Last night Alan and I went to the Detroit area on a bit of a pleasant business trip. We stopped for tea, cookies, and a chat with Kathy before making our way to a bustling local restaurant where we hosted a young couple for dinner. The husband is finishing his psychiatry residency at Henry Ford Hospital and is looking into practice opportunities. It was really a pleasure to spend the evening with them. They went to South Church in Lansing where I had known the previous pastor, and the husband grew up near Lake Ann Bible Camp where I worked as a life guard during my teen years. They reminded us of our own kids, Dan and Brianna, and Alan and I knew we’d love to have them work in GR (as we’d love to have D+B!). However, we also know that they are God’s children, and so I’m praying for them like I pray for my own kids: that they’ll have the wisdom to discern God’s best for them. There’s no sense in wishing for anything less, no matter how tempting! 
On the way home, it started to snow and the roads became very slippery. We arrived safely at about 11 pm, but as I was thinking about what to share today, I remembered a forward I’d gotten on roads. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. May the Lord direct your paths this year and keep you safe!
Roads and Paths
There may be some steep hills to climb,
and some times when the road seems treacherous you aren’t sure which turn to take…
There are times when you feel like you are on the brink of falling,
and there may be many curves in the road.
As you make your way through the ups and downs of 2012,
may you know God’s presence with you through each tunnel,
every steep climb,
and every curve.
May you sense his presence in the beautiful mountaintop experiences
and through the slippery storms of life;
May He walk with you down through the valleys and up the mountains,
take your hand and guide you through to the light,
put a hedge around you to keep you safe,
help you to find joy and excitement in the roller coaster ride,
and fill you with amazement at the beauty He provides along the way.
Take time to smell the flowers,
and to admire His handiwork
along Life’s railway;
and may His love flood over you, fill you, and overflow in praise to Him for all He’s done!
“And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, This is the way, walk in it, when you turn to the right hand, and when you turn to the left.”
Isaiah 30:21
Those were some great pictures. That road with the snow looked just like the road from Portland to Bend around Christmas three years ago when we went to visit my parents.
This brought back memories of our aunt Iva Armstrong.She chose, Life is like a mountain railroad, for her funeral service. As you know she had Parkinsonism and was in the hospital from the age of 37 til her death at the age of 65. She planned her funeral and had me get a little black dress from the farm for her to wear. Which I did but told her the only way she could wear it would be to leave the back unzipped. I cared for her and loved her deeply. She had such a great outlook and sense of humor. I spent a lot of time at the farm and enjoyed listening to her and Escol sing the old hymns. She had a alto voice and Escol’s was tenor. She played the organ,self taught, so beautiful. Toward the end of her life she had stomach
cancer and lost weight and she looked so at peace in her little black dress to be in the arms of her Lord
Thanks for your comments! Andrea, the road also reminded me of one year early in our marriage when Alan and I drove through Yellowstone. I don’t know where the picture was taken, but it’s a good visual for our lives, sometimes, I think!
Phyl—I love hearing stories about Alan’s family. I only met Iva a few times when we’d go to the hospital with Alan’s mom to visit her shortly after we were married. I think Alma did her laundry. I didn’t know she had Parkinson’s. Alan thought it was M.S. Next time we’re up north, I want to hear all sorts of historical vignettes about the family!! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you Kathy for this wonderful post! The pictures are beautiful! Were they all taken in the USA? God’s world is a fantastic place!
I think at least one was taken in Brazil, and the one with all the bluebells looks like England to me, but I’m not sure! The rapeseed fields…could be England or France?? God’s world is truly gorgeous!