Tough Times Require Prayer

I have been thinking for weeks that it is time to update this blog.  Today is just one more day in what has been a rough couple of months for me and mine.  The first big event was the announcement that the Dakota District is closing our Custer Wesleyan Church.  Lots of tears, some anger, lots of questions, much prayer...and here we are into April and nothing really settled.  That is just the first thing, though.  Second was a growth that appeared on my face overnight in March and scared me half to death!  After a few days of praying and psyching myself up, I went to the doctor and had it removed.  Praise God that it was benign and now all I have to do is figure out how to pay the bill - but that is better than the alternative!  The third problem is that we need to figure how to take care of Wildcat.  Once Dan and Stacy are moved on, there will not be enough money coming in, nor will there be enough staff to do the work.  We all have ideas of how things can be made easy, but it looks like God will have to undertake for us.  We cannot accomplish any of this on our own.  If  we pray 24/7, there are probably not enough days to get it done.  But our God is a big God and He only needs to speak the Word and we can breathe easier.  We know He has a plan for all of us and we are asking that He continue to implement that plan without interference from any of us.  All we ask for is patience, grace, wisdom, and (kind of) to please hurry up?  Well, then today we spent a tense afternoon looking for funds to pay Lisa's house payment, which was our fourth big problem.  We got to where all we could do was say, "Help!" and some of us could not even get that much out!  But with some creative shuffling and a little extra help and more prayer, the payment was made.  We still need some more by Friday, but we are breathing a little easier.  There are many more problems yet to be solved because of this decision of the Dakota District.  It is affecting many people, in many different ways.  We are all impacted and we are all making changes.  We can only pray that we will react well, and that we will learn from all this what God  wants us to learn.  He has a future for all of us and it is one of hope and promise.  It is also probably not what we were expecting when we moved into 2012. If the last 69 years is any indication, this future will be even better than we had expected!  My response is still, "God is good - all the time!" and  "All the time - God is good!"  That does not mean it will be easy.  "God give us strength to finish this race well."

In all things, give thanks

It's not like I have been so busy lately that I don't have time to write. I just have other things on my mind! Lots of friends and family have been sick with this flu-like stuff and everyday more people succumb. So far, all are recovering and I pray that it remains so. October has not acted like October this year - people getting sick too early, snow coming too early, hardly any beautiful Fall weather! I know, I know - I have been counting my blessings in the midst of all this, but let me have just a few moments to wish it were otherwise. Our coffee buddies are heading South this week and that gives me pain. We have used up all the available room in our living area and really need more room or more creativity. Lately we have too much month for the money, as someone once said. I was hoping to be someplace warmer by the time cold weather really settled in, but it is not to be. Okay, that is enough complaining for awhile.

The good stuff is that Damion's tubes in his ears seem to be coming along nicely. I have been learning all sorts of new things about family members living in California, Oklahoma, Texas, and New York, because my Facebook site finally came back up after 14 days. Also, my weight seems to have stabilized and I have perhaps even gained a pound or 2 in the last few months. My newest grandkids and great-grandkids continue to get cuter as the days pass and I have the assurance that God has good things in mind for each of them! I keep seeing Gaither videos that I have not seen before and the songs bring joy to my heart. Many answered prayers remind me of God's love for me and mine. I have a new Journal to record my private thoughts and praises in. I guess I could keep on and on because I have many more good things to say. This Blog site reminds me regularly that life consists of good and bad, happy and sad. In everything, though, Jesus is enough! I hope that you are finding it so.