN!!!  

She is the age I was when I first came to America!  I was telling the girls about my journey here.  It fascinated their little minds, as much as they could comprehend, anyway.

Just family was here.

It was decided we would alternate birthday parties.  One year, one would get a friends birthday party and the other a family, and we alternate the next year.

Well, Boo had fun anyway, because family is awesome. 

In spite of our shortcomings.

The girls sure do love their daddy.

Rightfully so.

Every girls should have a daddy like him.

And PLEASE, let's add to our Frozen collection.  lol.

They seem to not mind.  AT ALL.

Speaking of Frozen.

Have I mentioned how much I hate winter?  Maybe hate is the wrong word.

Detest.

This is my grill on the first snowfall. ( Actually it was not the first, it was the first I took a picture of after the last one had melted) Which was followed 4 days later by another 7 or 8 inches.  Which was followed 2 days later by an ice storm.

It is cold.

We had a nice day in between.  It went up to 40 degrees!!!

It was so warm, when I went out to TSC to get the chicken feed, I didn't even wear a jacket!  And seeing everyone out and about, they, too either had sweatshirts, sweaters or even long sleeve shirts, WITHOUT A JACKET!!!

Woo-Hoo!! 

We felt like we were in Florida!!

It lasted one day.

Whatever.

When John walks out the door every morning, he has multiple layers on.  He actually looks normal.  He always looks like he needs to eat a sandwich, gain 10 or 15 pounds to look right.  Alas, he can't seem to.  What a problem to have.  :P

Anyway, I am back to reading Oswald Chambers.

Thankfully.

And the message he has for the day it painfully appropriate.

GOD is good.

ALL THE TIME.

Sometimes, I can't help but feel defeated.

I know one should not be ruled by feelings.  Rightfully so.

But sometimes the rejection is so painful...

Clinging to the Cross.

Because that's all I have.

And it will be enough.

In the midst of the pain and acceptance.  In the midst of the rejection and panic.

It will be enough.