Dear friends,Tonite I am wiped out. Way over tired. Sister Laurie got me shopping today (great success!), the marvelous policemen came to go over the accident report (wow, that was a BAD accident), and we took a trip to Sunnyview as a family to eat pizza and watch Christmas specials with Stephen (see photo). My brother and Steve's were in attendance, and I know he was delighted having all of us there for a little Christmas spirit. I got a tad misty during the Claymation Christmas when "Joy to the World" came on. Isaac Watt wrote that song at age 15! My favorite verse is "He rules the world with truth and grace, and makes the nations prove, the glories of His righteousness, and wonders of His love, and wonders of His love, and wonders, wonders of His love!" Looking at the accident report, and finding out that Hannah was in a tiny "pocket" in the car, almost a space where the whole car collapsed around her keeping her from being completely smashed up, makes the words of that song more meaningful than they have ever been. I stand amazed once again.
Tomorrow Judy the Good takes me bed shopping. Our 21 year old mattress will not cut it for the six million dollar man. (Who remembers that show)? Remember the slogan. "A man barely alive. Gentlemen, we can rebuild him. We have the technology. We have the capability to build the world's first bionic man. Steve Smith will be that man. Better than he was before. Better, stronger, faster." Thanks to WAY cool Richard and Melissa for the fabulous sweatshirt!
Lisa the Strong and Jodi the Caring finished painting the bedroom for our move downstairs. To say it looks mighty great is an understatement. Joanne the Dear came and helped too, and even left me some darling black bears (not real ones!) for the new Adirondack room. Every time I step in that room I'll be reminded of the loving kindness lavished on me by all of you, each in your own way. That room will be a refuge from insurance company papers (I've gotten many), and the hard work of therapy (the man is pushing himself and will have to keep doing so for many months), and the daily trials you and I face in the course of living on a broken planet.
The dishwasher is humming, my dental floss is calling, and I'm thinking about "the wonder of it all". Funny how you can be so earthbound, with a growling stomach or the need to sleep or washing the pizza grease off your hands, and at the same time so aware of how this world is not our home. We were meant for another place, where love always rules the day, and there are no hurt feelings or hurt bodies or wounded souls. Jesus came to earth and experienced all our earthy stuff, so he could buy us back for God. That's what Christmas is all about, that place where heaven invaded earth so earth could invade heaven. Incredible. I'll never understand it all, but I embrace the mercy with all my heart.
I love you like crazy, my friends. Every one of you is so much more than flesh and blood. Be encouraged to know "He raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of His servant David..."
Luke 1:69.
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
8 comments:
Lord, what is man that you take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You are mindful of him?
Wow oh Wow - To the Great One, as you so wonderfully put it, be Glory and Honor for His marvelous works! It is through tears of joy that I say thanks be to our God!! Your family is beautiful. Smith family, Jehovah God is EVER mindful of you. We love you dearly!
Tom & Cindi
Love, love, love the picture of all of you on December 11th in Steven's room ! Love, Christina and Ronnie
My dear Tom and Cindi,
Thank you for your faithful love and prayers through all of this. Even your scrape in Schenectady are memories stored in the binder in my mind. (I told you, Schenectady is like Troy - I can get in but can't seem to find my way out...actually, now I can get to Sunnyview blindfolded.) You both know how special you are to me and I can't wait for some more "normal" times (is there such a thing?) when we can have a piece of pie and talk of all that is to come. My love to Tommy and Tiffany too!
Ever your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Dear Christina,
You and Tracy are the bomb for doing that Christmas shopping for me! Guess what, I have some I need wrapped.... I love you and can't wait for Euchre on Wednesday. Stephen will be thrilled!
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Absolutely the best Christmas picture of a family I have ever seen! Love Kari B. (with tears of joy in running down my cheek!)
Hannah- i LOVE the plaid shirt!! i need to get one of those....
Mrs. Smith- i LOVE the dental floss comment! i know how much you and hannah love using dental floss even though hannah has about 3/4 of her teeth to floss now she loves it anyway! Your writing is always so encouraging! I keep praying for you and your family! and that Cozette settles down a little bit =)
Dear Kari,
Seems our husbands are both in the business of being in miracle Christmas photos. Thanks for feeling my pain, and for being a faithful friend all these years!
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Loriann
Sweet Jessica,
Your prayers are so special to me! Thank you for all the love you've showered on Hannah and the rest of us. Cozy can't wait to curl up on your mom's lap!
Your friend on the pilgrim road,
Mrs. Smith
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