Update 12/19/09 Day 41

Dear friends,

I have a picture to download of some of my favorite fellas, who put up my ramp today and continued work on my doors. I'll have to wait til tomorrow to post it, since I'm having a bit of trouble and need the help of my teenage son (he's out tonite) with some of the technical aspects. But let me just say, never have pine and screws been so sweet. They worked out in the cold breezeway all day, and made an easy way for me to bring the main man up in to his own house! I'm looking forward to that day with all my heart, and I can never, ever thank them enough for making it possible.

Hannah is singing a lot these days, and is completely excited about the Generation Church Christmas Extravaganza coming up on Wednesday evening. If you don't attend Delmar Full Gospel Church you'll just have to imagine how much fun this party is for all the kids. Some years they have gingerbread construction contests, some years games and skits, some years songs and performances of various kinds. This year Hannah and her pals will be among those singing, and what's really great is her new teeth take away that pesky (albeit adorable!) lisp. She's got a song in her heart despite the trauma she has experienced, and that makes her momma smile from here to the North Pole. Jolly Old St. Nicholas has nothing on me in the joy department!

What treasures there are hidden in darkness! I must confess the many times in my life I have wished for an easier road (including in the past few weeks). But I can see the beautiful discoveries of a difficult path; deeper friendship with God and man, greater understanding of what matters in life, a healthy respect for my own weakness, a conviction that God is completely sovereign. I love this quote by Theodore Roosevelt:
"I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life; I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well." There are certainly troubles in the lives of every one of you reading this blog. Since it's inevitable we will be "squeezed" at some point on this earthly plain, how about we be like my friends Dick, Judy and Alma (to name just a few). I've always said, "they get squeezed and we get the wine." If we've got to experience some suffering, then for heaven's sake let's pray someone else can benefit from it!

It's a short post tonite, but there is one more thing. Normally at this time of year I yearn for a powerful nor'easter blasting up the coast. There's nothing like a big white Christmas for a girl from New England. But this year I'm hoping for a gentle 2 inches to make the world magical. I'm thrilled for my nieces and nephews in Virginia who are getting pounded (their parents may not be!). But I am thinking about wheelchairs and walkers and driving to Schenectady. Nature is a wild and woolly thing, and I'm impressed by her as she displays the power and majesty of the Great One. But her gentler side is lovely and quiet, and that's the side I'd like to see this week. Still, if I've learned anything, it's that I'm not in control...

Ever your friend on the pilgrim road,

Loriann