Already and Not Yet

At my church's women's retreat this weekend, we talked about the concept of the "already and not yet" aspect of our lives as followers of Christ. When we become new creatures in Christ, we begin to see areas of our lives redeemed, revived and renewed. New life grows in us and we experience healing in our families, relationships, communities and world. Yet there still is a longing in us that is never quite met here on earth. We are not as we were created to be; the ravages of sin have taken their toll on us and on God's creation. Yet we have this great hope in us: that Jesus entered into our brokenness and pain and is healing and renewing from the inside out.

I had such a beautiful taste of that this weekend. I am so thankful for the women of my church. As I looked around the room, I saw my mothers and my sisters in the faith who have really made Columbus feel like home to me. Their friendships and love have brought healing to my soul. They have truly been the hands and feet of Jesus to me over the past 2 1/2 years. Being with them was a taste of the "already"; a glimpse of heaven here on earth.

When I came home from my lovely weekend, I was again reminded of the "not yet"! My baby girl was sick and she and I spent the next two hours in the urgent care waiting room to see the doctor. Good news is she doesn't have H1N1. Just a really bad cold. Even in this though, I saw God's hand of redemption. I have been away from home 7 days in the last two weeks. It was a joy to get to spend two hours cuddling with my darling girl and just enjoying her presence (subdued as it was). It reminded me of some of my favorite verses of a hymn we sang in RUF:

No chilling wind nor poisonous breath

Shall reach that healthful shore.

Sickness, sorrow, pain and death

are felt and feared no more!

When shall I reach that happy place,

And be forever blessed?

When shall I see my Father's face,

and in His bosom rest?

I am bound, I am bound, I am bound

for the Promised Land.

I am thankful for a God who was not afraid to enter into the sickness and suffering of the ones He loved so that He could rescue them from themselves. I delight in partnering with Him as He recreates His world through His Church. I long for the day when I shall see Him face to face; to see Him as He truly is will be heaven enough for me.

Pumpkin Patch

Harry and I went with his preschool class to the pumpkin patch this morning. It was SO cold!!! You can see from the pictures how we had to bundle Harry up! It was lots of fun. First we went on a hay ride with all of his classmates and parents. Then we listened to a presentation on how pumpkins grow. Then came the fun part. We picked indian corn, gourds, and pumpkins. Afterwards we headed straight to Starbucks to load up on hot chocolate. It was such fun to spend the morning with my little man. He is a joy to my heart.

Also awesome was the fact that we paid $4.50 and got 4 ears of corn, 6 gourds, and 2 pumpkins. Talk about a deal! I just spent $5 on a pumpkin from the grocery store last week. I guess it pays to go local.

Girlies being girlie!

Ken went to NC this weekend to play in a golf tournament with his dad.  He decided to give me the sweetest birthday present (a few days early)--a weekend alone with my daughter!  He took Harris with him so he could have some fun alone time with his Mimi. 

I have never spent an entire weekend with just one of my kids and it was such a treat!!!  We had a great weekend together.  Hannah took me out for an early birthday dinner on Friday night (isn't she sweet!).  We then went shopping for new fall clothes for her, which was fun for both of us.  We watched several girlie movies of her choice, decorated the house for fall, and then went to see "Cloudy with a Chance for Meatballs" on Saturday.  She picked the dinner place on Saturday night, and ordered a hamburger as big as her head.  I was shocked when she ate almost the whole thing--I even couldn't finish mine!  We had a sleepover in my room both nights, which was her favorite thing of all. :)

As much fun as we had, she and I have both missed the men of the house.  We are looking forward to their return tonight.  By the way, Harris had a wonderful weekend with Mimi.  She took him to pick apples on Saturday.  They also got to watch a college baseball team practice (where Harris was given a baseball by the coach) and went to look at some airplanes before leaving today.  Sounds like a great weekend was had by everyone.