I did it again, didn't I?

I have the best of intentions, but it seems that there are just times when this blog gets neglected. I would rather be blogging than doing some of the other necessities of life, but those things must be done. This weekend, we were privileged to have a visit from our favorite missionary family, The Jacobs. This time, it was just Mr. and Mrs. Jacob who visited, as their two sons are both grown and busy with their own lives.


They not only shared with us what had been going on in their lives, but they also wanted to know what we had been doing and ministered to us. They are two very wise people that were able to offer some wisdom and words of encouragement to our family. We were able to listen as Mrs. Jacob shared about her father's final days. There wasn't a dry eye among us as we head how God answered our prayers for her father's salvation in his last days and how God provided grace and peace in the final days.

One of the biggest blessings to me personally was a conversation I was able to have with Mrs. Jacob (who I call Aunt Sharon). A couple of months ago, a long time friend told me that we couldn't be friends anymore. I did something to hurt her, and she felt we couldn't work it out. It was a painful experience, and it is another reason I haven't been posting much. I have been spending a lot of time working through all the emotions of that. Aunt Sharon had been through something very similar and had words of advice, wisdom, and a hug of understanding.

Aunt Sharon felt like the final piece in my healing process about this friendship. There have been a lot of tears, a lot of seeking God about what has happened, and some anger. I had moved to a pace last week of true forgiveness, not only for the friend but for myself thanks to an incredible women's conference my mom and I attended with the ladies of our new church.

While I didn't give many details to Aunt Sharon, she shared about an experience that was so similar, it was comforting. Her godly wisdom helped me move to a place of true peace. I'm still sad that the friendship ended. I still pray that God will one day restore it, but I finally am trusting Him with it. It is no longer the burden on my heart it once was.

Last week, I was so blessed that God worked it out so that I could spend most of the day plotting, laughing, and fellowshipping with this beautiful writer:
The other interesting thing of note? I got listeria. I highly recommend you avoid this horrible stomach bacteria. I had a mild case and I still only ate two meals in two days and then ate very carefully for the next three.