June 6, 2013 Be Still and Know… Lake House Our Whole Family Together… Papa Meet Owen
Be Still and Know… Lake House June 6th 2013 Our Whole Family
Today I am sitting and looking across the Lake. It is one of those overcast mornings where there isn't a ripple in the water except where the fish are jumping. This morning reminds me so much of when our life is overcast with shadows and trails... He simply wants us to be still and know that He is God. It is here you will rest and He will slowly reveal the beauty to you. Even after you have looked at the view for many years you will see a new and deeper beauty.
The other night as I sat in the sunporch at night looking across the Lake until darkness over came the light. There were various little fireflies that lit up the blackness of the night. It reminded me that in our darkest of moments, with faith as small as a mustard seed that we can created a spark. Even though it may seems small to us, it will light up the darkness that satan has cast on this world. So as the song goes, people let your light shine... come now let it shine... light it shine on every night and day... then you will give light & hope to others who need it so, in our hurting world.
May 30th, Lindsay, Peter, Audri, Ethan and baby Owen came home to visit with us. Jamie met baby Owen for the first time when he picked them all up at the airport. God kept telling me I wasn't strong enough to go for the 2 1/2 hour ride up and back to get them at the airport and my spirit knew he was right; though my heart wanted to go. It seems that it is a good thing that I didn't go because there wouldn't have been room for me on the way back in our Journey van! Hum, surprise, God had a plan. It is hard to express what it felt like to hug them all for the first time... you see part of you wonders, when you start this journey, if you will have the opportunity for this blessing again. Then just to be with them for almost two weeks... both Jamie & I were so blessed. The moment I got to hug my daughter almost seemed surreal. Though her heart made her feel that she wanted to be able to be with me for some of my cancer journey, God had other plans... for so many months she & her family had been the voice, the text message, the photographs of encouragement and some of the prayer warriors for my journey. One time, after my journey, she read what the children had written as a prayer in Sunday School. Let's just say the tears flowed. My heart knows why God wants us to be as little children. Sometimes Lindsay even sent packages with the perfect thing, that God knew I would need. Like the shawl to cover up with in those moments I felt so cold. It reminds me of how God wraps his love around us when we need it most... at times before we even know that we are going to have a need. He shields us from the true harshness that our hearts & souls would feel.
Here is a picture of a miracle capture. One that all your prayers helped make possible in early June. Here is a picture of us all together. (Lindsay, Peter, baby Owen, Audri & my Dad, Ethan and my Mom and Jamie &I) This is proof of the power of prayer.
Now it is my turn to pray for others. My heart has two special prayer requests. One for my Aunt Joanne and the other for my cousin Davine. My Aunt Joanne will be operated on for bladder cancer on July 3'rd. As my journey with cancer is so fresh, my heart aches for her in a way I can't express in words. As for my cousin Davine, I can't comprehend all she has gone through for so many years and continues to face each day... to me her journey is a step well beyond my journey with cancer. My heart knows that God has a plan and it is my job to pray for them. Just as God carried me, when I was too tired to walk during my journey with cancer, He will carry them. You have fears for those you love when you walk these difficult journeys. My heart still remembers, like it was yesterday the phone call my friend Suzanne made to me, when she found out that I had cancer. We laugh cried and talked that day. She offered her unconditional love through this journey anytime that I needed it. I share the deepest part what was causing my pain with her... the one that wondered what would happen to my family if I lost the battle with cancer. As a Christian, I knew where I was going so I had no fear for me but my family... I remember those words, that cut through the pain and darkness in my heart that satan had created and instead brought me comfort. "Paulette, I want you to stop and think how much you love each one of those family members." I told her through my tears that that was easy. Then she said, "Now I want you to remember that God loves each of them more and He will take care of them." Those words I carried in my heart as I faced the realities of my battle. In honestly, I will carry them in my heart forever. That phone call made in pure Christian love, changed my journey in ways that are hard to express. It help me feel that peace that passeth all understanding as I stepped forward day by day.
Here is one more picture. This is a picture of the first time Jamie met baby Owen on May 30th, when he picked them up at the airport. This is where a picture truely paints a thousand words. For this moment in time, my heart is so grateful. The original plan had been that we were to be in Kansas when he was born, but God had other plans. The man who stood by my side for nine months and continues to do so was given a blessing from God. I think Owen has Papa's cheeks and smile. Both can light up a room.
Remind me to tell you of the adventures of us moving from our house to the apartment but that is a story for another day. May God bless each one of you in a special way for the unconditional love you give each day.
My love, ((HUGS))) and prayers,
Paulette
