Rejoice ...

i think ...

no actually i know

i am a pretender

i like to pretend that things are great...

i like to pretend that this deployment is all going to be good

that i will not be discouraged ...

pretend that we will not be affected

and yet ...

deep inside... way down i know the truth

we are going to go through ups and downs

we are going to have days of deep lows

days of nothing but heartache and tears

and that... is truth

you see God never says it will all be an easy walk

he says ...

And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God... Not only so

but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know

that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character

and character, hope.

Romans 5:1-5

and today i continue on ...

rejoicing

in my kids ... in the fact that first thing this morning i was able

to hear my husband's voice on the line...

rejoicing in friendships

looking out my window last night to see a friend

scraping off my snow covered car ...

receiving a perfectly timed email of encouragement ...

neighbors shoveling my sidewalks

good girlfriends bringing pizza and Starbucks

friends stopping only to give a quick hug

yes ... today i will continue to REJOICE!

knowing that even on the days of suffering ...

 He is here

He is whispering in the ears of those around me, He is providing

encouragement ... He is doing just as He promised He would

demonstrating His love

xo