On a Monday morning when everyone is moving slow, after a weekend of soul-wrestling with God, I can only stop and give thanks for His mercies, for the Word, and for my Jesus who ministers to an aching heart. And I list the gifts – tangible and intangible reminders of His love…..

2725. old chipping wicker and screened porch
2726. cool autumn mornings
2727. the return of soup weather
2728. God’s perfect, unfailing, unchanging promises
2729. volleyball games
2730. weeks where I’m gone too much and it feels like the house is falling apart
2731. wise words spoken
2732. showing grace to myself
2733. a phone free weekend
2734. a phone revived!
2735. little bits of quiet
2736. weeks of struggling; leaning hard on faith
2737. Legos everywhere; little girls imaginations
2738. laughing with my oldest; loving time with her
2739. Monday morning quiet, weekend mess still sprawling
2740. seeking revelation, wisdom
2741. encouraging words at just the right time
2742. letter sounds practice with the smallest one
2743. her willingly sounding out blends
2744. clean house and how it eases the mind
2745. game room half clean
2746. beautiful Saturday full of good things
2747. a Monday off
2748. honking geese flying south
2749. a concert with my favorite
2750. a road trip with the middle
2751. three days with Chandler – talking, laughing, enjoying each other
2752. welcome home surprises of painted living room and projects finished
2753. a God who knows my heart and my struggles and loves me anyway and wants to make me whole
2754. every little bit of hope He gives
2755. a living room we want to live in
2756. little touches that make it home
2757. dinner, laughter, feeling understood
2758. Saturday morning Ellie snuggles
2759. fire pit beauty, laughing together
2760. gold colored leaves
2761. overcast fall days
2762. watching basketball as a family
2763. another team in Haiti
2764. a week with my girls
2765. a heavy heart that draws close to Jesus
2766. a few words, glimmers of hope, strength for tomorrow
This year has been defined by so many very good things and yet so much soul-wrestling with God. He has taken me to lonely places this year, isolated my heart, and it has felt so dark and silent. So much time can go by and I feel like I hear nothing and only sink deeper. But God is there and He is shaping and molding and growing and changing. Even in the dark, especially in the dark. He is doing something wonderful and today I can see glimmers of beauty and wonder and light. He may lead me back into the dark tomorrow, but even in this I can give thanks.
As we enter another holiday season, let us turn our hearts toward the light of His love and trust Him even when He feels far away and silent. He is good and His ways are perfect and He is always Emmanuel – God with us.
For His Glory ~
