2018 It has been a year...almost...since I posted here.

It isn't for lack of learning!  It has been for a lack of choosing to take time to put all my thoughts in writing.  I have had to once again stand and watch and wait.  Then I have had to focus my time and energy to doing what I needed to do.  I have watched the mercy drops fall gently around me.  At first they started gently...but then...they became showers of blessings.  All I could do was stand and watch and say, "I don't know why, Lord.  It hurts every time, but I will trust You because I watched You protect and provide for me before.  Thank You, Lord, for teaching me again that You are in control and You have something for me to learn in every circumstance!"

As I ministered to the needs of one of our children, the thought came to me, "Why?  Why this?  Is it really necessary?  We can't do anything about this.  Why aren't You using people to fix this who can do something about this?"  And then I remembered...to be still and wait and watch...asking the Lord for wisdom to help someone weaker than I to be able to "handle or deal" with this type of situation...and I thought of the umbrella.

We are surrounded by people.  People have storms in their life, and often they aren't prepared for those storms.  Because we work, live, and go to school with people...we will inevitably stand near or under someone else's storm.  We may be affected by that storm.  We can have our protective rain-gear on...and still get splashed by their mess.

I stand under the protection of God's care for me as His child.  I willingly 

ask for His help each day in my life.  But trials come...the wind blows that umbrella inside out sometimes...but I still cling to the umbrella and fight to get it back in the right position!  Even under His protection...the attack can seem to come from out of nowhere...and there you stand wondering what just happened and why!

I beginning to understand why we have experienced some of the storms in our life...so we can help our children!