My friend Rebecca and I at the July 4th celebration in Wrangell 2009
I used to be a What if girl and I must admit that I still sometimes ask God why and what if! However as the years go by and I see God work in some pretty amazing ways I'm learning to just take one day at a time and instead ask, OK Lord.... what today? Is there someone I can encourage or love with YOUR love? Is there a way that I can help John that I normally wouldn't think of? What little thing do YOU want to show me today that I'll miss if I'm to busy? One thing I learned from the Alaskan people, especially from my friend Rebecca was to appreciate the small things. The salmonberries that Jonathan fell in love with. The smell of spruce, and even the taste of spruce tips (Rebecca said they are good in jelly)! Fireweed in the summer and a sunny day in the winter! Sea glass that's been refined by the sand and the sea! Just the little things.
Kristi and I when we visited her in Iowa, at Thanksgiving Time.
The date is right on the picture. Aren't you proud of me?
As I look forward to the birth of my grandaughter, and at times worry about the choices that Kristi is making I am reminded of how much God loves us and that the God who can create the universe, set the stars in the sky, start the storms and calm the storms is the same God who makes those spruce tips smell so amazing and causes the Kansas sunflower to open up facing the sun each morning (yep had to slip Kansas in there too!) A God this amazing can surely be trusted with my daughter and my grandaughter! Our kids and we ourselves for that matter, go through some tough times and sometimes it's because of sinful choices but I've learned that no matter what, we can trust God to be the perfect parent to our kids. He knows what they need even when we aren't so sure!
Kristi's due date is February 23rd so your prayers are much appreciated at this time!!
Prayers,
Jody
