Isn't God Great?

I feel moved to somehow put my feelings together so bear with me. I'm not sure where this is going!

I've been blessed to be a stay-at-home Mom since my son, Jesse, was born way back in 1996. Although, back then I may have said blessed but didn't really "understand". Jesse was the best baby ever! A big 9 pounder (9lb. 10oz.) so not to scary to hold! He slept good wherever. Oh, was I blessed!! I used to rock him in my glider rocker - a must have for moms (& grandmas). I would even hold him his whole nap and just look at him. He can be quite the stinker now but he truly was the best baby ever!

So tonight, as I rocked my two year old, Emma, I thought back over the past 2yrs and 10mo. What a journey our family has taken. Emma was the total opposite of Jesse. She is and has been quite the stinker. I'm hoping it will get better!! But, tonight I just was rocking this precious child of mine with the biggest smile ever.

Shortly after we found out I was pregnant, Derek lost his job. Not so bad at first but time took it's toll. We weren't down to our last drop of oil and bit of flour like the widow in 1 kings 17 but it was starting to get a little scary!

However, there were blessings. We had a lot of extra time to spend together. We took up a paper route that covered southern Nappanee. Beautiful drive. I don't know, I think it started at 1 hr & 10 minutes but Derek just knew he could get it shorter! I think he did get it down to 50 minutes. I know those of you that have had a paper route are laughing because you've probably done the same thing!

Once Derek got a job, Jesse and I did the route during the week in the afternoons. We had great conversations while listening to our friend, WFRN, and seeing the countryside. Funny memories would be the the 1 pony standing amidst the large work horses and of course the older Amish man in a bathing suit! My favorite was the Sunday morning route with Derek in Rusty. It was so peaceful! The country side was just beginning to awaken.

Rusty was our truck. Trying to make ends meet, we sold some vehicles and purchased one little, rusty, red truck for $495 - no payments ever! Derek humbly drove this truck every day. I think it was a 1984 Chevy S15 or something. Rusty was great. Eventually, Derek upgraded for his 1992 GPA (Grandpa's Park Avenue). We still kept rusty. Two winters ago, we had some snow. Derek & Jesse threw our inherited 19something Gilson snow blower in the back of old Rusty and drove into town to clear some paths. I guess they almost got stuck, hit a sign and LAUGHED really hard!! Good times were had in Rusty. But, poor Rusty didn't make it through the tornado.

The tornado has been on my mind this week as the 1 year anniversary approaches. I'm hoping to write some blogs about that as well.

Anyways, I can remember rocking Emma after she was born. She had acid reflux so we spent A LOT of time rocking and singing. One night I realized I was mad at God. Derek had a job but the time without was just too much. Our house was for sale but like MANY others, we were having no luck. There was just so much "life" going on that I was ready to crack! And I knew God is not supposed to give you more than you could handle. I was pretty sure I had way more than I could handle! I also knew that God is always right which makes it impossible to win an argument with Him!

It's okay though, God brought me out of that hole. He helped me find my smile. I got back into His Word (lack of it is what usually starts the funk). And just in time because . . . BOOM, a tornado hit our house! You'd think I would really lose it now, right? I am so thankful that I was in His word. I can say that if I had not been, I would be committed right now.

When the tornado hit, we had just celebrated Emma's first birthday. Still rocking before bed, but that's okay. Rocking a baby is the best! And I missed that after the tornado. While we rented, I didn't have that glider rocker in her room. We had some of our furniture at the rental but not the glider rocker.

About 6 months later, our home was rebuilt and we were back in. I remember that first time I rocked Emma. What a comforting feeling! Tonight, I just smiled as I rocked that precious child of mine. I thought about the past couple years. I smiled as Buttercup, our cat, checked in on Emma and I. We weren't sure what happened to Buttercup the night of the tornado. But here we are a year later with her safe and sound. We're all safe and sound. Isn't God great? I think He is!

Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
His greatness no one can fathom. Psalm 145:3