Coming Home, Day #16 of Thankfulness

She’s coming home today!
I can’t wait.
Our college girl has clinical and then will make the journey North.
This is her last “Journey North” for Thanksgiving while in College.
Where in the world did the time go?
I drove to pick her up with a friend for the first year.
So many day trips down and back.

Now, she drives her own car, and next year, only God knows.

She’s coming home and I’m so excited.
Her bed is freshly made with clean sheets. 
I’ll vacuum and add a few special touches today.
She has asthma pretty bad and our home is not the cleanest. 
I will spend much of today trying to do what I can.

I love having our kids home.
Next week the oldest will bring the farmettes and we’ll have a few days of all togetherness.
Yet even in the togetherness there is missing. 
It’s still not right.
Our hearts ache and we miss.
We’ll step towards joy and thankfulness though. 
We’ll thank God for the time we had.
We’ll remember.
I will still place a candle and his name tag as well as our nephew.

Each year is different.
Never knowing what to expect.

She’s coming home.
Such fun preparations.
Getting ready.
The anticipation.
Finally, the reunion.

I imagine this is how God waits for us. 
He is making preparations.
He tells us this.

John 14:2
My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so,
would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?

I think about the preparations I make for my college girls arrival.
I clean and cook.
I pray and long for her company.

How our Father in heaven must long for us. 
In time He will welcome us.
He’s preparing our place now.
What a beautiful promise.
Such hope.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,
let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.
And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

Those who have gone before us are cheering us on.
The Saints are encouraging us.
Such strength.

She’s coming home.
I can’t wait.
Our farmhouse will be full to overflowing.
Soon I will turn on the stove to warm up the kitchen and bake squashes and things to get rolling.

She’s coming home.

Day #16 of Thankfulness

I am Thankful for:
the college girl coming home
a snow day
a warm kitchen
early morning chats with my farm boy
the hope of a forever home
A great cloud of witnesses cheering us on
the anticipation of the holiday
baking
family
30 days of Thankfulness
each new day reminding me of God’s unfailing love
the Ancient Word
my farmer and his never ending commitment to farming
car starters (really, they are amazing)