Thursday Dec 10th

Thursday December 10th
Dawn and I had a very restful night last night, thanks to Greg and Teresa Ramsey at the Obrien Mountain Inn they blessed us with a night in their tree house, no phones, no internet, and no TV, just a movie night, very relaxing. It’s amazing how much we still have to talk about after 31 years, how excited for and proud of our daughters and son in law we are, and the women and man God is shaping them to be. How joyful it is to know that Katie has become a mighty woman of God, an amazing mother, and a devoted wife, to see how much wiser she is in her twenties than her parents were, and how she was able to avoid so many of the pitfalls that trap young people in sin. And the our son her husband Nick who is so in love with Jesus, committed to serving God, to answering the call upon his life against so many attacks from the enemy. A man equally devoted to his wife and children in every way, yes we are blessed. We look at our Natalie all of 14 yrs old who this year has come alive in the Lord, she knows who He is, and who she is in Him, and she has determined her path making her way along doing her best to navigate through the potholes and chasms of life. Becoming a woman after God’s own heart, a testimony to the love, commitment, and dedication of one who will serve Him, how a parent could ask any more of their child, or be any prouder I do not know. Then our little Michaela, strong and determined to be her own woman of God, a heart filled with deep seated love for His creation, family, and friends, a tenderness rarely seen by many but for those who have, the blessing lingers long. When we think of how close we came to missing this blessing our hearts ache, for our lives would not be complete without this wonderful loving child of the King in our home, and yes we are proud of her. Then there are our granddaughters Izabel and Eva both filled with great joy and laughter pouring it out in abundance over everyone they come in contact with, no more need be said, except what great blessings and oh how proud of them we are!
In these days of great trials in the flesh there are certain things we no longer focus on, nor do they even come to mind, they are, the challenges, trials, discussions, and yes even battles that have occurred in our time together. Somehow what were once often seemingly insurmountable mountains are not even visible upon the landscape of our life. The reality of what is important has suddenly become so evident and real that there is literally nothing else to view, no concern over homes, cars, clothes, retirement, no disputes over politics, points of view, or religion, all that can be seen on the landscape of our lives is the joy, love, peace, and comfort we feel toward each other, our family, and our friends. This followed closely by the extreme belief and confidence of our eternal salvation, the knowledge that some day we will spend eternity with those we love, no more tears, no more pain, no more suffering, no more distractions, a life lived in the presence of all that is good and more. We have the promise, we stand upon the word, and we are surrendered to His will, have we given up, oh quite the contrary now we are more prepared than ever to fight, for it is now that we truly understand just what it is we are fighting for!
Gene
PS No mention of the cancer you say? No none it is not worthy to be mentioned in the presence of such blessings and promises.