I had fainted...

...unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.  Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.  Psalm 27:13-14

As I contemplated getting back to my blog this morning and how to sum up my summer, these verses came to mind.  This summer was filled with many challenges, particularly the month of July.  I ended up a bit of a recluse for a few weeks. Physically due to many things outside of my control and emotionally because I just did not want to talk about it all.  Instead took it to God, the good and ugly of me, and spent my energy tending Russ and our children.  Even my mom received short, little emails filled with really nothing of great significance for a few weeks. She graciously endured and now she has text capability and hears from me often.  She might wish for another July soon. haha!

We are closing the summer with Russ having taken a contract job in Afghanistan for a year. Employment seems to be a necessity in life.  I am just getting over having sick kids and pneumonia, still have this lingering cough that is driving me nuts, but not holding me back so much.  Except from working out, which feels like torture right now.  My goal is slowly work back up over the next few weeks. I wish I could say that having gone through this summer's trials that the patience worked, for some was painfully wrought, was perfect and left me entire, wanting nothing. I need to mull over that verse in James because I'm not sure I fully comprehend it. I certainly had my sweet moments in prayer, one time even just telling God I wanted to be with Him and I was, lovingly in His arms in the middle of the night.  But, I still am not left wanting nothing.  I am not entire and complete. I wrestle with this thought.

However, through it all, God was ever present. There were moments when Russ and I both had very specific prayers answered.  One in particular we both prayed for, not knowing the other was, and within minutes we had an answer. I was not always of good courage and I would have fainted were it not for the goodness of the LORD in this land I live in, were it not for Him strengthening my heart during the wait. I will be wrapping up this summer knowing my God is indeed a personal, loving, heavenly Father, full of tender mercies.  That gives me great hope and good courage for the coming months...which will be busy and full of many trials of their own.

I think I'll close with some photos that remind me of the goodness and simple pleasures of the past few weeks and I look forward to blogging again...

Some of my garden's bounty. I actually grew some things!



And grew these beauties!

My eager gardener

Our cat went missing back in May, but now we have lots of toads again.  And Nate loves toads!

Matt likes to find them in the dog's bowl.



Running errands with my helper. My handsome helper.



Girl's night out.  Shopping, dinner and Snow White and the Huntsman!

Sick Jacob being loved on by his sissy.

Kristy, Taz and a ribbon at the state show in June.

Kristy's 14th Birthday Cake. 

Celebrate!!

I had an extra tier and icing, so the boys made a birthday eve cake for themselves. haha!

My only crafty item of the summer.  One crochet dish cloth.

My birthday, prepared by Kristy.  Love the birdie card she made me.  Perfect!

Kristy and I just got new hair.  I went dark and am loving it.  I let her get a few highlights and she is loving that. And the lady flat ironed her hair, which is always fun for her because she has so many curls.

Rocking the new hair and Jacob.

This picture speaks a lot to me.  I took it a few weeks ago.  Been going through insomnia at night, extreme exhaustion during the day when I needed to be functional.  I laid on my bed particularly tired physically and emotionally.  I opened my eyes and this was my view.  A sweet reminder of God of who I am in Him.  The stack has a bible, The Power of a Praying Wife, and less seen below that is a purse pattern and a garden magazine. ;-)  One little view when I opened my eyes encouraged me that day.