It’s October and right now in Steubenville it feels like December. Temperatures are in the 40’s and this morning I drank a cup of hot chocolate. These are the things you must do to survive the harsh cold of living in the north. Always keep it festive! Break out the Christmas movies even if you haven’t bought your Halloween costume yet (what? you think 25 is too old to be dressing up for Halloween…think again!). I am ready this year to brave the winter. I have my tactics. I have my scarves. I am not scared.
I actually really really really love the fall and am hoping it comes back some time soon. For someone who did not grow up with changing leaves, apple orchards, or an actual need for a good windbreaker it is all very exciting. Season changes mark the passing time so well. They establish good memories and shifts in your life. Last year I was working at a school, living with a friend, planning a wedding. This year I am….brace yourselves….four months pregnant! That’s right, folks: married for five, pregnant for four, and so our lives go.
Needless to say, Joey and I are incredibly excited. As scary as coming into adulthood has been, I have to say that it has also been a series of little revelations of what the real adventure of my life will prove to be: loving my husband, raising my family, heading together towards heaven. It is all much sweeter than I imagined it would be. I have dreams almost every night about this baby. In most of them, she is a girl. In one of them, she came out as a toddler. Let’s pray that does not happen.
I am so thankful for the ways God has attached me to Himself in this journey; and for the ways He has shown me, in spite of my misguided perceptions, that real success is loving Him and being known in Him above and beyond anything else I thought it was. Not everything becomes clear in relationship with God. But, what is always present in Him is abundant life that is ours to have.
Many of you know and have followed all that has happened with our friend Bob Lesnefsky (www.prayfortheb.com). He and his wife are the kind of people that make your life one-hundred percent better just by being in it. If you have ever spent even a short amount of time with either of them, you know that for yourself. I could go on about it, but suffice it to say, there are no two people in this world like Bob and Kate. He is doing so much better and they have said to us again and again how difficult it will be to express all the gratitude they feel for all the support they have received. A lot of kids in our ministry and people who are generally concerned have asked why something like this would happen to someone like Bob. I think God has utmost patience for and even loves our moments of deep questioning. But, I just wanted to say: being able to watch their family walk through this has confirmed what I knew was true about God. He is always present. I have no idea why things happen or why my friends are struggling through such a burden; but I see them still loving their children and each other, still hoping, still laughing, reaching out to those around them and I know that that is the presence of God in their lives. There is no other way to be sustained in this world.
So, thanks for your prayers and be encouraged. In everything, He is there. “He goes before all things and in Him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Peace! ~KPL
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