All Birdies Are Back In The Nest

Well, it's Monday and ALL my "baby birds" are back in the nest.


Yesterday afternoon around 2pm Justin walked back in the door. There were verbal bets placed as to whether he would return or not.... wondering if once he got back to his home near Pembroke last Friday that he would perhaps not want to return to The County. But, lo and behold, in the door he walked. I was pleased to see him again. He slept in the newly remodeled room downstairs and said he slept so well that at one point in the night he woke up and thought he was at home. Welcome back Justin. I'm happy you've returned to our nest.

Last night, or should I say early this morning (12:30am-ish) we (Danielle and I) picked up Blake and the gang from the bus station in Belleville from his trip to New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. (I've been spelling it N'Orl'ns on my Google Chat so that everyone gets that "accent" in there.) His experience there sounds like a very positive one, and I'm looking forward to hearing more stories when he's "more awake". I can't believe there is still such devastation in this city even after almost four years. Blake said there are still people living on the streets because they have no where to go. Guess they met one lady who was on the street selling her paintings so she could earn enough money to feed her children. I cannot imagine. I cannot sit here in my home with the heater on and the clothing crammed in the dressers & closets and the food in the fridge and the computer to use and the furniture to sit on and fully understand what these people are experiencing. And you know what? They likely have more peace than I do.

We were talking about peace in church yesterday (great sermon, Pastor Kevin). As I sat there, I yearned for that peace way down in my gut. I have really been interested in reading some blogs of people I have never ever met or heard of before. These blogs fascinate me because I see how these folks are going through such terrible times (loss of spouse, battling cancer, death of a child, ill children) but soooooo many of them have such a peace about it all. They still lift their praise to our Heavenly Father and give Him all the glory for whatever they're going through. I'm thinking, "You just laid your child in a grave, yet you praise God! How does one DO that? How does one attain that peace in that situation?" I can "say" I give it all to the Lord, but where am I when the rubber actually meets the road? When I am actually in a trial (which is no where NEAR what these folks are battling), I sometimes lose that peace. I start to worry. I take on the burden myself. Then the Lord says, "Uhhhhh..... a-hem.... Michelle? Can I have your attention again please? Would you stop worrying and 'come unto Me and I will give you rest'?" Then I give my head a shake and press on again.

Kevin preached that if we are to be peacemakers, we must have the peace in our own hearts. If we desire to be more like Jesus, it requires us to take a good look at ourselves. Sometimes, I look at myself and I sure don't like what I see. But through God's grace and mercy, He helps us along the way. The Holy Spirit continues to work in our lives and little by little we are being transformed. Soon, worry will have no room because peace will be taking up all the space. Pressin' on for that. I keep telling myself this statement that I heard: Worry is like a rocking chair --- it gives you something to do but it doesn't take you anywhere.

Today, though, I've got some peace knowing that "All Birdies Are Back In The Nest". Looking forward to supper time tonight with the six of us around the table. Yah, I'm waaay outnumbered in the male:female ratio, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

And now, Momma Bird has to get her feathers in gear and get this nest tidied up. Have a very peaceful day.