Friday Blessings

It's Friday. Hallelujah!

Although we have a lot of work ahead of us this weekend, we're excited. We've been refugees living out of suitcases for the past 4 weeks (officially as of tomorrow). I'm sure Danny and Stefanie are doing a "happy dance" just about now. I completely understand. Having us and our four dogs has been an inconvenience for sure. I'm sure they could add a few more adjectives.

Today we officially start the re-building process. Not of our flooded-out home, but of our new home. Our rental home is ready for us to move in. Tonight our bed is being delivered, then we'll move in the stuff we have at Stef's house and the stuff at Danny's mom's house (all of our picture albums and important treasures). A beginning.

Tomorrow we will start moving some of our stuff out of the garage at Amy's. Most of it is still in boxes, drawers that were removed from destroyed furniture, and in plastic garbage bags. That's OK, we're not complaining...we have some of our precious....junk!!! So, now we can begin the purging process. Both of us want to simplify our lives. "Stuff" is just a burden. We're going to take the time to free ourselves from some of the burden.

Today is a better day for both of us. I think it's because we see the building of a future now versus the destruction and salvation of the past weeks. A fresh start...

I have neglected to count my blessings in a couple of posts, so here we go:

1) We have the opportunity to start fresh and recover from our loss.
2) We have one another and our family (and yes, that includes our four-legged kids too).
3) We have a home to move in to this weekend.
4) We have clean water, food, and power--we have numerous luxuries that make us comfortable.
5) We have the unending service of church family--people continue to offer and provide help without asking for anything in return. Amazing. Charity truly is the pure love of Christ.
6) We have the unending prayers and thoughts of precious family and friends.
7) We have faith that all will be well.
8) We weren't kicked out on our ears by Stef and Danny.
9) We got to "see" our little Emily Anne via the incredible technology of the day--3 D ultrasound--and she cooperated beautifully--awake, sucking her thumb, opening and closing her eyes, kicking and spreading her toes, and yawning. We can hardly wait to meet her in the flesh!
10) A continuation of blessing #9 : We have a precious baby on the way (Grand-daughter #2 and grandchild #4) - does life get much better than this?

Thank you to all of you who provide continued wonderful comments, emails, and prayers. We appreciate them all, even if we don't acknowledge them individually. Thank you!!!

Please keep those in Texas in your prayers. My heart aches for those who have had to suffer loss. We can truly say now that we understand, and it is this understanding that helps us to be grateful for what we have.

Happy Friday Everyone!