I need to be preparing for Bible study (I'm leading Beth Moore's Stepping Up here at home, twice on Thursdays. So far, as usual, it is an awesome study and has literally brought me facedown before God!)

Anyway, I've wanted to blog all week but just didn't have the chance, and really don't right now, either, but here I am.

My oldest child turned 22 on Tuesday. It's somewhat surreal, but it's not making me feel as old as I thought it would. She has had a bit of legal trouble (of her own making, which she completely owned up to and the judge gave her a break for her honesty and contrition), so I finished paying off her fine for her birthday. Hopefully, having that off her back will help her to move forward in a more positive way. She has decided to take on the responsibility of helping an elderly relative for awhile and I'm very proud of her for that. She has always been so good with the elderly and they just seem to adore her, I think it will be beneficial for all involved.

My middle child just got the news (on oldest's birthday) that she has been accepted by SIM mission organization to go to Thailand next year for six months and work at an orphanage/school there. She is very excited, as are we. Now, we have to get all of the legalities worked out (she's already got her passport, but we have to get ours in case of emergency), her visa, etc.. She has to start working on learning the language and lots and lots of lists--what to take, what to ship, what she absolutely needs and on and on.

I am thrilled and humbled that God is allowing her to take this step and use her for His glory. It puts a lot of things into perspective for me. I can't say that I'm not nervous about her being on the other side of the world, but I know that missionaries that she will be working with and I know my God and she will be in His hands and care, and I can fully trust that!! But, it's just so awesome to consider what He will be doing with her in the coming years.

Okay, I'm running out of time, I'd better get moving!

It's after 10:00 pm, I'm tired, I've had a nasty stomachache all day and this evening, it's harvest and we have to get hogs sorted tonight (hubby and son are doing it) for our first load that goes out at 7:00 am tomorrow morning. I'm pooped.

I'm tired of politics. I'm tired of the bickering, the division, the sniping and meanness. I usually enjoy politics, I enjoy being a part of the process, being heavily involved, but this year, not so much. This country is so divided along ideological lines that it's scary. It almost seems as though we could have a civil war, or maybe we should call it an "uncivil" war, because no one seems to know how to be civil anymore.

One thing I know, God is still Sovereign, He's still on His throne, and I can trust Him, regardless of what happens in this great land of ours.

I know I've been quiet lately. I've been pondering several things in my life and it has made me quite reflective and a little unwilling to expose myself.

But, today, I had a phenomenal God appointment and I'm still reeling over what it might mean.

I was supposed to be going to pick up my natural food co-op order, but realized that I had forgotten my checkbook, again. Since I'm going back to town tomorrow, I decided that the co-op order could wait and instead I just headed for the grocery store. If I had not done that, I would have possibly missed my appointment with an old friend.

Strangely, we had not seen each other for awhile and I've seen her twice in the last week. The first time, it was just sort of in passing, it was obvious that we were both in a hurry. Tonight, we made a point of connecting.

She had a young girl with her and I found out that they had adopted her about 1 1/2 years ago. She's beautiful. In our conversation I found out that this precious little girl had been so badly beaten up until the age of 5 that she couldn't speak. She used a type of sign language that she had created. My heart hurt so badly. The woman that I use to help, the one I miss with all of my being, has a similar history.

That little girl is now almost 9. She is in a home where they love her and are doing their best for her. They have her in therapy and are surrounding her with godly people. I told her about my daughter's ministry and hopefully, she'll be joining us for that in a couple of weeks. I also was able to tell my friend about my new Bible study coming up. God's timing is always so perfect.

I can't explain why God is helping this little one and it doesn't seem as if He helped my friend when she was a child. It hurts to know that she has gone through life so fractured and trapped inside herself. I can only pray that God will heal her mind and her heart and that it will bring glory to Himself.

The church is failing miserably. God helps us.