Back From The Family Vacation

It’s been almost a week since I last wrote a blog but we’ve been to Texas and back since last Tuesday and I’m SO thankful to be back where the humidity is in the lower 90% instead of over 100%. In Arkansas, with the current heat wave, you break out in a drenching sweat in minutes. In Texas, specifically Austin, you have a black t-shirt within seconds.

No joke.

Thankfully, we stayed at my wife’s sister’s home, which I might add has a beautiful pool in the backyard and to which we utilized…many times. While Dave & I tasted the bitterness of defeat at the hands of the ladies’ in Spades, we thoroughly trounced them in a cool game called “Sequence”. Still, to be beaten like a rented mule at Spades…that’s not like us. Must’ve been the deck we were playing with.

We’d gone to the Ringling Brothers Circus in Dallas last Wednesday night, second row seats at the American Airlines Arena and in full view and grasp of the “odiferous emanations” that came from a number of huge elephants & tigers. Jake summed it up best when he simply looked at me and said

“Those elephants are stanky!!”

Yes, they were. Smelled them for up to 5 days afterwards. You know how it is when you smell something that is so retched that it stays with you subconsciously for days at a time? That’s how rotten elephant exhaust was for me.

However, elephantal hygiene aside (yes, I know I made up a word there), it’s great to be back home and getting back into our groove. Kaitlyn has less than 2 weeks before 3rd grade starts so we’re trying to make the most of it with her. Jake is getting back to school, where he was welcomed back like a triumphant war hero yesterday and the missus is working harder than ever in a tiresome, redundant routine that we HOPE sees some relief soon.

I’ve got a couple topics I want to get into the remainder of the week. I need to write them down so I won’t forget them and so I will have time to develop these thoughts out completely and in a well-communicated fashion.

One last word though for today. This is for a special reader who may or may not be able to see this today. I’ll refer to this person as “T” but for them and anyone else who may be hurting tonight, I hope that these passages from the Bible will lift and encourage you.

Jeremiah 29:11 (this is one I really hang my hat on)
“For I know the plans I have for you”-this is the Lord’s declaration-“plans for your welfare, nor for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. You will call to Me and come and pray to Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”

Psalm 4:7-8
“You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and new wine abound. I will both lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, Lord, make me live in safety.”

Psalm 5:8
“Lord, lead me in Your righteousness, because of my adversaries; make Your way straight before me.”

Psalm 9:10
“Those who know Your name trust in You because You have not abandoned those who seek You, Lord.”

Psalm 18:25
“With the faithful, You prove Yourself faithful;
With the blameless man You prove Yourself blameless;
With the pure You prove Yourself pure”

As the storms of life continue to wreak havoc around our lives, may we hold fast to the One whom we can anchor our lives to without fear or regret. One of the greatest truths I’ve come to rely upon each and every day is that God loves His children and by His word, He will never leave nor forsake us. If the God of all gods, the King of all kings cares enough about the sparrows of the field to provide for their every need, as His word says, “won’t He do much more for you?”

I know these times seem to be engulfed in complete darkness, yet through it all, we can be assured that joy will come in the morning and His blessed light will rise in our hearts!!

May God pour out His richest blessings and protection on you all this very night.