In the Middle

And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
Final sentence in the Declaration of Independence

One week ago today was my 30th anniversary. One week from today, I will be divorced. I am in the middle of two very difficult days. The first milestone was one I yearned to reach and surpass, my parents not making it to 25 years. The second condition was one I never wanted to experience, nor even utter aloud. And yet, here I stand. Not understanding why God has allowed this to happen. Yet praying earnestly that I will be faithful to Him through it all.

Last Monday evening I was surrounded by dear, precious family and friends. Preparing for the occasion kept me busy all the day long. The love and prayers poured out for me and my two children served to carry me through, not only on the day itself, but for several days beyond.

God gave me a tangible reminder that I am not alone. Even in my darkest hours, He is with me. I thank and praise God for those who have walked with me down this difficult path, pledging their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

(Our fireworks were cancelled last evening, due to rain. I think that these flowers serve as an even better show, created by our Heavenly Father, and currently residing in the front yard.)

Anniversaries

On May 25, my dad had been gone for five years. Five years. Seems like yesterday. Seems like ages ago. I tried to write something. Couldn't get the words right. It still sits in my blog queue, with Draft staring at me in blue letters.

This past Sunday was our wedding anniversary. Twenty-nine years we've been married. Seems like yesterday. Seems like ages ago. Some of my childhood memories are still so fresh, that it seems impossible that I've been married longer than I was single.

Here is one of the prayers spoken at our wedding, back when we weren't even Christians yet. It's only one sentence, but there's a lot of meat in that sentence.

O God, who hast so consecrated the state of Matrimony that in it is represented the spiritual marriage and unity betwixt Christ and His Church; Look mercifully upon these thy servants, that they may love, honour, and cherish each other, and so live together in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and of peace; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit ever, one God, world without end. Amen.

The Form of Solemnization of Matrimony
Book of Common Prayer

Another Milestone

This isn't our son's, but the x-ray we saw at the doctor today was somewhat similar. There was notable bone growth visible! Praise God! We can see the steel plate (our son's is quite a bit longer than this) and the screws, but we also saw much more bone growth. Just as God knits us together in the womb, we have been able to see the same knitting together of our son's bone over the past few months as we view the x-rays.

Today the surgeon gave the go-ahead to put full weight on the broken leg. Such progress! When we got home, my tall twelve-year-old son took two steps without the walker and gave me a hug and a big smile.

It was far better than his first steps when he was a baby!

Thank you, Lord!

September Sixteenth

On September 16, 1984, my husband and I both became Christians.

On September 16, 1994, we received word that our adoption agency had a child chosen for us, and we saw our son's picture for the first time.

On September 16, 1998, our two children became U.S. citizens.

Today, September 16, 2006, we gave our children new Bibles. This was our daughter's first full-length Bible, after having used only a children's Bible. She looked at it and said, "Is there a bigger Bible after this?" We replied, "No, honey. This is the whole Bible. Every word that's in the Bible, you now have in your Bible!"

Thank you, Lord!