Summertime Amid the Storms

I was going about my daily toil last week, and it hit me all of a sudden,    .......I'm happy...  WHat???

Yes, I was surprised by joy.   The funny thing is, I thought that I was doing fine before last week.   I guess when the storms of life become almost constant, you turn off your expectations for a while.

We have had a lovely month or two.  We have gotten work done, and handled stresses that have happened with love and peaceful responses. (Yes, even the attempted break-in at our home)  I feel a bit more comfortable in our daily routine, and I am finally getting a grip on teaching Shurley English.   The kids are doing a bit better, and Mark is starting to play funny little pranks.  When he climbed on the changing table facing left hand instead of right, he laughs "Look Mom, I'm the wrong way!"  HAHAHAHhahahhaaha!  

Levi is starting to take interest in his history reading, and I caught him reading the Book of Presidents for fun last night.   Miss Charlotte is a delight,  has loved learning to cook ala Anika, and she is burning through her history reading with speed and comprehension.  My wonderful super-hubby has been so patient with our school messes, and has been happy to help pile the half finished school grading off the table for dinnertime. 

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."


But look what's in front of that verse!

"This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. "

This is written to a people in captivity, not in their own place, not at home, torn between what they wanted, and what God in his merciful providence had given them. They weren't going back, nope, not for 70 years.  Their kids might go back, but not them. 
 
Sinning spouses, bratty kids, disease, birth defects, robbery, poverty, house fires, friends who turn out to be enemies in disguise, injuries, unidentifiable long term pain, church tearing wolves, a nation in unrepentant sin, death of those we love

EVEN THEN........  "I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not evil."    

 A psalm. A song. For the dedication of the temple.^[b] Of David.
 ¹ I will exalt you, LORD,
   for you lifted me out of the depths
   and did not let my enemies gloat over me.
² LORD my God, I called to you for help,
   and you healed me.
³ You, LORD, brought me up from the realm of the dead;
   you spared me from going down to the pit.
 ⁴ Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people;
   praise his holy name.
⁵ For his anger lasts only a moment,
   but his favor lasts a lifetime;
weeping may stay for the night,
   but rejoicing comes in the morning.
 ⁶ When I felt secure, I said,
   “I will never be shaken.”
⁷ LORD, when you favored me,
   you made my royal mountain^[c] stand firm;
but when you hid your face,
   I was dismayed.
 ⁸ To you, LORD, I called;
   to the Lord I cried for mercy:
⁹ “What is gained if I am silenced,
   if I go down to the pit?
Will the dust praise you?
   Will it proclaim your faithfulness?
¹⁰ Hear, LORD, and be merciful to me;
   LORD, be my help.”
 ¹¹ You turned my wailing into dancing;
   you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,
¹² that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
   LORD my God, I will praise you forever.