Sunday...

Yesterday was the most amazing day.  

It was the final birthday in our household for the year and fittingly that honor belongs to the youngest.  

We had the best day - we went, we saw, we ate, we sang, we celebrated, we watched, we read...in short - JOY.  It was a beautiful day and I am SO SO SO thankful for it.

As for my Sunday check-in:

This year has been so difficult in so many ways.  It started off rough with medicine adjustments and changes and those have continued this entire year.  Every few weeks comes a new idea or new level or new med altogether...and that is always ALWAYS a lot harder than you think it would be.  There have been lots and lots of days I wish we could just pack up the car, run away from reality, and live in Disney World - the type of Disney World of old - the happiest place on earth - innocent and fun and affordable!

On top of the chronic medical issues, there has been the letting go of another beloved furry best friend, LOTS of unexpected expenses, LOTS of little annoyances stacking up to be literally the straw that broke the camel's back (example: discovering that the aquarium "leak" didn't just make a colossal mess on top of the chest and all over the (carpeted!) floor, it actually leaked down into a random middle drawer and WOWZERS was that crazy messy when we discovered it!  On and on and on it has gone (as I am sure it has for other's too!!) - but I am worn out with 2022.  I am ready for the year to end and a bit nervous hopeful - hoping next year is better, but battling the "what-if-it's-worse" thoughts...

One of the most frustrating things for me is that I am still struggling through Romans.  It is hard for me to understand and some weeks as I read and study I feel like "ok I am getting what God is teaching me here"...other weeks I am like "I don't understand anything" and that is really frustrating for me.  

So - for my week past and my week ahead outlook: I am frustrated this week with my stagnant position in the book of Romans.  I always wonder, do other Christians struggle through books of the Bible too?  When I read posts or hear sermons, they are always so polished and put together...but what was the process to arrive at that position?  How do they process their growth so that they are not discouraged when they have to crawl and they want to walk or run?  

But, as always, I have to remind myself, not of what I don't know, but to rest in and cling to what I do know.  

God loves us.

God gave His very Son for us.

Jesus came.  

He lived a perfect, sinless life.  

He died the death that we all deserve.  

He bore our sins. 

He rose again and is seated at the right hand of God and He is coming again for us.  

And that is not just a few random "things" - that is quite simply everything.

God will complete what He began in me.  In His time and in His way.