#simplethoughts

The last photo I uploaded to my computer before things went haywire yesterday. I’m smiling because it was August 4th and not yet August 11th. And by haywire, I mean:

My phone was obliterated as it dove into the floor only to have it’s screen riddled with lines and cracks I can no longer swipe through without shards of glass in my fingers. 

We got word our closing would not be today but sometime next week. (Thank you, God, that we did not have a scheduled move for the next few days.

And, are you ready? Our AC kicked the bucket. Yes, during a lovely heat advisory. 

Things could be worse, it’s true but my anxiety took a nose dive with the day and I found it hard to focus. Fast forward to today when I decided I should just replace the phone only to accidentally submit the request as a shipping order rather than the intended in-store pick up. Okay, Lord. I get it. A lesson in patience and provisions. You see, we are pretty spoiled. AC, smartphones, um, roof over our heads. It’s in these moments we thirst-I’m literally so thirsty, it’s like 90 degrees in here now-and our thirst should be for the Lord. For He is our true comfort on the rough days, our champion on the best of days. I sought His word today when I felt like I was in the middle of a panic attack I could not control and I found peace there (Psalm 143:6) unlike the moments where we are comfortable and happy and fulfilled and often forget His word as if we don’t need constantly.

We’ve begun a new tradition of getting away annually for a girls’ weekend. As much fun as we had in the Thousand Islands last year, we did have a mini dark cloud hanging over our heads since we fully intended to enjoy the weekend poolside only to find as we walked onto our balcony that the pool was in fact ... CLOSED! Don’t remind me!!! 

This year, we began the planning early in the year only to be hit by COVID a few months before our trip. Patience and hope took the reigns and I’m so glad we let them because come end of June we were told our tour was ON but we did have on blip to overcome. Our hotel’s pool would be closed. Whyeee?! 

There is a bigger, scary, complicated picture right now and my mini complaints about my wine tour are far from having any significance. That said, finding joy in the darkest of hours is a must! I think we have learned that threefold lately. God’s will for us is to “do all this through him who gives me strength” (Philippians 4:13). Did God give us the strength to follow through with our wino weekend featuring swim? To my knowledge, He didn’t specify BUT I do know he has strengthened us to live through the current state of the world and to find joy where we can find joy, serve when where we can serve and so on. And then came Betty and Bob and their lovely Airbnb. They were able to offer a guesthouse as well as access to their lovely patio/saltwater pool and we could not have been more grateful to refine our planning this way. Off we went for a most successful and adventurous weekend. The FREE (yes, being away from kids and husbands does NOT mean you don’t treasure, absolutely value, the time with family. It means you recognize the necessity for fellowship, relationships, support and independence for your family and from your family on occasion for the health of all!) time together was overflowing with laughter, music, childlike springing into the pool. I would do it all over again in a heart beat!

We were so kindly visited by Addison’s 4th grade teacher as he delivered her Student of the Month medal. Sadly, it was her last year at the elementary school and the circumstances caused them to miss their moving up ceremony. A small price to pay but we missed celebrating their ES years, all the same. While her studies have ended for fourth grade we are grateful for our sisters in Christ, Carrianne and Abby. They recently gifted us a “mommy and me” devotional loaded with studies and crafts and reasons to get together for some fellowship throughout the summer. This is especially helpful since we can’t physically attend church at the moment. It has been truly helpful to follow through with the book as it glances at the importance of relationships with both friends and family and the impact made when you can discuss God, His work in your life and the lives of those around you, with friends. 

Where are you with God during these current season? Do you have a virtual church experience? Are you in a small group?