God has brought us such a long way in such a short time! We are no longer living in the 5th wheel rv; we are in what may as well be a mansion to us - a beautiful 3-bedroom, 2 bath apartment! Emily has her own room (with a door!), Andrew has his own room (with a door!), we have a washer and dryer IN our apartment, our puppy is back with us, our stuff is once again all in one location. I LOVE OUR HOME!
We are still a one-car family, but our one car is now a NEW car (a slightly used new car), that runs so smoothly, and has air conditioning, and just enough room in the trunk for Randall's equipment. He rushed right out and had his Okie Bugs logo put on it - looks great! Makes him feel so much more professional. Me - I'm just relieved to have air conditioning this summer!
The health problems i dealt with for 8 months are finally healed because i had surgery at the end of February. I like to say that i finally have my life back; Randall likes to say he has his wife back.
We made it through the first year of a new business - ALL praises to the Lord! - and are looking forward to a busy busy bug season over the next 6 months.
On February 8 we also celebrated our 20th year of marital bliss, the same day we moved into our apartment. So since we spent the whole day (actually several days) moving we really didn't get to "celebrate" in a way that i had always pictured celebrating a milestone like 20 years. But it's impossible for me to complain about that when i am married to a man who can stand by me with such patience and devotion during those health problems i mentioned above. I simply don't know why God gave me such an amazing husband. Gratefulness and thankfulness does not begin to cover it.
Life is certainly not perfect for us, as it's not for anyone, but God has given us a respite from the trials and adversity we've been straining under the weight of for the last 2 1/2 years, particularly the last year, and most especially the last 5 months. The thing is, during the months that i was processing all the epiphanies and revelations from our hardships in Italy i was so confounded by God's amazing-ness that i told Him repeatedly, "Let's do it again, Lord! Next time i'll trust You more." Well, we did do it again, only not in Italy like i had pictured, but right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I knew the whole time we were going through such oppressive adversity that this was something of a test to see if i would trust Him, and i'm so relieved to say i did. I think i've learned that lesson - at least for now. I pray i NEVER forget it - that just because we have trials, tribulations, suffering or adversity in our lives does not mean that God has abandoned, betrayed, or forsaken us.
A precious lady at church who was suffering with shingles told me one day last fall that during times when the pain was particularly unbearable she would say over and over again, "Thank You, Lord, for this pain", because she didn't want satan to have any triumph over her trials. Wow!!! I'm all about not giving satan any credit, so every day that i looked into our post office box and no checks were there to pay the bills or put gas in the car, i would say, "Thank You, Lord, for this empty mailbox." I can honestly say i did not feel thankful; it was enough to put me in a bad (no - foul -) mood. But i said it anyway to remind myself that we are to "Consider it a great joy whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance." (James 1:2-3) During other moments when it seemed impossible to take another step or another breath i would say out loud, "I trust You, Jesus. I trust You, Jesus."
So my life right now is wrapped up in giving my children the stability and routine they've lacked for several months, as well as chasing my never-ending quest for simplicity. And overflowing with thankfulness for my home, family, and church. And i will praise the Lord for bringing us through the fires, and i will praise Him for the times of refreshment.
