homeschooled our kids). (They're saying farm chores aren't what they wanted to do at the
moment.) :-)
They are great with their faces, aren't they?
Before
After
Ivy's lifelong (also homeschooled) best friend when Ivy and Sarah had a facetime about all of this.
Ivy being the only girl with six brothers has learned to stand up for herself through the
years. She started college in August. By November she had been attacked. So now the
therapy begins.
glasses). Two wrecks in 6 months. He just had another wreck Monday.
As I look at these pics, I see innocence. Ivy's was stolen. I also see God. He's bringing
us through. And I see my writing. Without which, I would have gone mad. So God,
innocence and writing. All tied together in a Christmas bow. I am not saying that I
celebrate these life things that have happened to our family (please read on about that).
But I am saying, God gives us the strength. The strength to cope.
Since I last left you, my husband has a severe throat problem, my inbox was wiped out,
my website has vanished, Ben had another wreck, I had another biopsy, Ivy was attacked.
You've heard people say that He never gives you more than you can handle, right? Well, I
say He lets things happen to ready us for His Kingdom. He knows that it is more than we
can handle. He wants us to learn trust and faith and mercy and grace. And the writing
part is in the plan. The plan that gets us through the life stuff.
I discovered that voice is really the persona we portray in a piece of writing. Pain helps
us find our writing voice. That is wonderful to me. It gives me pleasure and joy to know
He is walking with me. And that means if I have to go through all of this to know Him
better and to understand Heaven, then so be it. So yes, I celebrate.
Isaiah 42:13 For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to
you, Do not fear; I will help you.
He will help you. With life. He'll show you how to use trials to benefit your life and your
writing. And teach you that He'll never leave your side. Lean on Him for everything.
Even when you don't understand. Because HE understands. Because HE cares. And
we were never promised a rose garden here on earth. AND because this place is NOT
our home.
Merry Christmas from the Campbell family to all of you.
Oh Robyn. I am so sorry. I wondered why you have not been around and now I know. Feel so much for you that so much has happened in your life. Life can sure send us an abundance of lemons can't it? I too discovered that sometimes God gives us more than we can bear. Has been happening to me over and over again in my fibro journey. And then, one day I came across a powerful passage from Paul where he says he experienced it too. Here it is from 2 Corinthians 1: "We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life.....But this happened so that we might not reply on ourselves but on God who raised the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us."2 Cor 1:9-10 Your words are wise and assuring. Bless you for looking to Him who loves us and for discovering His treasures amidist the debri of the storm. Grieving with you my friend for ALL you have gone through and praying for strength to endure what's happened and for brighter days ahead. Please keep us posted and be assured of our prayers.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos of your beautiful children, Robyn - and not so little problems especially with all that has gone before - but glad that you are not walking alone. Thanks for being vulnerable and sharing your year and your insights and wisdom. Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a wonderful 2017. God be with you.
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