Grandma's 1st Christmas

Don't you love this ornament? My friend, Faith, gave it to me on a beautifully decorated mini-Christmas tree.

Christmas was one to remember. We missed Roxanne and Joel this year as they moved to Ft. Collins, Colorado. And we welcomed Swen to our family Christmas. Swen came in his Santa suit.

This gramma stuff is so cool! Dan enjoys being grampa too, check out this photo at the Bond's house. Yes, those are reindeer antlers they are both wearing.

Amy and I enjoyed seeing the movie "P.S. I Love You" and we both cried like babies. Be sure to take plenty of tissue if you see it.

It's been a long 6 months living an ocean apart. You can get updates on Dan's health at our Eagle's Wings blog (http://www.dananddeb.blogspot.com). Dan and I had a long talk about our options, and it comes down to this - things need to stay the same, we really have no choice for many reasons (disability status means Dan cannot work, doctors say he can't drive, I must keep working and need to be in Hawaii with Mom). We fought anger at feeling trapped with no idea when things will change. HOWEVER...

God is pretty amazing. He gave me some special friends to encourage me (my bosses, Joy and Carlye, just to name a few). AND He gave me some insights that I'd like to share with you.

God reminded me that I had been praying for discernment to know His will (as in "what do we do now, Lord?"). And apparently, I am so dense that He had to answer that request by literally closing all other doors and windows, so we have no other options but to trust Him with every next step. I realized that usually when I pray these kind of prayers, I already have a pretty good idea of how that answered prayer should look like. God's ways are sure not our ways.

I like pictures, examples, sermon illustrations, all these help me understand a concept clearly. So God who knows me better than anyone gave me a visualization - a mouse in a maze. The scientist is right there watching the mouse try to find the goal...a piece of cheese maybe. The mouse takes this turn and that turn, and the scientist, seeing the result of the wrong turn, blocks the upcoming path with his hand. The mouse might then either turn back, or take another wrong turn and the scientist must put his other hand behind and around the mouse to keep it from danger ahead. The mouse feels "trapped", unable to see beyond the scientist. But step back and look at the journey from the scientist's perspective and you see the bigger picture.

God then reminded me of Psalm 139:5 "You hem me in behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me." Truly a verse meant for women or men who sew. I imagine myself in God's hem. not "trapped" but completely covered by His fabric, stitched in behind me and ahead of me, and His hand is covering me.

Rick Warren in his book "The Purpose Driven Life" begins with "It's not about you." As difficult as these 6 months have been, I'm reminded that it's really not about us anyway. From God's perspective (like the scientist and the maze), His purpose for Dan's illness and the circumstances of our journey may not even be about us, but may be for someone else's benefit either living now or generations later. How many times do you remember a friend or relative whose story is still told today and either makes you laugh, strengthens your resolve, keeps you going? Their faith in God inspires you.

Lord, I am amazed by your ways, your amazing grace and mercy, how you know just how to meet my every need. Please, please help Dan and I to walk well, to wait well, to take our next step well...to fulfill your purposes. When Dan and I are lonesome for each other, when Dan can't read a paragraph well, when I have too many deadlines and projects in my inboxes, when Swen won't stop whining for Amy and Adam...bring the "mouse in a maze" picture to our minds as we sense your hand covering us in your hem.

To God be the glory,

Debbie