Splitting All Day

Last weekend when we were at the cabin we borrowed a friend's log splitter. We had a lot of wood to split. Last spring we had 9 trees cut down, plus the electric comapny had cut down some trees along the road. So we had lots of wood to split. Craig's mom (Marcy)met us at the shop where we started our day. Craig ran the wood splitter, and Marcy and I loaded it in the wheelbarrow, took it over to an old semi trailer, and stacked it inside. Then we'd load up some from a flat bed trailer and take it back for Craig to split. We worked there for almost 3 hours. After lunch we started on the piles at the cabin. This time I ran the splitter, Craig filled the bucket of his Oliver tractor with the wood and took it down the the driveway where Marcy stacked it. Later Marcy and Craig ran the splitter and I stacked wood. At 5:30 we were finally done. All the wood was split, stacked, and covered. Just in time - it rained all night and all day Sunday. Craig and I were exhausted- and stiff the next morning. But Marcy said she jumped right out of bed. She's amazing.
It feels so good to have the wood cut. Now we just have to get a wood stove to burn it in:)

The wisdom of God

"The wisdom of God tells us that God will bring about the best possible results, by the best possible means, for the most possible people for the longest possible time." (from God: As He Longs for You to See Him by Chip Ingram, p. 128) If I believe this, then I have to conclude that God is allowing/using my current circumstances to do something in me and/or through me and that it couldn't be done better any other way. If I really believe that God is all-wise, then I must trust Him, and I must remember that He has not promised that I will always be happy and comfortable. He is giving me what's best for me, from His wisdom, to make me more like HIs Son, Jesus Christ. He has promised to always be with me, and that I will have a home with Him eternally.
So, can I trust Him? Can I stop wanting my life to be different, and spend more time seeking His wisdom? How can I not trust Him?

Another Week

Here it is Sunday night, and I am alone again. For another week. Craig and I had a great weekend at the cabin. Even though it snowed! We slept in a little bit, organized the guest bedroom, built some shelves, and watched the Vikings game. Craig even got in a bit of time at his shop, and we had a great breakfast over at his mom's house.
But when we got back home, Craig had to leave to go back on the road. He needs to be in Iowa by tomorrow morning. I am really getting tired of being alone all week. I don't have any answers about what we could do differently. So I just keep praying about it. Craig asked me earlier today if I could have one wish, what would it be? Here is my answer - I want to be together at least every evening after work, and I want to participate in some form of ministry together. I don't know if it would be up north at our cabin, or here at home. I don't know what kind of ministry - delivering meals on wheels, teaching Sunday School, visiting shut-ins, working at a shelter, etc.

But, it seems that for now, God's answer to my prayer is to wait. I want to be thankful for my job and Craig's job. We do feel that He provided these jobs for us. I want to be thankful for all we have. But I don't want to look back at my life and wonder why we spent so much time apart. What was so important about working that we were willing to sacrifice time together?
I will wait for God's answer, and I will keep going to work, keep trying to be a witness at my job, keep my eyes open for people that I can share God's love with, and keep trying to live one day at a time- enjoying each day. And I will keep talking to God about the desire of my heart- to be with Craig.

My Grandchildren

Here is a picture of my son, daughter-in-law and their family. Don't I just have the most beautiful children and grandchildren? I wish that we lived closer so that I could see them every day, or that I didn't have to work so that I could go and stay with them.

Since neither of those things is true, I will be content with occasional visits, telephone calls, these wonderful pictures, and lots of prayers for them. I pray for wisdom and patience for Brenton and Stephanie as they try to be good parents. I pray for Jake, Izzy, and Drew - that they will know Jesus personally and will grow to live their lives for Him. I pray for their safety and their health. I will tell them every time I talk with them about how much I love them . And I know that God loves them even more than I do and that He is with them always.