....God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble (Psalm 46:1)

.... this  was one of today's verses in the devotional that my sis-in-law got me "Jesus Calling - Enjoying Peace in His Presence".   Being close to Thanksgiving, today's reading was about thankfulness . . . "A thankful mind-set does not entail a denial of reality with its plethora of problems.  Instead, it rejoices in Me, your Savior, in the midst of trials and tribulations.  I am your refuge and strength, an ever-present and well-proved help in trouble."


Today, I (we) had yet another reason to "rejoice in our Savior" even in the midst of this trial and tribulation.  I had brought all of the "documentation" to the Social Security Administration back when I got the initial letter from them telling what they needed.  That day, they could not process our "claim" though as we had to wait for the official "phone interview" which was scheduled for today.  The lady, that day, did give me her "best estimate" of how much we should expect, and it was quite  a bit less than I was thinking (hoping, praying) it would be.  When I mentioned it to my brother-in-law, he said, "don't worry about it, we'll be fine"! . . . So, unusual for me, I DIDN'T worry - at all (definitely a "GOD THING" as I am typically a "worrier") . . . today at 9:00 a.m., right on schedule, the call came, along with a TERRIBLE phone connection (I had to ask the lady to repeat at least half of her questions) and just as we were ALMOST done, we were disconnected . . . !!  She was a very pleasant lady and she called me back quite quickly and she told me the amount that we would receive each month . . . and i questioned her, probably FIVE times, if I had heard her correctly (I'm still not "counting" on it until I get the paperwork confirming it!), but the amount that she told me was more than DOUBLE what the original "best estimate" had been!!  When I called Tim to tell him, he said, "see, I told you not to worry"! :)  And I could honestly say that I hadn't been and I was sure glad I hadn't wasted almost 2 weeks "fretting"! :)


After school today, there was another Jr. High Basketball game, Kajsa was again cheering, so we stayed after school and decorated my office for CHRISTMAS!! :)  It was actually fun, and put us into the Holiday Spirit (that and the fact that I was listening to Christmas music all day!).  At the game was a gentleman who takes photographs of local (Upper Peninsula) sporting events.  He and I have met and talked several times in the past as he was related to Nick's wife Ashley by marriage.  He came over to me, verified that it WAS me, and told me that he had something for me in his jacket.  He then presented me with a book, "Getting to the Other Side of Grief . . . Overcoming the Loss of a Spouse".  It is a book written from a Christian perspective, and the little bit I've been able to look at looks like it will be a very beneficial book . . . another kindness from another person the LORD has put into our lives!! 


Tessa & I also attended the bridal shower of one of her best friends (and my cousin's daughter) which was so much fun!  Afterwards, Tessa went to a friend's house for "movie night" and a girl's night sleep-over, Addie again came home with us, and she and Taya are now watching the Justin Bieber movie, Kajsa is snuggling with me, watching "Extreme Couponing" and I'm looking forward to reading the new Karen Kingsbury book that was pre-ordered and downloaded to my Kindle this morning!!


Another day, filled with the Lord's grace, tender mercies and constant reminders of HIS love for us in BIG and small ways!