20 Year Friendship

I had a surprise today that I can only describe by borrowing our pastor's favorite phrase," it blessed my socks off!!!"We received an invitation to hear a presentation about our friends' missionary trip to Iraq, which was very inspiring!  But I saw my old friend, Linda Crutcher walk in the back and we hugged for several minutes after the talk was over.  Someone was curious at our joy in seeing each other and Linda introduced me as Marcus's other mother.  Hard to believe it has been exactly 20 years since we placed the adorable black baby, Mark, (the name Tacy gave our 5 lb. baby)who had been a part of our family as our foster baby for 4 months in the arms of the Bethany social worker who presented him to the Crutcher family.  It was Labor Day weekend that he went home to his new adoptive home. We had so much catching up to do that we talked madly all through supper together. We laughed at the joy of seeing our two big "Bethany sons" all grown up and going to college.  I reminded Linda that she was the inspiration for us to adopt Eric, since she already had three kids and made room for one more and then we did the same thing the next year!

Our family at Palm Coast, Florida

Cousin reunions

Reconnecting with family is one of the distinct joys of summertime!
I had the opportunity to stay in my cousin's home in Minnesota this month and it was fun to catch up on the last year since we saw each other at a big cousin reunion in Monterrey, California last summer. I also spent time with my dear friends that are like family to me. We rented a vacation spot on Clark Lake in northern Minnesota.
Also in August was a reunion of our children plus one grandchild, Molly, with their cousins plus two other grandchildren of Henry's sister, Margaret as we gathered in Palm Coast, Florida to unwind and enjoy a time of relaxation together. Swimming in the ocean, sharing meals, playing games and laughing over two toddlers trying to stand upright after twirling madly is so delightful!
Henry and I especially enjoyed babysitting our granddaughter as she played in the sand.
A definite highlight was Sunday morning worship as we praised the Lord together in song while Evan led us on the guitar and could look out at the rolling sea.

"Here comes Jesus,see Him walking on the water,
He'll lift you up and help you to stand,
Here comes Jesus, He's the Master of the waves that roll,
He'll lift you up and make you whole."

Longtime Friendshps

"Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land." Proverbs 25:25
Thankful to have the resources to return to my childhood homeland in Minnesota, I was thrilled to join the celebration of a wedding shower for the future daughter-in-law of my dear friend, Barb.
My longtime friendships with a group of high school friends(who call themselves the O.M.'s) has blessed me with the richness of many extra "sisters" in my life and causes me to eagerly anticipate our yearly retreat together "up North" near to one of the famous 10,000 lakes.
This was an extra-special year because we not only celebrated our 60th birthdays by renting a beautiful vacation home on Clark Lake but we also rejoiced over the coming marriages of two of the offspring of our members.
And we relaxed, talked, cried,remembered, and laughed together as we have every year since we were 15 years old and starting Roosevelt High School. What an amazing blessing to have such devoted friends to journey through life together.

3 Phases of Faith

When trials come, as they do throughout our lives we can be comforted with the knowledge that the LORD is our Shepherd. (Psalm 23)

Our family has some intense struggles going on right now. 

 In my devotions from "Streams in the Desert"by Mrs. Charles Cowman there is a meditation on

 3 Phases of Faith.

1. Faith with a sign and feelings (like Gideon,(Judges 6)

2. Faith with the absence of feelings

3. Faith when we believe God and His Word even when circumstances, emotions and reason say 

     NO.

 (Acts 27:20 &25...all hope was gone. Yet Paul told the others..."Be of good cheer; for I believe GOD...")

Draw near to GOD, and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8