HE MAKETH NO MISTAKES: 1972

In my college years I was so encouraged by these poems that I hand copied it into my journal during the  hardest times of my life.

He Maketh No Mistake 
  (March 8,1972 entry)

My Father’s way may twist and turn,
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But I’ll trust my Lord to lead
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark, and it may seem
That day will never break,
I’ll pin my faith, my all in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim;
But come what may, I’ll simply trust
And leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me
He made not one mistake.

by A.M. Overton

Psalm 27:14  

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD."

THY WEAKNESS--HIS STRENGTH
 (Feb.17, 1972 entry)

 His grace is sufficient, whatever the pathway,
His strength in thy weakness shall perfected be;
So great is His love it never can weary
Of meeting thy need and caring for thee.

His grace is sufficient, thou ne’er canst exhaust it,
Be strong in that grace which floweth to thee,
Draw largely, continually, out from His fullness,
He still is sufficient, He careth for thee.

Thou’rt nothing but weakness, His arms are around thee,
Not a thing canst thou do, but simply lie still,
And learn in the pathway of simple dependence,
A song of thanksgiving, since this is God’s will.
Then cling in thy weakness for He is beside thee,
Upholding, supporting, sustaining thee still;
And know that the Father is only just working
To mold thee and fashion thee unto His will.

Thy weakness He’ll use to display His own glory,
Resurrection strength then shall perfected be,
And thus thou shalt prove through the wilderness journey,
His grace shall be always sufficient of for thee.

And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance.  Rom.5:3

I Believe...  Annie Johnson Flint

 (Jan.25,1972 entry during a time I was doubting salvation and trust in God.)

 I BELIEVE!   I BELIEVE!

God will never fail me, never leave,

I BELIEVE He holds me, and I know

His strong hand will never let me go.

Seeing, hearing, feeling what are these?

Given or withheld as He shall please.

I BELIEVE in Him and what He saith.

I have faith in Him, NOT in my faith

That may fail, today, or tomorrow.

Trust may weaken, feeling pass away,

Thoughts grow weary, anxious or depressed,

I BELIEVE in God and HERE I REST.

Ephesians 3:16 "That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen."

The Answered Prayer (Entry Jan. 29,1972)

by Annie Johnson Flint

I prayed for strength, and then I lost awhile
All sense of nearness, human and divine;
The love I leaned on, failed and pierced my heart,
The hands I clung to loosed themselves from mine;
And while I swayed, weak, trembling and alone,
The everlasting arms upheld my own.

I prayed for light; the sun went down in clouds,
The moon was darkened by my misty doubt,
The stars of heaven were dimmed by
And all my little candle flame burned out; earthly fears
But while I sat in shadow, wrapped in night
The face of Christ made all the darkness bright.

I prayed for peace, and dreamed of restful ease,
A slumber drugged from pain, a hushed repose;
Above my head the skies were black with storm,
And fiercer grew the onslaught of my foes;
But while the battle raged, and wild winds blew
I heard His voice, and perfect peace I knew.

I thank Thee, Lord, Thou art too kind to heed
My feeble prayers, and answer as I sought,
Since these rich gifts Thy bounty has bestowed
Have brought me more than I have asked or thought.
Giver of good, so answer each request
With Thine own giving, better than my best.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In 1932, My grandfather, A.M. Overton, was a pastor of a church in Mississippi with a wife and three small children. His wife was pregnant with their fourth child but when it came time for delivery, there were complications and both she and the baby died. During the funeral service, the preacher officiating the service noticed my grandfather writing something on a piece of paper. After the service the minister asked him about it, and he handed him the paper with a poem he had just written which he titled, “He Maketh No Mistake”.

"He Maketh No Mistake"

My Father’s way may twist and turn
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I’ll pin my faith, my all, in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may,
I’ll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
 

- A.M. Overton, 1932

- See more at: http://www.churchlead.com/mind_wanderings/view/1630/he_maketh_no_mistake#sthash.lnImSP97.dpuf

In 1932, My grandfather, A.M. Overton, was a pastor of a church in Mississippi with a wife and three small children. His wife was pregnant with their fourth child but when it came time for delivery, there were complications and both she and the baby died. During the funeral service, the preacher officiating the service noticed my grandfather writing something on a piece of paper. After the service the minister asked him about it, and he handed him the paper with a poem he had just written which he titled, “He Maketh No Mistake”.

"He Maketh No Mistake"

My Father’s way may twist and turn
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I’ll pin my faith, my all, in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may,
I’ll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
 

- A.M. Overton, 1932

- See more at: http://www.churchlead.com/mind_wanderings/view/1630/he_maketh_no_mistake#sthash.lnImSP97.dpuf

In 1932, My grandfather, A.M. Overton, was a pastor of a church in Mississippi with a wife and three small children. His wife was pregnant with their fourth child but when it came time for delivery, there were complications and both she and the baby died. During the funeral service, the preacher officiating the service noticed my grandfather writing something on a piece of paper. After the service the minister asked him about it, and he handed him the paper with a poem he had just written which he titled, “He Maketh No Mistake”.

"He Maketh No Mistake"

My Father’s way may twist and turn
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I’ll pin my faith, my all, in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may,
I’ll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
 

- A.M. Overton, 1932

---

- See more at: http://www.churchlead.com/mind_wanderings/view/1630/he_maketh_no_mistake#sthash.YHuG1zxy.dpuf

In 1932, My grandfather, A.M. Overton, was a pastor of a church in Mississippi with a wife and three small children. His wife was pregnant with their fourth child but when it came time for delivery, there were complications and both she and the baby died. During the funeral service, the preacher officiating the service noticed my grandfather writing something on a piece of paper. After the service the minister asked him about it, and he handed him the paper with a poem he had just written which he titled, “He Maketh No Mistake”.

"He Maketh No Mistake"

My Father’s way may twist and turn
My heart may throb and ache,
But in my soul I’m glad to know,
He maketh no mistake.

My cherished plans may go astray,
My hopes may fade away,
But still I’ll trust my Lord to lead,
For He doth know the way.

Tho’ night be dark and it may seem
That day will never break,
I’ll pin my faith, my all, in Him,
He maketh no mistake.

There’s so much now I cannot see,
My eyesight’s far too dim,
But come what may,
I’ll simply trust and leave it all to Him.

For by and by the mist will lift,
And plain it all He’ll make,
Through all the way, tho’ dark to me,
He made not one mistake.
 

- A.M. Overton, 1932

---

- See more at: http://www.churchlead.com/mind_wanderings/view/1630/he_maketh_no_mistake#sthash.YHuG1zxy.dpuf

A LETTER TO MY TWENTY-TWO-YEAR-OLD SELF

Dear Younger Self;
Was my twenty-two-year-old self me, or not me?
What would I tell myself?
I would have loved to tell  that it was a defining time and I did not have the wisdom that I have gleaned from a lifetime of experiences but that is OK.

After that year of heartbreak that was endured, it's going to get better.  Don't get me wrong there will be more heart break in the future, but also joy. Some truths take a lifetime to live into.
After picking up the splintered fragments of life know that trusting God in senseless circumstances will lead to greater moments with Him.
Be content with accepting God's plan. Some plans will be different than envisioned.
Dwell on what is known to be true rather than fixated on the circumstances at hand.
Plans are easily crumbled before your eyes.
It's OK to be ripped out of your dreams.
Viewing life as spinning out of control is difficult to fathom so remember God's absolute control.

     
Know this that God is constantly revealing His love and care.  It is OK to not fully understand the purposes of our circumstances.
It is OK to wonder if God was who he said He was.  That wonder will lead to searching the Scriptures.
One day far into the future you will be grateful for those trials.
Remember not to trust in circumstances that constantly change. Exchange it for trusting an unchanging God.
If expectations do not coincide with reality don't hang onto them. The terrible prospect of staying single will loom on the horizon as classmates prepare for future engagements and weddings as graduation nears.

However, the prospect of a deeper relationship with God is a more attainable goal.  The values of knowing Christ are enriching.  Set out to discover those values, as hidden treasures.  They may be your only options at times.
Choose those things that are important to God over the things of the world.  No matter what you lose, you cannot lose your joy and treasure you have in Christ and the Scriptures.

There are no short cuts through life if we gain through adversity.  Resolve to remain on course and forge on.
Cravings for earthly relationships is very real and it is OK to feel loneliness.  Loneliness cultivates the perfect environment for teachable moments, however, it can also contribute to depression. Balance your feelings, don't act on them.  You cannot trust them.  They are constantly changing.
God will continue to show you what is meant by having a relationship with Him instead of the one you crave.
The love for the Lord will become less distant and become more personal. 
Yours Truly,
Your Sixty-Six-year-old-self. 

  "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee." Job 42:5
(The difference between hearing about and seeing)
Phil.3:7-ll
⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Psalm 42:8  By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.

http://cultivatingjoy-cultivatingjoy.blogspot.com/2015/12why-Another-pep-talk-to-myself-feb-1972  CLICK HERE

GALLAVANTING THOUGHTS: Feb. 1972

My thoughts continued, gallivanting as I

continued along this painful journey.  I recoiled at how much time I spent in letting those thoughts ramble.
I had these idealistic notions and misguided thoughts sending glimmers of hope about my relational status.  Frequent encounters played with emotions and strongly affected feelings, leaving tear stained pages in my journal.
To say that understanding those present struggles would be an understatement.
I embraced my life-shaking circumstances, clinging to God's promises.
 I continued to take solace and direction from the Scriptures.

 I felt, many times in that year, like I was forging a path through uncharted waters.
 My parents set out on their journey with faith and optimism. They saw potential in disconcerting environments. I knew I would need some of those same qualities as life was hurdling me toward the future.
My mind wanted the tangible proof that I was loved and cared for.  The feelings were intense.
My life had already been committed to the Lord but was I willing to relinquish my right to marriage?
I fought the urge to dream on and indulge in self-pity, reluctantly relinquishing my rights.
                      (Scripture verses found in my daily readings that I found comfort in.)

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you." -- Isaiah 26:3

"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” -- John 16:33

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." -- Matthew 11:28

"But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” -- Matthew 19:26

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." -- Proverbs 3:5-6

"For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison." -- 2 Corinthians 4:17

Copied into my journal, entry Jan.25,1972 , I took notice of one of my favorite poets, Annie Johnson Flint:

“I believe God”

I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me (Acts 27:35)

“I believe” – but, do I? Am I sure

Can I trust my trusting to endure?

Can I hope that my belief will last?

Will my hand forever hold Him fast?

Am I certain I am saved from sin?

Do I feel His presence here within?

Do I hear Him tell me that He cares?

Do I see the answers to my prayers?

Do no fears my confidence assail?

Do I know my faith will never fail?

“I believe” – ay, I do, I believe

He will  never fail me, never leave

I believe He holds me, and I know

His strong hand will never let me go;

Seeing, hearing, feeling – what are these?

Given or withheld as He shall please.

I believe in Him and what He saith;

I have faith in Him, not in my faith

That may fail, tomorrow or today;

Trust may weaken, feeling pass away,

Thoughts grow weary, anxious or depressed;

I believe in God – and here I rest.

Annie Johnson Flint
FORGING ON 
http://cultivatingjoy-cultivatingjoy.blogspot.com/2015/12/forging-my-way-through-1971.html#.VmnOTXtDaY4 

FORGING MY WAY THROUGH: 1971

Trading six days of sunny California weather for the rainy climate of Portland, I determined to forge my way through the next year.
It became my resolve to renew my efforts to search the Scriptures and move on in my studies til completion.
I found myself back in the work,sleep,school cycle and tumultuous feelings after spending those six days re-evaluating plans for the future with possibilities in several directions.  I had just received an acceptance letter to attend SIL (Summer Institute of Linguistics) for the coming summer with the intentions of applying to Wycliffe as well as a tour of Gospel Recordings to a possible internship there.

Another Thanksgiving came and went.  There still remained strong feelings toward spurned love.  I will spare the details from my journal.  I was pelted with strong urges to make a fool of myself and act in selfish, revengeful ways as campus encounters were many and I still had high hopes although I was dating others. (Butterscotch Sundays and Burgerville, Farrells Ice Cream)

I struggled with my thoughts and emotions, despairing in my ability to keep on with my studies, I battled inner feelings of spiritual dryness, although not abandoning total times of staying in the Word.
December came with an impending feeling.  A strong indication of stormy trials ahead, however, the Lord continued to show me in little ways how much He cared for me.
 I felt a prompting to take a short break, taking the bus down to Salem to visit my grandparents.  I spent three glorious days with them and they drove me back up to school encouraged.
Feeling a surge of loneliness, I dove into a school project, fighting the urge to crawl into bed and feel sorry for myself.  It was Christmas Eve.  In a few hours I was to be at work for the grave yard shift.  I opened the few gifts I had and spent some time in prayer.
Christmas morning dawned and I in better spirits spent the day alone.  Well almost alone.  It will be a day I will never forget as I looked around my sparse, cheerless, bare room.  It sent thoughts of that first Christmas along time ago.

I was NOT alone.  My Abba Father was with me.  I committed myself again to His care with a grateful heart for all the trials and affliction that were bestowed on me and begged for grace, wisdom, and courage to continue on.

"...I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead."  Phil.3:13

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold."   Job 23:10

BUBBLES & BIBLE STORIES: slideshow video

A Captivated Audience

Adventures of Joy: summing up my 15+yrs.  in the Children's ministry at Grace Community.

CLICK HERE FOR RELATED POSTS About my nursery ministry

RETIRED  CLICK HERE  FOR IT'S OFFICIAL

THE VOICE OF JOY: Celebrating 40 yrs.! Video

A reminder to stick with it to the end.  God has not called me to quit. 

40 yrs. Of Dancing In The Minefields Of Life

 Remind me dear Lord that you continue to walk me through and around life's minefields.

Navigating through life has been hard.

March 2014

I admit that there have been times we've nearly fallen into minefields, wrong roads, or off that rocky cliff.

December 13, 1975

It's not the actual challenges life throws at me but learning how to deal with them.  I have struggled through parts of life that would be difficult and had it not been for your presence Lord, my status would be far from your plan for me.  ~Becky

 The-cost-and-beauty-of-marriage

Montecito Park Union Church

JUST CULTIVATING SOME JOY~Video

So, I am trying to see if I can transfer my videos from fb over to my blog.
I am so grateful for a hubs that enjoys driving so I can enjoy the journey.
This video is from our trip back in June with stops in Davis, CA, Bend, Eugene, Salem, Dayton, and Dallas.
I am still learning a lot about putting videos together and all the options afforded to me.

CATCHING GLIMMERS & JUST HAPPENS TO's

Our previous months devotional from the book of Ruth laid the backdrop to this dramatic narrative.  The drama unfolds to reveal a family faced with  life events, marriage, moving home, bereavement,care giving, and family relationships.  It is an account of love and a beautiful commitment of to Naomi on the part of Ruth, who was willing to sacrifice her life as a care giver and provider.  She was willing to forgo her own comfort.
As dramatic as these events of life are, we were reminded that God uses his people to work out His purposes for His glory.
We catch glimmers of hope no matter how desperate our circumstances.  We catch glimmers of God’s lavish redeeming mercy and grace.  We catch glimmers of God’s character, His provision and compassion for the needy.
What seemed like  random choices was God’s hand of guidance.

Naomi and Ruth just HAPPENED to arrive at barley harvest.  Ruth just HAPPENED to choose Boaz’s field, who just HAPPENED to be a bachelor and a Godly man.  Ruth just HAPPENED to find favor in Boaz’s eyes and she HAPPENED to be working at the time Boaz shows up.
We catch glimmers of Boaz reflecting those character qualities of God.
With an incredible move, he is in position to bring Ruth out of her circumstances and provided abundantly.
He anticipated and met her needs by quenching her thirst,  made sure she had access to water, he fed her, he made sure her baskets went home full.
A pastor summed it in these words, “We see how God providentially guides and provides in what may outwardly appear to be inconsequential moments.  God does some of His most extraordinary work through ordinary events and people.”
 Boaz demonstrated God’s character of God by graciously and lovingly making a widow, a foreigner a part of his family.
“All our lives are tributes to the providence of God.”
This story so far reveals how BIG the need is and designed to reveal how BIG our God is.
Whatever chaotic circumstances one finds himself in we can trust that God has, is, and will be at work.
When we care for a loved one, how do we go above and beyond in our care?
FEELINGS OF DESPAIR
PREVIOUS DEVOTIONAL SUMMARY FROM RUTH

ARE YOU MY MOTHER?

P.D. Eastman’s book “Are You My

Mother” is a tale of a newly hatched bird attempting to figure out who his mother is.  Not knowing what she looks like makes his adventure a challenge as he

is determined to find her.

I have often ask myself the same thing as my earlier years were spent at boarding school with haphazardly chosen house parents, often causing lengthy separation from both my parents and siblings.

In the 40’s young couples set out with lofty ambitions, boarding trains, ships, and planes to distant places, often devoid of the comforts and ease accustomed to fulfill the Great Commission.

It required a pioneer spirit and a willingness to endure physical and other hardships.  The lengthy separations were just accepted as part of the price.  Communication was painfully slow and often unreliable.  One of the heaviest burdens to bear was saying goodbye, always  a transient place where someone was always leaving or arriving.

I became emotionally disconnected from my parents at age six when I was sent away to begin my education.  I still loved and respected them, however, the emotional dependence was severed.
Don’t get me wrong, my parents did some miraculous  things but I lost the chance to have a close relationship with them, when sent away.

 The pressure  to be good for the sake of our parents ministry was strong, lifelong strain in relationships with family members became common.
 Deep connection to the country in which I spent my childhood, and the local people who were a part of my young years remains.
 I have warm memories of the food, the culture, the climate and vegetation.
My accent remains strong.
In truth, none of us were ever handed a perfect heritage.  Because our parents learning by doing and limited by their weaknesses did not always offer what was needed.  In light of those thoughts I do not want to be consumed with harboring negative thoughts or focusing on what could have been.  Missionary life is not what it used to be.

For the accounts of my first days of school click on link below.
Everybody has a Story, My Journey Part 2

DARKEST DAYS OF MY LIFE

Each Thanksgiving day I am reminded of one 45 years ago.  One that launched me into the darkest days of my life.

I was feeling at the top of my life.  I was in my last year of  Bible college and would be graduating that year and making plans for the future as newly engaged.   (Later on I learned I did not have all the credits I needed so would have to continue on another year.)
The day before had been a pleasant drive from Portland to Redding.  Although we shared the drive with another classmate, conversation led to many topics.  The mood was festive.
The next day, a fog settled in as preparations for Thanksgiving dinner were made at the home of my fiancees parents.  As I prepared for the day, I sensed a somewhat distant coldness that I had not felt before as I was greeted later that morning.  Before the dinner commenced, I was told that the engagement was off and accused of not being saved and being unfit.
I was left stunned and blindsided.

It took all to hold my despair at that moment.
I felt a swift-painful betrayal.  I slowly made my way back to the bedroom with tear-filled eyes.
I felt pulled and ripped apart attempting to make sense out of the words I had just heard.
I felt like everything was being taken away from me even my salvation.
I somehow forced myself to integrate my thoughts by this disturbing event and stoically went back out to join the family and proceed with much silence through out the day just wishing to get it over. 
Silence ruled the trip back to school as our classmate slept in the back seat of that cramped VW bug.  The atmosphere was suffocating.  I felt like a dish rag that had just been thrown away.
For a year black days sent me into an emotional tail spin. My health was affected.  My faith was tested.  All that I had hoped for and dreamed of was gone.
Amidst this sudden and dramatic event that filled me with overwhelming sadness, I was aware of God’s strength.  God’s word anchored me and continually guided me.
Even though there was still  hurt, and pain, just knowing that God’s love  and presence were available provided comfort.
Just knowing that God held me in the midst of this storm and was sharing my journey strengthened me.
During this tough time it was difficult to grasp the fact that God knew what was going on and had OTHER plans for me.

Forging-my-way-through-1971  CLICK HERE

MY MOST INSANE DAYS: MY RAINBOW BABY #1

The day I became a mother to an incredibly, spirited active toddler son ,was the beginning of some of the most insane days of my life.
It was then, I realized how much I had enjoyed the more peaceful, quiet times I had with my two year old daughter.
It all began with the conflicting feelings and happiness that come after having lost the previous pregnancy and expecting a colorful and bright future with this one.
Beautiful and bright rainbows follow storms, giving hope that it would be better, and bring on extraordinary amount of blessings.  He was one of my rainbow babies.

One incredible March afternoon, the mid wife arrived to our single-story, boxy, brick front, and ordinary functional house, in a van.  She was a petite, slightly older lady with excellent skills in delivery.           

As she was pulling herself together and gathering up the needed articles for the work at hand, it was discovered that her bag of essentials was buried at the bottom of a stack of doors she had salvaged.  Our neighbor graciously assisted her by taking out the stack of doors to retrieve her bag.

Our big, 9 lbs.11 oz bundle of creative trouble found his world extremely exhilarating from the start, finding many ways to excite me.
At nine months he was walking and running around, being intently curious and was everywhere attempting to enjoy exploring on his own.
  He was inexplicably drawn to his daddy’s tool box.  Nothing was safe.  The refrigerator was the only place he had not learned to climb.  He was very busy, however, all this physical activity eventually faded and gravitated in favor of worthwhile pursuits.

Even when he was three, he felt the thrill of excitement, oblivious to the fact that he was contributing to a mothers worst nightmare, he set out on his own while on a camping trip and was no where to be found for one of those gone too long times.
  My mind was racing with all sorts of scenarios but God was gracious and allowed him back to us after he had hiked to the other side of the camp ground.

There are many nights, I am left with wonder and thankfulness for this extraordinary gift, my first rainbow baby.

AN EXTRAORDINARY EXPERIENCE

The day began as any other except for the fact that I was due to fly back home after an extended stay after caring for my father in Auburn.
I was unusually quiet as the Jeep Cherokee pulled up to the airport drop off.  I gave my son a quick hug as he pulled out my luggage and then drove away.
I continued my walk toward the terminal to check in.  The smell of jet fuel permeated the air as I made my way into the building to join a long line at the security check point.
I was randomly selected for a more thorough search of my bag and pulled aside.  The excitement and anticipation of my flight home was dampened a tad by that small event as I heard the whir of wheels on the long concourse by all the others making their way to their flights.
Making my way to the waiting area, a glance out the windows informed me that the skies were beginning to darken. It was obvious it was about to rain.
I made my way to a seat facing the large window to await my flight.  I watched as the planes came in and were then prepared for their next flight.
As I ate a snack I continued to watch the activity down below on the tarmac until our flight was called and joined the line to board.
As we were boarding, torrents of rain ran down the sides of the windows. 
 As I searched for my close to window seat, the skies grew even darker.  It never came to mind that perhaps it was an unsafe time to fly. 

 The others seemed not to really care or perhaps had been to busy trying to situate themselves in their seats and search for empty spots in the over head luggage compartments that they perhaps had not taken notice of the outside conditions.  Upon settling into their seats they appeared to be lost in thought.
As I looked out the small window, we began to taxi out to the runway.  The flight attendant gave her standard pre flight procedure lecture to which most appear to be bored, perhaps with the familiarity of many previous flights. 
 The seat next to me remained empty and the young girl in the next seat engrossed in a book.
In a few minutes we found ourselves at the end of the runway prepared for take off.
The skies continued to darken and the rain was pummeling the plane.
As the plane took off it propelled us further into that storm.  A few minutes in the air and before cruising altitude an extraordinary thing happened.
As I was intently looking out the window to my right and over the wing, I watched a bolt of lightening shoot straight at me across the wing.  I sat there, motionless just as
the zig of the bolt zagged striking the wing just before it reached me. Bang! The plane shuttered.  I was awe-struck at seeing that bolt of lightening diverted, striking the wing, leaving a large blackened mark where it had struck.
  Surprisingly I was not frightened, I, thought at that moment that I would be in Heaven in the next few seconds, and the comfort it gave me was surreal, as the feeling of morphine kicking in for the first time ever.
A few minutes later, the pilot calmly confirmed that we had been struck by lightening and had been advised to continue on to Burbank.
 That day I was reminded of God's loving protection over me during that storm and through all storms of life.