Wow, is it 2004 already? 2003 passed in a blur of pain, trauma, anxiety, anger and knowing that in the midst of it all, God was closer to me than ever.

No, it wasn’t that the whole year was a bust, but pretty close. I kicked out my drug-addicted teenage son who returned to rob us 3 or 4 times. The gulf between us and the board grew so that we left our home church of 7 years, also leaving behind Mark’s job. Closing the year was a cancellation notice from our home owner’s insurance company due to our “excessive” claims of theft.

But, oh let me tell you about the months between. Mark and I have grown closer through this tough year. Jason and Debbie and kids and David have become family. Do you have friend’s children who feel free to come into your bedroom and get a dvd out of your dresser drawers? I thought not…………….. And David who will come and stay with the garbage monging dog whenever we need him. Dan and Kerri, Gary and Anne, Jennifer, Angela, Tom and Erika, Jim and Elaine, David and Nicole–you are all the best!

And we’ve grown closer still to God. He is so good to us despite what has happened to us this past year. He meets me everytime I go to Him and He comforts me and makes me know that He is trully in control. That control thing is something I’ve had a hard time believing, but I do now. God is in control. Nothing can happen to me that is not previously screened by God. That makes me greet everything that happens to me with a very different attitude.

Lord, thank You for Your presence in my life. I long and live to serve You and Your people.