Spring brings new life and a collection of storms

It's no secret that my favorite time of year is summer; bring on the heat and humidity with the stuffiness of the air and the instant burn of the heat of the sun to the skin. But I have to admit that I have a healthy respect for the spring. I love watching all the plants and trees bursting back to life and hearing all the birds sing, and I must confess that I love a good       thunderstorm.  

To relate this to my life lately would be almost funny. As you already know anyway, this spring has indeed been filled with life popping up everywhere and it is beautiful, but life has also had it's share of storms this spring.

 The reality of life has once again reared it's head and reminded me of why I must be ever mindful of it's briefness. I have gotten to spend a lot of this season with a dear friend and her family while her time on Earth was shortening. There is a part of me that will forever miss her smile and funny faces and the pal I could share big words with and the best hugs I have ever gotten. None of you should feel left out here, you all give  good hugs, but there is nothing else this side of Heaven like a 'Sarah hug'. This may seem to be all depressed and that is not my intent. For me, death is a part of life that 

is altruistic. We are all simply passersby to one another, no one is guaranteed of anything including the very life we feel so deserving of. This is probably why I take it all in stride. I have the privilege of knowing that time apart is only temporary as long as we both know Jesus and that before too long we will get to be together again with the added benefit of it being in the presence of Jesus! 

All of that to say that yes, spring has it's storms that come in nature and in life, but more importantly spring brings forth new life that I am amazed at each year.   

I hope and pray that I never lose sight of just how amazing it is to be able to watch and see God's handiwork in action every year.

And I have to remember that there is always someone watching over me who loves me and only wants what is best for me and that sometimes that involves things that hurt me. But pain is never the intent, to learn to love more deeply is always the goal.

With each new day we have a fresh start.  "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion, ' says my soul, 'therefore I will hope in Him.' " Lamentations 3:22-24 

Some fun pictures of recent happenings....

Jeannie and I at the South Alabama District Church of the Nazarene Women's Retreat in Pigeon Forge, TN

Some Tea Party/Dress up fun at Tennessee Women's Retreat last year

Part of our 7.5" snow

Cardinals in the tree outside while it was still snowing

Me and the girls in the snow

Flowers that Judith sent me while I was home recovering from  surgery in January. (p.s. Daisies are my favorites)

Faith and Exercise

We've been house-hunting recently. (Those four words are powerful enough alone to be a post unto themselves) House-hunting is one of those occurrences in life that will cause you to look at everything from a new perspective. Thankfully we agree on what we're looking for and all the reasons around why, well almost all. Still a debate over hardwood flooring vs. carpet, but that is minimal. During this process I have been reminded that my faith must stay in God and only God, and am so thankful that I have it. 

In a staff devotions recently the comment was made, "Our faith is stretched so that our relationship with Christ is strengthened." How very, very true that is. But of course because this is me, my brain had to take it further based on where I currently am. I thought about how we work and train our bodies so that they will be the best they can for us while we have them, and took that little comment and made it, "We grow strength in our faith by it being exercised. Just as we exercise our bodies in order to be stronger, so to our faith must be trained and stretched."  Deep, I know, and rare for a thought that came early in the morning. ☺
 Based on our house-hunting experience thus far, that statement has rung true so often and I am reminded of it daily. There have been more than a few days recently where I was unsure if I could continue in this present situation without some sort of change, and times when I wanted nothing more than to get in my car and just drive somewhere far from here. I even had a friend to tell me that I am welcome to come there if I need to escape and clear my head! Thanks friend ☺♥
 As God would have it during this season, I went to a retreat in Pigeon Forge and listened to Eunice Brubaker share her heart and some of her experiences with the ladies there. She hit Psalm 46 the first session and I knew that I was exactly where I needed to be for the next two days. It was there that I was reminded that no matter what situation I may find myself in, I am to be still and allow God to do His good work in and through me and if I will do that, that He promises to be my shelter and to never allow me to fear. Continue to pray for me, not just for house-hunting, that is merely a surface issue at the moment, but for me deeply. Without my friends and their love and prayer support, and a God who teaches me, I do not know what I would do.