SOMETIMES WE DO!

Have to make our own Spring! Here it is April 30th, John is in his winter coat fixing the broken water line, the deck is all set up for someone to sit on and enjoy, but it is too cold to go out there. You look out the window and see all the beautiful silk flowers I put out A MONTH AGO! and you look up and see what? The Land of the Black Sticks. The Bradley is one month behind, and I can prove it. April 4th of 2010, it was out and gorgeous. Peaked April 11th. Red buds and Rhododendrons were out and peaking by April 11th. I can barely see purple and the Rhododendrons are out now. Bradley is just getting there. What the hay!?

So, we just have to keep our eyes on the FAKE azaleas and other things. Thinking about putting the side by sides on Facebook to prove to everyone WE'VE BEEN ROBBED!

Oh well, like I tell lots of people a lot of times, get your big girl, big boy pants on and go with it. I am not always a good sport.

This has been a very different week. They all seem to be anymore. So many changes, so many losses. Yet, we learn don't we. We learn that ultimately God is always in control. Sometimes we use that phrase and don't take it seriously. It is to be taken seriously. He is always there for whatever we go through or about to go through. Who knew last Sunday when I was walking Dakota on Jack and Joyce Covell's property that when I looked over at the house, I saw their gathering for dinner. The men were outside and Jack's brother Jim had just arrived with his fiancee Suzanne. John, Jack and Jim have known each other their whole lives. Jack and Jim's dad was John's doctor. Jack is a retired doctor. John and Jim graduated high school together. A couple times a month, Jack, Jim, John and John Hursh go for pizza at the Pizza Forum.
And, so I looked over and saw Jack and Jim conversing and ready to go in for a big fancy meal that Joyce prepares every year at Easter. I thought - how nice, the whole family is together (22 of them) and that is so special. Who knew! It would be their last with Jim Covell. Monday night the guys got together and ate pizza. Who knew it would be their last time with Jim Covell. They kidded him about how he needed reading glasses and John Hursh even bought him a pair so he could read the menu.

Wednesday, Jack and Jim as usual went to their two hour lunch date. Jim didn't feel so hot, but continued on. They ate, and decided they needed a few things at Walmart. Jim collapsed inside Walmart, and later died at Lutheran Hospital - Ft. Wayne. He was having an aneurysm. They took him to surgery but it was too late. People have these type of shocks everyday around the world, but when it comes to your back door, it just flies over our heads. God give Jack and Joyce (family and friends) all the grace and strength there is. These two guys went to lunch every day, every gun show in the tri-state area and mowed their huge properties together. Sometimes we do just need to
take stock of every day and make sure it brings glory and honor to God. Everything we think and do. All our responses, all our losses, all our weather irritations, all our everything to God. He will bring SPRING - he always does. No matter where we need it, or what form it comes in - He will bring Spring and a rainbow.