A Valentine Gift

Last Thursday was Valentine's Day. To us it will now be something even more, if that is possible.  Tyne and Justin got married on that very special day so it will be an anniversary that will be hard to forget!
 As I stood watching them hold hands in the cold of that outdoor ceremony I couldn't help but to lapse back in time to when she was our little girl, our little valentine:) Her name lent us to use it interchangeably during Valentine's Day as we would write on her cards "Valentyne." I used it often over the years even while she was in college as she was still our Valentyne!

Who would have thought that the little play on words with her name would become a subtle little prophecy of our Tyne getting married on Valen"tyne's" Day 28 years later! Life if fun that way; but I believe it to be instead a little God moment.
  I don't believe it was a coincidence that they won a contest to be married on that day, nor a coincidence that Justin got a job around the same time, or a coincidence that this minister quoted scripture during the ceremony and turned out to be a Methodist minister, when we were told it was to be a non-religious ceremony!
 No, I don't believe much in coincidence anyhow, and you don't have to be hit on the head with a falling piano to see that there was a much bigger power working this Valentine's Day.  "When you say it was a coincidence or luck, you deny God the right to give it meaning!"
I believe that he was sending a message that if you believe in him and trust in him he will take care of you and let you know that he is there.  What a wonderful way to start a marriage!

So while we are happy and excited and feel blessed that she is now in union with Justin, nothing can ever take a way the fact that she won our hearts first and will always be our little "Valentyne."

The Beauty of His World

It never stops amazing me how beautiful the world is around us!  Each morning as I drive my grand-kids to school I am so aware of the scenery as we drive down snow covered country roads into town.  This morning the golden sun was peering through the dark trees making each branch stand out like someone had painted each limb with a black marker . The snow on the rolling hills literally glistened as if someone had sprinkled silver glitter all over them.  Each branch on the mighty oaks were covered with a fine covering of sparkling frost making each twig or gnarl stand out against the light blue sky whisped with a faint covering of clouds.  Across the horizon I could see three black birds sitting on the very top branches of a large tree silhouetted against the morning sky.
 With each observation I was so moved to say "Thank you Lord, for these miracles of life and for the beauty of the earth you have so entrusted to us." It was then when I turned the corner off the main road that my eyes were drawn upward to see a very faint image of what looked like a rainbow!  It wasn't very big and only blended three colors as it was tucked behind a cloud. I stared in total amazement and it was then that I was overcome with emotion as I knew that God was sending me a message of promise that all my concerns and prayers were being heard. The song In His Time whispered in my head as my heart softened and my eyes filled with tears..."He makes all thing beautiful in His time. Lord, please show me every day, as You're teaching me Your way, that You do just what You say, in Your time... Lord my life to You I bring, may each song I have to sing, be to You a lovely thing, in Your time."
His message was clear and for this I am grateful. May all of you take time to see the beauty of his world. Have a wonderful day:)