Monday - Sun, Cloud and Cold

My buffet ready for Christmas;

I am glad there are 12 days of Christmas;

I love having the Nativity Icon at front and centre...

A snowy Michigan scene;

I am still transitioning to being back.

Now the parties are over;

job searching in earnest began again;

the struggle to remain emotionally stable

through thanksgiving and trust

is a struggle;

but NOTHING is impossible with God.

*

There are different jobs library-related to apply for.

I may have a chance; it is hard to say;

prayer needed and requested!

*

Below is a picture of peanut clusters.

My Mom makes them every Christmas.

I actually watched what I ate dessert-wise

for the most part,

as sugar can make me crash quickly

and is hard on the emotions.

But I had one or two while I was home...

Tomorrow is lots of resume and cover letter

writing and editing.

*

God is good to us and we must seek to always remember this.

*

My Grandma's (not to be confused with my Oma who is 102 years old)

heart is not pumping at full speed anymore;

she is going to be taking medicine for this soon;

she is a real testimony to me on trusting God

in all circumstances;

she told me about a song my Grandpa

(who had a really beautiful singing voice and sang in churches for years)

loved and sang a lot at churches -

it is a message I needed to hear again...

Here's the lyrics I found for it:

*

I Know Who Holds My Hand:

I don't know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
And I don't borrow from the sunshine
'Cause the skies might turn to grey.

And I don't worry about the future,
'Cause I know what Jesus said,
And today I'm gonna walk right beside him
'Cause he's the one who knows what is ahead.

There are things about tomorrow
That I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

And each step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb.
And every burden is getting lighter
And all the clouds, their silver line.

And, I'll bet the sun it's always shining
And no tears will ever dim the eye
And the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains, they touch the sky.

There are many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.
Yes I know who holds my hand.

*

I've been thinking about my Grandpa (his name is and was John)

a lot lately;

he died in 2005 and the last thing he ever said to me,

(on the phone, I was in Ottawa and he in the hospital in Michigan),

after I told him that "all 4 of my (Orthodox) churches were praying for you"

is that prayer is the best thing.

I am quite convinced that God has him in heaven now and

that my Grandfather is praying for me

and for my Grandma

(and others of course).

*

I am so glad I am Orthodox and that I know that the distance

between us all is not too big

when one is in Christ

and can still pray for both the living and the dead.

*

In Christ, we are never far from each other.

*

May we always be found in Christ!