Our First Grandchild!

 On July 19, 2014, our daughter, Briana, gave birth to our first grandchild, Juliet McKay. She is a precious, beloved, gift from God. I was very blessed to spend the week before her birth with Briana and Troy, be there for her going into labor, being in the labor room with the two of them, and James, who joined me after the first week, and I stayed with them at their house for 2 weeks after her birth. The Lyme was in remission at this point, so even though I was still sick, God gave me enough to be there and do this with them, and I will forever be thankful!

My first chance to hold her. I'd been up for about 40 hours at this point!

Daddy, Mama, and little Juliet McKay

Her Pawpaw is in love with her. He joined us in spending many hours getting through those first 2 weeks. A small crisis and antibiotics at birth caused a little one to not be able to sleep unless she was being held by someone.

One very happy, proud Aunt Daniella. She cried when she first saw her, and said she didn't know that God could make something so beautiful.

Aunt Ashley flew from Alaska and made it two days after her birth.

Pawpaw with daughter and granddaughter

coming home

Leaving after the 2 weeks was so hard. One of the hardest mother things I've had to do. Briana and I both cried and cried.

Happily, for the first 5 months, life worked it out where we were able to see them about every 2-3 weeks.

Daily Taking the Next Step

Boy, this speaks to where I am. For me, tasks are not the issue (except the tasks of doctors appointments and pills)...having nothing is the issue. It's hard. It's lonely. As the Lyme is dying off this time, the physical is getting harder and harder, and that makes the days harder. I definitely cling to Him to take the next step, which is making it through each day with joy and giving when there's not much to give, and to have hope for the future. This season has had it's purposes, and apparently still does, the fire has been turned up the last few months, but I am praying for a vision.... a vision of what God wants to do, is going to do, in our lives. It is definitely true that the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God.

"…in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses. —2 Corinthians 6:4

When you have no vision from God, no enthusiasm left in your life, and no one watching and encouraging you, it requires the grace of Almighty God to take the next step in your devotion to Him, in the reading and studying of His Word, in your family life, or in your duty to Him. It takes much more of the grace of God, and a much greater awareness of drawing upon Him, to take that next step, than it does to preach the gospel.
Every Christian must experience the essence of the incarnation by bringing the next step down into flesh-and-blood reality and by working it out with his hands. We lose interest and give up when we have no vision, no encouragement, and no improvement, but only experience our everyday life with its trivial tasks. The thing that really testifies for God and for the people of God in the long run is steady perseverance, even when the work cannot be seen by others. And the only way to live an undefeated life is to live looking to God. Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to discourage you. Never allow yourself to think that some tasks are beneath your dignity or too insignificant for you to do, and remind yourself of the example of Christ in John 13:1-17". ~My Utmost For His Highest