What we've been up to

If there's anyone still there, reading this blog, I appreciate your patience! I haven't posted since September, so let me give you a brief update on what's been going on these last few months. September 19th, Ron and I celebrated our 12th wedding anniversary. I'm so thankful God chose him to be my husband! How blessed I am! In October, I spent my birthday with my family, as well as the sad occasion of laying my dear aunt Patty to rest. She was my mom's youngest sister and is missed by us all. In November, we celebrated Thanksgiving with my sister's family, my brother, and father. My brother moved to a place just around the corner, and Braden discovered he preferred sharing a room to having one of his own. In December, we celebrated our Savior's birth together, and mourned the death of Ron's Grandma. Melanie turned 10 and Ron turned 40! We spent his birthday at our kids' final fall swim meet! It was such a fun meet! The children tried especially hard at this meet because each heat winner earned a tiger tail to put on their swim bags. They all achieved their best times in each event they swam. January has been a time of staying close to home. This fatastic weather draws us out doors to ride bikes, skate, or play at our neighborhood park. We are just finishing our fall semester in school, which for me has meant marking report cards and finishing up my spring semester plan to turn in to our CT. In this time God has been teaching us to trust in His unfailing live for us. Times are tough, but He meets our needs. We are learning how much we can do without. We have what we need because we have Him. I am thankful that these trials are temporary and soon we'll reside in our permanent home and live as the Bride of our King! My grandma is now in Hospice care. They will try to keep her comfortable until her time her is complete. Please continue to pray for her. Thank you, dear friends!

Isaiah 55:1-11

[The Compassion of the Lord]

[55:1] “Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and milk
without money and without price.
[2] Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,
and your labor for that which does not satisfy?
Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,
and delight yourselves in rich food.
[3] Incline your ear, and come to me;
hear, that your soul may live;
and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,
my steadfast, sure love for David.
[4] Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,
a leader and commander for the peoples.
[5] Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,
and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,
because of the LORD your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,
for he has glorified you.

[6] “Seek the LORD while he may be found;
call upon him while he is near;
[7] let the wicked forsake his way,
and the unrighteous man his thoughts;
let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him,
and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.
[8] For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.
[9] For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.

[10] “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
and do not return there but water the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
[11] so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.