Well, here I am. Arrived on Monday. A wonderful, tearful, laughter filled greeting with my friend Miriam and my God children Yotam, Noa, and Matan. My how they have grown. Yotam will be going into the army this fall. It can’t be possible! It seems like only yesterday he was just a baby and his mother and I were singing songs to him…

Dived right into my private work, and slowly starting to get back into the life here. The first thing I noticed was how many cars were parked on sidewalks – more than ever before. Something that totally surprised Rich when he had come to visit me before we had married. He would not have been happy to see all the cars on the sidewalk now–something that is not acceptable in the US.

The next thing I noticed? How could I miss it? Warmth! The wonderful warm air… getting warmer each day. And last night, moving into summer time for the second time this year! I’ve lost so many hours I’m not sure what time or day it is any more!

So this will just be a quick post to let you know that all is well.

This morning, as I considered my relationship with Jesus, I realize how often I fail Him in so many little ways. I remembered how, when I first married, one day, Rich, the kids and I were talking at the kitchen table. For some reason, everyone got upset… it all came out wrong. While we talked, I’d notice Rich’s leg bumping into mine… and kept trying to move to give him more room, and the conversation deteriorated. Later that night, I told Rich how awful I felt. I told him, “You knew I was messing everything up… why didn’t you tell me to shut up?”

He looked at me gently and answered, “That was why I kept tapping your leg with mine…”

I looked at him in shock, “you mean…” and I realized how very gentle my husband was and what a blessing I’d been given, and how I’d disappointed him by not noticing his gentle and caring warning, which, if heeded, would have prevented what happened.

I’ve had many reasons to think about that moment with him since he died. And I realize, that all too many times I ignore the gentle tap of God’s spirit in the little things of life. And I felt terrible when I realized I had disappointed my husband by ignoring his warnings… but what about when I disappoint the Savior and Lover of my Soul? A bad attitude here, going to bed late there, an extra game drawing my attention from important things, only 5 minutes or 10 or 60… As I thought about this, a new thought came to me.

Do I even begin to comprehend what the Scripture says when we consider that Jesus gave His life for us? Not just that He died for us… but His life? He lived for us.

• Born of a virgin, He was a weak, helpless baby
• He was a toddler learning to walk
• He was a teen learning to live differently from His peers
• He was a young man, learning a trade, supporting His family
• And at 30, He was baptized, fasted, taught, had disciples, walked a dusty earth
• He was despised and rejected

When we say Jesus gave His life for us, do we grasp what the creator of the Universe has done? Do we get it?

“In the beginning God”
(Genesis 1:1 NAS95)

“Then God said…” (which means he spoke “words”)
(Genesis 1:3 NAS95)

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us”
(John 1:14 NAS95)

His entire life was a part of our redemption–not just His death! And the resurrection? The proof of a perfect life. His death, an accepted sacrifice, His resurrection, the seal of our redemption.

And so I pray, that I will be more sensitive to His gentle taps on my heart to obey in the little things and the big things…

And be more appreciative of what it means when I consider  how God gave His son to give me life.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
(John 3:16-18 NAS95)

I promise to post, and then get so caught up with things that I forget to! So where do I begin?

I arrived in Michigan with snow flurries a week ago last Saturday. I was blessed to find out that the kids had planned to celebrate my s-daughter’s 21st birthday that Sunday. We had a great time. I sorely missed Rich (DUH!), but it was so good to be with everyone. Seems that Guay cat has adjusted to his new surroundings. He heard my voice and braved joining us for a bit… and was quite the talker most of the afternoon. So of course, I had to hold him while we took a family picture. It was SO good to see the kids, and Rich’s brothers again.

This week I’ve been focusing on getting caught up with paper-work and trying to eventually get some work done. Paper-work? Had to get a paper notarized and signed as an Apostille (get a dictionary) for Israel. In addition, I had paid for my car registration and never gotten new tags (though after several phone calls, I was assured they’d been mailed to me-twice). So I went to a Grand Rapids Secretary of State SuperCenter. Got the Apostile ($1 and immediate as opposed to over $50 and 2 weeks in Colorado – go figure?!). Re my car registration? The clerk said she thought whoever talked to me at the main office in Lansing was playing games with me. She reissued the registration and gave me new stickers on the spot – no additional charge. I was thankful, since the Apostille cost $50 to mail to Israel (guaranteed delivery by last Friday). However, the papers only arrived in Israel today (Sunday) an hour or so ago… ARGH! Now I understand why my letters that they guarantee 10 days delivery take 3 weeks to get there…

So then I could finally get back to my contract work. To my dismay my laptop started doing freaky things. Long story short, someone in my Michigan congregation was kind enough to take a look at it. Took an entire evening and an early morning for him to discover that it was a very sneaky virus that somehow gets into the root files and operating system. He was able to find it, remove it, and get my computer working back to normal.

Hallelujah!

In between, the State of Michigan has had ONE whole SUNNY day since I got back. They say the temp will be in the 50s next week. I’m not holding my breath.

I’m staying with a friend named Sue until I fly for Israel in two weeks. It has been a really fun time so far. And funny. Every time she asks me what I prefer re food… I pick the same thing she would pick! I think that means we are sisters! She lives in farm country and despite the grayness outdoors, the views are lovely, horses in fields, dogs running down a dirt road, branches waving in the wind while we enjoy being cozy warm inside.

My heart is filled with thankfulness to God for His goodness to me. In caring for me in the big things (keeping safe on the long drive back), and in the little things (like getting my computer virus removed quickly). I’m so thankful to be able to be with friends and see my family again… it is good to enjoy the here and now, and to rest in my Savior, knowing that He has the future well in control.