Ken has been sick for the past week with upper respiratory stuff and I think the cold weather blues. For those of you who know much about Ken know he loves the warm sun and the occasional cool night breeze off the ocean is his limit to the cold. So while he is recovering I got the bright idea to hijack his blog so it doesn’t lapse too long from his encouraging words.

I have been doing a lot of reflecting on these first few months of 2015 because they have thrown a few curves at us. In January while celebrating my 55th birthday at a cabin in the Oklahoma I fell and that incident seriously could have been the death of me. But as Ken was driving me to the hospital and not knowing how serious my head injury was, we prayed in faith that I would receive a report of no concussion or bleeding in the brain. A few hours later and a CT scan we received that exact report. It was a gift from God, my injuries were not life threatening.

Then in February we made a trip back from Nashville in an ice/snow storm. Our commercial flight was canceled and the generosity of a friend offered us a ride home on a private jet. This was a huge leap of faith for me to fly this way but amazingly the peace that I felt while on this flight was surreal. Just shortly before making the final decision to return this way I was pretty adamant that I didn’t want to go down like Buddy, Richie and the Big Bopper. I did however agree and boarded with the gang. Then a few hours later we were back in Fort Worth stopping off at our son’s house to give hugs and see the grandson before going home (a block away). Another gift from God, our safe return.

Now in March I am watching my husband be the sickest I have ever remembered him being. His ears and hearing capability is crucial to his line of work (producing a radio show each week) and his hobby (playing & recording music) and they are in a bad way right now. Also this week my grandson is experiencing his first respiratory virus at the young age of 17 months. Watching these 2 guys feel miserable breaks my heart, and then I remember God’s huge gifts so far this year and I rest assured knowing He will be presenting me with the gift of their healing soon.

I am so thankful that I can receive His gifts of comfort, peace, assurance, and healing while here on earth and then be a recipient of the biggest gift; the reward of living alongside Him when my earthly days are over. So those thoughts I had of 2015 throwing me curves, I now know they were circumstances orchestrated by God that I may see more of His glory.

May we all learn to trust that the events of our life are authored by The One who knows us best and loves us the most.

-Susan