It is three in the morning and while sleep is enticing I wanted to say thank you to the friends who so kindly wrote encouraging notes to me. You cheered my heart.
The dryer is humming and clicking, the washer drumming - second time this week for an impromptu bath in the middle of the night due to a girl throwing up in bed. The first time both Ellis and Miette were thoroughly covered (Ellis being the culprit) but this time roles were reversed and thankfully Ellis was far away from her sister and avoided the worst of it. I see God's goodness this morning as I felt frustration mounting as I tried to contain the mess, get my girl downstairs and in the tub, strip the sheets, all the while wishing I was warmly buried beneath my down comforter. I had just gotten her in the tub as out loud I prayed for patience, love for a sick girl. I felt it steal over me - that peace, Shalom - and I smiled at that pale, not-feeling-well, my-belly-hurts girl of mine and knew that He was good. I was also grateful for warm, running water at that point. No, never even once in my life have I wished to be a pioneer homesteader.

I love this girl so much. She is the most like me which encourages me to pray for her all the more:-) Last night as I followed the nightly ritual of walking around the house picking up pieces of the day after they had gone to sleep my mind rehearsed the joys of the day and my heart gave thanks. For: a little girl chanting, "Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!", for not having to cook dinner, for amazingly beautiful colors of autumn, for warmth inside, for having a schoolroom I love and getting to teach, for music that stirs my heart and fills me with worship, for Him, from whom all blessings flow.
Good morning!