Challenges

this past sunday at church our pastor preached on learning to "be still." throughout the message i was reminded of the song by Steven Curtis Chapman "Be still and know that He is God. Be still and know He is our Father. Consider all that He has made, stand in awe and be amazed, and know that He will never change. Be still."
this past week has definately had it's challenges and have reminded me to be still and listen for what God has in store for the plans he is unveiling in my family's lives. there are things that happen for reasons unknown to us and even if we don't like what's happening, think it's unfair, and have lots of questions about it all, we must remember that God is in control and no matter what happens, He has planned it all --for His reasoning -- since before any of us were even here. someday i suppose we'll be able to ask Him why he let these things happen, but then, i'm not quite sure if we'll want to know the why's anymore. we'll be revelling in the reality that we are in His presence, with loved ones who had passed on, and we won't have any more heartache - ever!

i am very blessed with the most wonderful family anyone could have and am equally lucky to have them all (mostly) living very close to me. we've always been a close family but growing up proves to be more rewarding than i could ever have thought. i get to go out and have a "girls night" with my best friend (my sister) and special cousins. i get to relieve my grandmother for a few hours so she can go shopping with my mother instead of having to stay home and take care of my grandfather. i get to go for rides with my mom and kids and catch up on all the family news. i get that wonderful phone call in the middle of the day from my husband just calling to check on the kids and i to make sure we're ok. i get to see the smile on my dad's face when my daughter spots him coming through the door, grins ear to ear, and yells "papa!!" how much more blessed could i be? i could only think of a few ways that i could be any happier, and that relies on God's plan for my sister & my brother(in-law)