The latest debate at our house....

I LOVE the view out our living room windows. I despise curtains. Thus, to this point, we've not had any curtains, much to the dismay of the rest of my family. So, I have finally come to a solution that should satisfy all of us. I just need the guys to build me a cornice board to hide the ugly hardware for the window treatments. And now to the latest debate. I took the paint swatch to the store with me and went through every curtain available. Keep in mind our living room (as is much of the rest of the house) is rather rustic feeling. I found a lovely rust color that plays off the cedar ceiling and trimwork and then I found a rather humdrum wheat color. You obviously know which way I'm leaning. I have hung both colors up for a vote tonight. I have a feeling hum drum is going to win out. Hmphf....We shall see.

I did something tonight I didn't want to....

a lady who used to be in my Sunday school class lost her little girl this week to complications from leukemia. Tonight was her visitation. I cannot begin to put into words how desperately I wish there were not the need for a visitation or funeral service for a sweet little 5 year old girl. My heart is literally broken for this family. I cannot imagine the pain this loss has caused them. And yet....

We know that Maddie is in Heaven now playing and singing with Jesus. No more chemo, no more hospital visits, no more painful sticks. How wonderful it must be for her.

I was reminded of two other funerals as I was waiting in the line to give her mom a hug. One was a flashback of just a couple of years ago to Mike's sister's funeral. I still miss Liz terribly at times. I still don't know what God's plan is there but I still trust that He has one and that it's a good one. He doesn't need my input to make a good plan. Trust me, He's reminded me of that more often than not. The other funeral took me back several more years to my freshman year in high school, 1986. A good friend of mine died from leukemia that spring. We had gone to school together from Kindergarten on. Our little community was rocked and left hurting. I didn't understand what Heather had done that God would punish her so. You see, I didn'thave a faith in Christ at that point and didn't realize that she wasn't being punished, but rewarded.

God certainly knows the number of our days. He also knows the good plans He has for those who love Him. I just pray He has easier plans for me.