Faith is the assurance of things you have hoped for, the absolute conviction that there are realities you've never seen. Hebrews 11:1 (VOICE)
Welcome to Friday!
So, today began around 3:47 a.m. with a knock on the bedroom door. For the next 45 minutes Trish and I took turns answering and explaining every change in the lights, light on the wall, sound of cars going up the street, noise and creak until I finally gave up on sleeping. Once I was up and Ava was dressed the morning just seemed to take off and in no time at all is is suddenly - almost noon. God is good all the time and all the time God is good - Welcome to Friday!
How are you doing? How have you been and what have you been up to these last two weeks since I last checked in? I hope that you are doing well and that you have been on a two week plus streak of enjoying favor, hope, love and the fresh flowing love of God. I hope that things are going well with you and your loved ones.
We are doing well. We have had a great two weeks. Last week we enjoyed time with our first college student, who came home for the weekend. We were able to hear her college news and adventures. Occasionally we might whence or frown in the story, but mostly we just enjoyed our time and tried to squeeze in a bit of wisdom and encouragement in the midst of her stories. She has definitely adapted to the college life. Trish did a better job of listening and containing her emotions than I did. She also did a great job of listening to what was not said and following up on that. The girls were very excited for Cassarra's visit. They were all over her nearly the entire time. In fact, Gabbi waited on Cassarra's arrival in the garage. The time was great - and too short. After dinner, a cookie-cake for her birthday, and some visits from friends and family we took her back to Clemson.
This week has been short and fun. We took an impromptu trip to the coast for a getaway. We didn't pack much, didn't plan much, but enjoyed ourselves tremendously. The highlight of the entire weekend was just getting to rest! Okay, and the other highlight was the response we got when we called Cassarra on speaker phone in the car and pretended that we were heading up to campus. Classic panic! It was too funny. After Cassarra figured out where we were going she was a bit miffed that we didn't come pick her up. I think she got over it eventually. I think everyone had a good time. We definitely got some well needed rest and a nice break from being overextended. The girls had fun, picked up a few memories for our photo albums and family stories, grabbed some clothes and shoes for those who needed them, and ate some really good food.
We are all doing pretty well and I am thankful for:
- Trish
- Trish's advice to get some rest
- Trish's love and compassion
- Trish's friendship
- Solomon's kindness and humor
- Our time with Cassarra
- Cassarra's trip home for her birthday
- Safe return back to Clemson
- Breakfast at CFA
- Time w/ Cassarra one on one at Denny's
- Laughter, jokes and catching up
- Being able to give her encouragement
- Cookie cake and ice cream
- Time off from work
- Just taking it easly
- Getting the yard cut before it got hot
- Cleaning the kitchen
- Starting on some more writings
- The trip to Hilton Head Island
- Good seafood (Crazy Crab)
- Pizza (Salty Dog Cafe)
- Window Shopping
- Shopping for clothes for Trish
- Ice cream
- Alligator sighting
- Great pictures of the marsh
- Time in the car (conversation, laughter, closeness)
- Turning the cell phone off
- Data night w/ Trish at Old Chicago
- Trying new foods
- Laughing to tears
- Date night with Trish at home
- Family dinner night (hotdogs)
- Trish's amazing dinners
- Ribs
- Omelettes
- Chicken and Rice
- Sermon Series from church on Ekklessia
- The girls
- Gabbi's laughter and excitement when she saw an alligator up "close-ish" at the hotel
- Surprising Ava and Emma today
- Surprising Sydney and Paige w/ breakfast
- Sydney making Trish and me breakfast one morning
- Making grill cheese on the waffle iron w/ Ava
- The girls spending time with Cassarra
- Conversations on the phone
- Bible study and bedtime routines
- Good music
- Coffee
- Good coffee
- Sharing Trish's Starbuck's
- Free Coffee
- Finishing projects at work
- Being blessed and highly favored by God, my God the Maker of Heaven and Earth
- Free Lunch this week at Buffalo Wild Wings
- Bible Study
- Our topic was Fathers, Mothers and Siblings
- I have an absolutely amazing Dad
- I have magnificent (super caring) mom
- I have kind, successful, and compassionate siblings
- I have indescribably good in-laws (the best!).
- Workout at the "Y"
Sometimes life can throw so much at us that we are caught in a cycle of stuff, storms, and more stuff. I am so thankful that God is the storm walker, and the one who can say tell the storms to stop. I am so thankful for blessings and hope and the joy of His presence.
I hope that you are doing well and that you are being kept safe in the shelter of His arms. I pray that all is well with you and that your weekend will be a festival of grace, a feast of His love, and the biggest banquet of blessings known to mankind. Enjoy every moment of your day, every moment of your weekend and as always....
Welcome to Friday!
--- Cassius Rhue
"Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)Love is irresistible, irrefutable, undeniable. Nothing rises to it. The dark side of our character has no weapon against it. It's our trump card. - Jim Daly
