Thankful

I have been meaning to post sooner and thank all of you for your prayers while Jacob has been gone. God didn't answer my prayers the way I thought he might last Wednesday, but His ways are always better! I WAS exhausted after Bible study, but we managed to buy a few things at the grocery store, got ourselves home and ate lunch before I crashed for an hour nap. I'm thankful Jordan does room time and then continues to entertain herself during those crashes! I'm also thankful those naps give me enough energy to make it until the girls' bedtime! I got the kitchen cleaned up and the dishes done about 10pm. The train wreck that had occurred in the living room finally got cleaned up including the clothes that needed putting up on Thursday. Those towels managed to get washed on Thursday too. Jacob didn't sleep any on his flight even though he had a whole row to himself, but it sounded like he got a lot of work done! When I woke up Thursday morning with only a couple things checked off my to-do list, I had an overwhelming sense of peace. I knew we were being prayed for and that peace was better than everything going exactly how I had wanted.

The rest of the week has gone well. Friday morning, the lady who cleans our apartment called sick. It was amazing though that I already had everything picked up and I hadn't left any dishes for her to wash, so cleaning the bathrooms and vacuuming was pretty quick and easy to do! Four-thirty Sunday morning, Keely woke up with a fever. When we woke later that morning the fever meds were doing their job, but it was starting to climb again so we gave her more. I was thankful that we have a pharmacy that is a two-minute walk away! I kept her medicated all day and we kept her fever under 100. She had Iowa Testing this week and I didn't want her to be sick. She was able to go to school Monday. She was tired though, and we went at lunchtime to check on her. We wanted to make sure she wasn't exhausted and needed to crawl into bed! Jordan started getting the low-grade fever too, but everyone is mostly well now. Just some allergy symptoms, which is typical this time of year for our family!

Yesterday afternoon and evening we seemed to have had enough of this three person family and were ready to be reunited with Jacob! Only 3 sleeps left! "I think I can, I think I can!"

Again, thank you for your prayers. They are appreciated and we are definitely feeling them!

Reflections

Jacob just left for the airport awhile ago. His alarm went off at 5am, but he didn't move after he turned it off. I laid there in bed, waiting for it to go off again. I finally glanced at the clock, 5:06 -- the snooze wouldn't have gone off yet. The next time I glance at the clock it is 5:21 -- I must have dozed off and Jacob must have turned off the alarm instead of hitting snooze. I finally rouse him awake. "I couldn't go to sleep last night," he says. He didn't sleep well the past two nights, and so I didn't either. Jordan prayed at dinner that I would feel well today so I could spend a lot of time with her. Not sleeping well doesn't help my chronic fatigue and aches and pains. I pray I can spend a lot of time with you too, sweet Jordan. I pray keeping up with the kitchen and dishes won't exhaust me. I pray putting up the laundry that is overflowing the living room that Jacob sweetly folded last night won't exhaust me. I pray washing the bath towels that never dry from one use to the next in this humid city won't exhaust me. I pray going to our Bible study this morning won't exhaust me. I pray Jacob can finally get some rest on the plane. I pray his meetings could actually be restful and rejuvenating and not energy sucking. I pray that this overflowing plate of Jacob's to-do list will get more manageable. As I reflect in these early moments, while it is still quiet, I see how my crazy ailments and Jacob's overwhelming task list just feeds off of each other. I am thankful for the sweet family moments we had on vacation last week. I am amazed that even through rain and crowds, we managed to find some relaxation before the next months-- maybe even year-- spirals into a busy flurry. Oh Lord, this family won't make it without you. You alone know all we need, and I pray for your guidance and your hand as we begin this busy and exhausting season of life.