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Monday, January 6, 2014

Happy New Year!


Happy New Year 2014!
Sorry we have not written in a while!  -what a whirlwind ending to 2013!  Welcome to 2014!

"For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." -- 2 Corin 4:17-18

Hang in There 

I was crabby. I’ll admit it. I tend to schedule things, even “spontaneous” outings. The girls and I were supposed to leave at 10 a.m. It was almost 11. Our road trip was getting disrupted. That put me on edge.

-So what if this was a rare opportunity to travel with my daughters who now call New York home? -
So what if I had just one day off to travel to the cabin, our beloved retreat? -I was agitated and that made everyone else mad. - Oh, how we create chaos with our moods!

Everyone was annoyed. We slammed our car doors in a huff. Sisters were mad at each other and even madder at me. Could we ever enjoy this time? Car tires spun on the gravel as we plunged down the hill.

Something told me to take a deep breath and hang in there. As tires rolled on the highway...then up and down hills and around narrow curves on country lanes, God rolled hard hearts into softened ones. God, as always, broke down defenses. By Desloge, MO, we were chattering like old friends.

I have not written about the new year yet. Last week, I tried to cling to Christmas with one last article. It was a desperate attempt to trap Christmastime, kinda like my stubborn resistance to taking down the tree and sparkling white lights in my living room.

Today, I sit next to the shimmering tree and think about the new year. God keeps bringing three words back to me: “Hang in There”.

As we plunge into 2014, life won't always bring us what we've scheduled. As a matter of fact, I’ve learned from experience things seldom turn out exactly as I plan. I think God often laughs at my plans. He has such a better, growing alternatives.

Sometimes we have to hang in there to reap the benefit of the rocky road. Just like my mom and daughter cabin trip, we need to keep driving and trust God to pick up the pieces scattered along the way. Hang in there and hang on to God.

People, places, things and our own schemes will disappoint. Hang in there. God will catch us off guard with shimmering moments of wondrous love. Hang in there and be on the look out.

By the time we got to the historic village of Caledonia, MO, we spilled out of the car with laughter.

Memories washed over us like a warm shower as the bell on the door tinkled and we stomped across the rough wooden floor of the Village Mercantile.

We shared a fun lunch at Russell’s Diner. We rumbled down the hill to the cabin and gazed at the icy river. We took photos on the river and began the drive home. Two girls dozed in and out of contentment while I drove. We listened to old “Adventures in Odyssey” radio shows which brought back childhood memories for us all.

Hang in there. Don’t get hung up on problems or give up before the good stuff comes. God is so much bigger than our moods and our frustrations.

2014 may bring disruptions to our plans. Hang in there. Trust God with your life and keep driving.

If we look at disruptions through God’s eyes, we'll see the joy He has in store for us.

Hang in there. God has wonderful surprises along our bumpy road in 2014.