It was a very good week

And here's why:

I'm working as an aide for Migrant Summer School.  MSS is for children of the parents who work seasonally on the farms surrounding our town.

7 hours of being with our kiddos-all 30 of them.

They were so great, seemed eager to be there.

Most of them speak English, but several have only been here 6 months and so the very-able teacher translates her directions constantly.  I look forward to lots of opportunities to practice my Spanish.

When I got home yesterday, I did what I always do.

I went outside to my happy place under the fir trees, sat on my Adirondack chair, 

and drank a cup of coffee just to process the week.

Me and Boomer, snuggling in my happy place a few years ago.

As I sat there, the Lord reminded me Who had orchestrated it and that I hadn't spent time with Him for a couple days.

I read a devotion about how He shows me my purpose, citing this passage:

This is what the LORD says-

I am the LORD your God,

who teaches you what is best for you,

who directs you in the way you should go.

Isaiah 48:17

It's so good to realize that I am where I should be, right smack dab in the middle of His plans for me in this season.

And this is how I know:  I feel peace and joy and fulfillment as I interact with each of those 30 little lambs.  I get to be His hands and feet and mouthpiece all day long to them.

I get to teach them what is best for them and thus, touch their lives for eternity during these four weeks.

Are you living God's purpose for you?
How did He reveal that to you?
What is your attitude about His portion for this season of your life?

• "I'm so excited that I leap out of bed in the morning."  
• "I'm going forward screaming and kicking."
• "I vacillate between the two."

How could your willing obedience and joyful acceptance of His plans affect others for eternity?

May you realize the peace, joy, and fulfillment of your purpose in God's plans this week,
dear ones!
Love,

Thanks, Ginger and Charlotte, for hosting Spiritual Sundays!

I'm Thankful For...

...my Golden Retriever, Boomer. 

 I read about a local dog show this morning and began thinking about her.  

Realized I still miss her.  

Terribly.

Boomer, 1994-2009

I know many folks in the world are hurting, hungry, homeless, and hopeless.

But I just wanted to take a few moments to

remember her

with you.

She helped me greet the day, every day, for over 14 years.

She suffered a stroke in August of 2009.

She'd been hobbling around on arthritic hips for several years. 

Be assured, we gave her doggie-type medicine for her aches and pains.

But that morning, I had to come to terms with the finality of her stroke symptoms.

Her head was tilted to 1 side,

She could no longer grin at us for her mouth was slanted in an unfamiliar frown. 

She couldn't move off her bed, much less eat.

In the afternoon we took her to the vet.

He gave her 2 shots.

One to calm her.

One to send her quickly to heaven.

We like to think she's gone fishin' with my Dad there.

She kept her eyes and ears peeled for...squirrels.  Oh, how I miss petting her silky fur!

This morning, I wept as I read about the dog show.

Now I am tear-less.

 I truly am thankful for the years we had together.

Years when she acted like the dog she was:

spots on the carpet, chewing on forbidden things, leaving land mines, etc.

Years when her cheesy grin greeted me 

without fail

EVERY TIME

she saw me,

even if she was being naughty.

She was always in a good mood.

She made sure it was safe to...

...enjoy our quiet time on summer mornings.

In the spring of 2007, I asked God to let her stay healthy 

till at least fall, 

after our 3rd child got married.

I just couldn't imagine all that planning

without her.

I told God I needed her

sweet, unconditional companionship

as I pondered the wedding.

She combined these 2 skills seamlessly:  vigilance and nap-taking.

I asked that of the God Who...

created the heavens and the earth,

gave His only Son, Jesus, to be my Savior,

numbers the very hairs on my head, 

wipes away every tear from my face.

She loved car rides.  This was the last time she rode in our 20 year old minivan.
We gave it to a charity soon after this, dog hair and all.

As usual, God knew what I needed better that I did.

He let her stick around for another 2 1/2 years. 

And when  the new school year wasn't far off, 

when I began to dread leaving her 

in the laundry room all day,

He took her quickly

to heaven.

Okay, NOW I'm choking up.

Not so much because I miss Boomer

-although the heart of God surely knows I do-

but because I'm remembering

His grace, love, and mercy 

 to me 

and to my dog,

pressed down and overflowing.

The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces...

Surely this is our God;

we trusted in Him,

and He saved us...

let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.

Isaiah 25:8, 9

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

So don't be afraid...

Matthew 10:30, 31

Oh, the abundant grace and love of God!

May you be filled with it today, friend.

Love,

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