First trimester weariness and blahs
and then too, the anticipation of getting
a few things around here cleaned or cooked
before by mom, sister, and friend arrived
for a visit last week . . .
All of that left me with little motivation
to blog much the past while.

But the good gifts from above
continue to come down.
Even though I don’t deserve them.
God is good.

*****
{warning: overload of phone pictures to follow,
plus a few thoughts I’ve been pondering.}

{1. quiet mornings on the front porch}

{2. beautiful evenings for walk-runs}

{3. This man. We celebrated his birthday last month,
and his running a marathon (his 3rd total) this month.
I’m grateful for and proud of him!!
And many thanks to Herb Fisher for this photo.}

*****

{4. A morning at the petting zoo with grandmother and cousins.
It will be a very sad day for D when these best friend cousins move out of state.}

*****

And sometimes,
though we can’t see the good in illness & suffering,
the relationships in our lives that are less than stellar,
long hours required of a husband in his work,
the ache and tears of missing a friend,
the grappling with the death of another friend’s husband . . .
this one quote has been going through my mind for weeks:

“In every situation, God is doing a thousand things that we cannot see and do not know.”
~ John Piper

It is the Lord God whom I have trusted with my salvation,
and it is Him that I must and will continue to trust
with the great and small, good and “bad” details of my life.

For we know that all things work together for good to them that love God,
to those who are the called according to His purpose.

I and my “situations” are at His disposal.
He is working a work in me and in those I love.
He is working a thousand things through it all
for our good and His glory.

I hope to see those good things one day!
The good that came from the things which now,
from my finite perspective, seem so dark.

For His ways are not our ways.
His thoughts not our thoughts.
His ways and thoughts are higher than mine.

I’m also reminded of a phrase from Psalm 119
which has also been on repeat in my mind,

“Before I was afflicted, I went astray,
but now have I kept thy word.
Thou art good and doest good,
teach me thy statutes.”

Just like the Psalmist declared,
I too cling more tightly to God and His Word
in the harder times of my life.
And therefore, even the things which I don’t consider to be good,
are indeed good if they cause me to draw closer to Jesus!

*****

{5. dress shopping, latte sipping, laughing sister laughs . . . }

We had so much fun with my mom and sister and friend last week.
Having family here to visit was a much-needed shot in the arm!

*****

{6. Riding the rails in Strasburg . . . }

my big guy with missing teeth.

Gramma and C are a little sweet on each other.

my long-time friend, Trina.

my sister & daughter. love them both so much!!

a picnic at Groff’s Landing.

sisters: sixteen years between us!

Gramma and her loyal following.

*****

We enjoyed shopping, eating dinner out,
watching Noah at Sight & Sound Theatres,
riding the Strasburg Rails & enjoying a picnic lunch,
a day trip to NYC to see my brother & his bride,
Touring Wilbur Chocolate Co.
and loving our lunch at the charming Tomato Pie Cafe`.
More shopping, strawberry picking,
and we even helped Phil work a little one afternoon . . .
cleaning out a home he plans to list soon.

{6. A day trip to NYC . . . church and a fabulous meal, city excitement (crime),
and just a great time with these people we love!}

*****

{7. Wilburs Chocolate & Tomato Pie Cafe.
Delight for the palette all around!}

*****

Oh, and in the evenings we had time for back rubs,
some great movies, and a couple of refreshing runs with my sister.
It’s times like these that only make me wonder, once again,
why it is that I live so far from my family?!

*****

{8. Helpers to either babysit the younger ones or to help pick
the strawberries and process them is an unspeakable gift!
I don’t take it for granted!}

*****

Now that our week of fun with family is over,
we’re finding ways to occupy ourselves at a bit of a slower pace . . .

{9. Free day at the pool yesterday due to downpours which caused
{dirty water} flooding in the big pool. But this clan mostly uses 
the kiddie pool anyways, so we had a fine time.}

{10. My daughters. What a pair they are! And if you ask the youngest one
where she got something . . . anything . . . she tends to name the store we frequent most.
So the answer to that question used to be Target. No doubt about it.
But since this mother has been trying to save $$ and avoid Target like the plague,
I guess even our infrequent trips to Costco have outnumbered the Target trips.
Therefore, the answer to “where did you get it?” is now, “Costco”.

{11. Sipping tea. This is what summer smells and tastes like!
Mint tea brings back so many memories of happy
childhood summer days. These days, mine is sweetened
with stevia for an even greater healthful refreshment!}

{12. And this just in: He brought me a freshly roasted,
freshly brewed cup of coffee in bed this morning . . .
I should have been up already,
but my, what a nice way to start the day . . .
sleeping in and then greeted with this wonderfulness.

He took me on our first date eight years ago.
Love him much. I’m keeping him.

*****

So many people and blessings to be grateful for today.
But whatever the “situation” you face just now,
remember along with me, that God is at work?
“Doing a thousand things we cannot see . . .”
He is GOOD.