Symphony Before Sunrise

The heat is relentless; even at 5am when I open the door to take Maggie outside, I am met with a wall of hot steamy air that takes my breath away. The sun will rise later, white-hot in the cloudless blue sky and the temperatures are predicted to soar past 100 again today. Meanwhile, I am continuing to water the smallest trees and shrubs in an attempt to save them from certain death. My yard is littered with fallen leaves from trees that have already gone dormant to save their own lives. We haven’t mowed the grass since sometime in May; there is nothing to mow. The cracked and dry ground cries out for rain that doesn’t come; this is July in Arkansas.

Dreaming of the cooling winds of autumn, I close the doors and windows against the heat of the day, only venturing out to the air-conditioned comfort of my car. My days have developed a rhythm of their own and every one of them is a new adventure.  I refill my coffee cup in the mornings, and I bless God for allowing me this season of my life. The day stretches before me with only the outlines roughed in, and invites me to fill it in with color and life. Lots of days I color outside the lines.

Yesterday morning I met for coffee with my friend Diane. She has been my prayer partner for many years, and we have seen God do some amazing things in response to binding our faith together.  We are both radical in our beliefs, and have learned not to put limits on what we believe for. The Bible says that iron sharpens iron; we sharpen one another, each of us encouraging and praying for the other.

Later, I picked up sandwiches and headed to my sister’s workplace for lunch. She is probably my closest friend, the one who knows all the bad about me and loves me anyway. We lived far apart for many years of our lives, although not by choice; God promises that He will restore to us the years that the locusts have eaten, and He has done that for us. He has given us back the time that we missed, all those years that we were apart. He is a God of promises, and He is faithful to do what He says.

Sissy and Me, Then and Now

Then home again to the cool sanctuary that is my beloved cabin by the woods. I spent the afternoon napping and crocheting while I waited for Chuck to come home. My life has spiraled down to its simplest form, and I do not miss the drama and the stress from my former workplace.  I am so thankful for my life, and for the choices that He places before me every day; I am so thankful for who I am and where I am.

Which brings me to the secret I promised to share….. The time is now right, and I have permission from those that are involved. There is a baby on the way. My first grandchild is due to be born in late February or early March of next year. Another promise fulfilled, and another example of His mercy and His blessings. I covet your prayers for this precious child. Here is a tiny picture of this little miracle; the baby is the one in the center, looking like a Gummi Bear.

The sun is coming up; I am off to color in this day, to see lies ahead and to enjoy what I find there. Sometimes my heart is so full I can’t even contain it all; God is so good, and life is so sweet.