But God

 

OUTCOME

The outcome was all good.

The outcome was better than expected.

No one could have predicted the outcome.

It was a list of inputs and outcomes.

-

The outcome was better than I expected, but that’s probably because I always prepare for the worst and am overjoyed by the best.

Our mom had big debt, and we worried about paying it off as she aged. But God allowed her neighborhood to flourish and grow in value. Once her house sold, debts were paid with even some left over. I did not think that was possible.

Given the struggles our marriage has gone through and the trouble our children have had over the years, I would not have imagined this present outcome of our pleasant home, our growing successful family, and our solid marriage. God is so good.

As we struggled with bills 30 years ago, I had almost given up hope of us realizing our dream of having a small place out in the country. But here we are and the steps we followed to get here are pure God – no one would have predicted the outcome. In fact, the predictions were quite the opposite.

When the bad times came during our homeschooling years, I questioned our decision to sacrifice certain things to educate our children at home. But the outcomes have been way beyond amazing. We are so blessed.

I will be forever thankful that God holds the outcome.

 

“The horse is prepared for the day of battle,

But the victory belongs to the Lord.”

-          Proverbs 21:31

“For nothing will be impossible with God.”

-          Luke 1:37

 

FMF

In the middle of pivoting

 

Pivot, turning point, swivel point, axel, hinge, pin, hub, heart

To pivot on its axis

Pivot the drill to keep the screw going in straight

The moment was a pivotal point in my life

Pivot on your toes (like a ballerina), face the basket, shoot from your hips

 

It was a pivotal moment -

The birth of my first baby and the first day with her

The death of my father

The death of my best friend

The explosion within my marriage (don’t worry, God healed, we’re still married)

Attending my son’s graduation from Marine Boot Camp

The completion of my first novel (as yet unpublished)

The publication of my first book (non-fiction)

The first days of a new job

And the events of the past few months, all crammed together to create a huge pivot, which is still pivoting … I think

It’s difficult to perceive a pivot in time when I am in the middle of it. But I know that is what is happening now. Mom’s death, a trip by car to Arizona, finding out things I didn’t know about my childhood/mom/dad/past, saying good-bye to my childhood home for the last time, a last minute trip to Wisconsin and my youngest daughter moving back in for a while, my husband retiring, me quitting my job because my husband asked me to (it’s alright, I was ready to leave anyway)

All in four months

… I’m totally in the middle of pivoting … still moving in a new direction … still waiting for the movement to stop so I can catch my breath …still sorting through all my stash of possessions and giving away things to make room for other things … still writing impressions and emotions and discoveries and mourning losses and celebrating freedoms and finding a space for daily pondering with God.  

Spending time in The Word is a pin, an anchor, to hold me in place during all this movement. So is writing ...

FMF - Go see what others are saying about "pivot" ...

P.S. ... could you give me a like and a follow so I don't lose you and you don't lose me? Thank you. 

Today's Vibe is ...

 By VIBE, I feel like I need to say what society is going through, but that's from my high school days, when we used to ask people we meet, "What's the vibe?" (How are things going today, physically, emotionally, situationally, etc.) ... or "I don't like the vibe in this room" (a feeling of tenseness or anger). 

Well, this week I have been contemplating Juneteenth and all the emotions and opinions surrounding it in my area. Mostly people around here don't like it because, 1. It's a new national holiday, so no mail, no bank, etc. and 2. It doesn't pertain to them much. 

But I disagree. I'm glad we finally have a holiday that commemorates the ending of the American Civil War and the ending of legal slavery. 

What a horrible time that was in our history, so much hatred, so much strife, so much death, so much destruction. I hate to say it was worth it, but a lot of good came out of it.

And we should celebrate the good.

So, my five minutes of thought on VIBE is how I choose to use today. I will do my responsibilities in gratefulness. I will work toward freedom in all its forms for myself and for those around me. I will celebrate the unity we have in our country in all its forms and strive to live in unity with all those around me, especially my family. 

And I will work toward peace in my heart, in my home, in my family, and in my community. 

That's more than enough work for any human being. 

Today's VIBE is positive!

Five Minute Friday is the place to be today. Go check it out.