It is here

And so we have come to it.

To this, the day before we say goodbye.

Tomorrow morning, early with the sunrise, we will say goodbye to our sweet Soldier and send him off with all the love and support that we can muster.

My mind and heart find themselves swinging back and forth, back and forth.  The weeks and days leading up to now have been filled with unbelievable peace.  Peace in spite of our circumstances.  It happened just two days ago, the breaking of the flood gate, the deluge of tears.

Yet now, it seems my eyes allow a trickle here and a trickle there.  More moments my eyes are clear and steps are steady.  But it comes upon me so suddenly and without a moments notice: the urge to cry that cannot and will not be stopped.

I am trying though, trying to stand upon His promises, trying to hope and trying to give thanks.  For it is in these truths where I have staked my banner and underneath this banner is where I will wait.  Wait for my beloved's return.

THANKFULNESS

BELIEVING

GRACE-HUED PERSPECTIVE

I know it will not be every day nor even every moment that I will find myself beneath these truths, flapping in the wind.  For even the banner itself will be blown from side to side.  But never will it be uprooted, never will it fall down.  And by God's Grace, nor will we.  We will always come back to these and we will always, yet again, stake ourselves and cling to His truths.  

That He always, always, works for our good.

That He never forsakes us.

That He has gone before us.

That He is near.

And so, on this Manna Monday, we find ourselves gathering in His grace that is just for this day.  This day that we have it so good.  This day of sunshine and bike rides and finding a yellow rose's scent in which to breathe deeply.  This day of His provision that is scattered all around for us to gather, for us to be strengthened, for us to remember.  That we might wake tomorrow, and each day in it's own time, and gather, be strengthened, and take that first step of deployment.

Today we gather:

memories of a visit

Roses to smell

His Word

Emails and texts of encouragement

A play date for Thursday morn

My Mama coming on Thursday 

Videos of him

Learning with him

Sunshine

Biscotti and Gingerbread to bake for him

That she doesn't have to go

We get this afternoon together, an afternoon of sunshine, of feasting together over T-Bone steaks and twice baked potatoes.  

A text from Marlene saying to open to page 151 of One Thousand Gifts

"Can God be counted on?  count blessings and find out how many of His bridges have already held... but if I'm grateful to the Bridge Builder for the crossing of a million strong bridges, thankful for a million faithful moments, my life speaks my beliefs and I trust him again.

I fearlessly cross the next bridge...

Trust is the bridge from yesterday to tomorrow, built with planks of thanks.  Remembering frames up gratitude.  Gratitude lays out the planks of trust.  I can walk the planks- from known to unknown - and know: He holds.

I could walk unafraid."

And so we gather, and are strengthened, and thus remember