This 4th is the start of a very exciting week. Ben is already on vacation, and has this week and next off of work. We aren’t traveling anywhere but Ben’s mom is coming to us on the evening of the 4th. She will get to stay a week. We’ll have a good time and I’m looking forward to it.
This past weekend we were able to travel to Ada, OK to New Hope Baptist Church. My husband was able to preach and we were able to share our journey with the folks there. I really enjoyed spending time with that church family—such sweet people. It was encouraging to get to look back once again and share how God has been faithful and good to us.
My husband surprised me on Monday with a night away, just the two of us. Ethan stayed with uncle, aunt and cousin here in town. It was a great, relaxing time. I was surprised and I love surprises! It was a wonderful way to start off the vacation days. Yesterday, we drove to Tulsa to meet up with friends but went a little early to check out Tulsa’s newest attraction called The Gathering Place. We had heard about it and it is really neat. It is a free park, with acres of things to do. The children’s areas are vast and have multiple themes and levels of difficulty. We spent 2 ½ hours, mainly because of the heat, but could have spent much more. Thankfully, there is a cool lodge building you can hang out in to cool down. We went back and forth from that building and Ethan climbed and explored to his heart’s content in between. We didn’t actually see everything but we mostly covered the kids areas.
Joyanna is continuing to do well at TCC. She enjoyed a patriotic celebration yesterday afternoon. She is sleeping today for her infusion and it’s going well. She was awake when we arrived to get her this morning. Ben dropped us off at the hospital so that meant the 4 of us were in the van together for the first time in quite a while. Joy seemed to enjoy that by the smiles and wiggles we were seeing. She’ll come home next Wednesday—I’m on the fence about how to feel about that. I’m definitely excited for her to be home, and I’m glad she can ease into home routine a month before school starts, but I don’t want her to be too bored for that month since she’s been a social butterfly for the last two months. I’m ready to resume her care and yet, to be honest, I have really enjoyed flexibility in our schedule without having to plan for medicines, feedings, baths and bedtimes. I know there is grace for the transition but I’m sure we’ll hit a few bumps along the way. I’m really thankful then that there are lessons to be learned from the bumps and second chances when attitudes need adjusted, namely my attitude. 😉 Continue on in the journey!
It’s been a while since I purposely said thank you to those of you who are praying for us. I know many of you regularly lift us up to the Father and I still want to assure you that He is answering your prayers. We continue to know His grace and are strengthened in our hearts. Though things SEEM easier right now, we know we are being helped daily and we are grateful. May God richly bless you for the love you display through your prayers.
This is a good song to consider as Christians on this July 4th. Happy Birthday, America!
Who Will Go To America?
They left their homes in America,
To cross the ocean white and blue.
They carried their cross, not caring the loss,
So other souls could hear the truth.
But the lights grown dim in America
And sin will be our nation's doom.
We need more preaching in America,
For Jesus is coming soon.
Chorus
Who will go to America?
Land of the Red, White and Blue.
Who will go to America?
Tell me brother, why not you?
Our Savior sends his children forth,
To go to every land.
To the islands of the uttermost,
To find forgotten man.
But the most forgotten mission field
Is within our country's shores,
So will go to America?
She needs Jesus Christ the Lord.
Who will go to America?
Land of the Red, White and Blue.
Who will go to America?
Tell me brother, why not you?
America (Who will go to America?)
America (Who will go to America?)
God shed His grace on thee (Land of the Red, White and Blue).
America (Who will go to America?)
America (Who will go to America?)
Tell me brother, why not you?