Blessed, and sad Haiti update at end

Prague

 With transitions come reflections.

Fritz and I are reading Pastor David Jeremiah's  book Revealing the Mysteries of Heaven as my dad gets closer to the end of his earthly life.

Reminds me that none of us know how much time we have left and we need to be intentional with today. 

As children of God we have much to look forward to in the future. What a comfort when one believes and trusts.

My aunt visited the other day and they talked about church camp. She told how when Dad was 9 years or so he returned from church camp he asked her about her salvation. 

His whole life he's served the Lord and wanted others to find salvation and put their trust and hope in his Savior. 

I'm so very blessed to have this time with family.

Fritz is enjoying 4 days with Uncle Todd and Aunt Beth at "Uncle Camp".

All of us are enjoying seeing pictures and reports of Eli and Anna's trip around Europe. So very thankful they have this time together. 

Before Eli headed off to college the most they had ever been apart was only one night. 

Just to be here in Michigan to help with little things means a lot:  letting the dog out / in; making a favorite pie; pulling weeds; sharing food; answering a phone; pulling weeds, cleaning up or organizing, reporting on our different projects or what the kids are doing...and so much more. 

My favorite times are praying together or just sitting around hanging out....not doing anything really special other than being together. 

A hundred little memories to store up for days to come.

Remembering together a life time of stories: some new, some familiar, some worn and changed by retellings.

Snapshots of a life well lived handled carefully as precious items should be with care and intention.

A togetherness planned by God from the beginning of time when He decided we would be a family. 

More blessings than we can consciously count or recognize. 

So we name the blessings with gratitude that we do notice,

giving honor to the Lord.

Our amazing support team and friends always make the list. So thank you!

                      Haiti:

We hear kidnappings are increasing again in Haiti.

 Also that 80% of Port au Prince is under gang control.

The US Embassy non-essential staff was ordered to leave on Thursday.

The news tonight reports an American school nurse and her child being kidnapped.

2 Americans have been kidnapped in Haiti, organization says

We continue to earnestly pray for the Lord to extend mercy and grace to Haiti's people. Revival is so needed.