wow. it's March already?

Well, our eagerly-anticipated holiday weekend on the Isle of Skye with the other students and their families was sadly canceled.  David and I were literally putting on our coats and about to head out the door to catch our bus on Thursday morning when the phone rang to say that all buses were canceled.  There was a terrific snowstorm which shut down the motorways heading north.  So then we thought there might be a chance that we could re-book tickets for Friday instead, hoping that the roads would be clear by then, but they weren't.  So we (as well as Parthee) were stuck in Glasgow for a quiet weekend at home instead of enjoying fellowship with our friends and fellow-laborers.  The other students who were coming from the Highlands and Islands were able to get together as planned because the roads weren't blocked where they were coming from, so we're happy for them, but we were disappointed to miss the party!

Our holiday was canceled. . . but unfortunately work was not!  David still had to head out on the morning train to Inverness first thing Monday morning to attend two days of committee meetings (fun, fun).  Last night was the first time I've spent a night alone in our house. . . a bit scary, but not too bad.  David should be home by midnight tonight.

I was out most of yesterday helping with the children's Bible club, as usual.  We are regularly having eight or nine children come along.  Please pray that we would have wisdom to know how to deal with the chaotic behavior that is sometimes exhibited by these children who have no moral or emotional stability in their homes.

Baby has been making his (I don't like saying "its") presence manifestly known recently, as movements have become more intense and more noticeable.  Last week for the first time David was able to feel the baby kicking!  He had been wondering if he was ever going to get a chance to feel it for real, because every time the baby was active and he put his hand on my stomach, the movement would immediately stop.  I told him that the baby obviously takes after his dad -- he is a tease!


On Sunday night we had an excellent sermon from Philippians 4:19 - "my God shall supply all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus."  What a reminder that we are provided for not only physically and materially (which in and of itself is so amazing!) but spiritually as well. . . in Christ Jesus.  Recently we have seen this verse demonstrated.  Last week my friend Shael told me that she and her husband were praying for wisdom to know what to do about purchasing a new vehicle for their family (six children).  For the past ten months, ever since their youngest child was born, they have been unable to fit in their vehicle because there are not enough seats for everyone.  So they have been dependent upon their parents for transportation to and from church, etc. and have been unable to take the entire family out together just for fun.  They have been trying to save every little bit they can. . . but when you are a student for the ministry and you are relying on the Lord for your daily bread, it's hard to save when there is no income.  Even so they though they might have finally scraped together enough to buy a 9-seater "minibus" (that's what they call vans over here - 15 passenger vans are unheard of!) which would fit their entire family.  However, the one that was offered to them which was within their price range was questionable as to whether or not it would be reliable - and it would drain every cent of their savings.  So they continued praying, not knowing if this was truly the Lord's provision or if they should continue to wait on Him.  The next day Shael checked her email.  She is a member of a UK homeschooler email group and she discovered than 10 minutes before, someone had posted "9 seater minibus free to good home"!!  This family in England had been blessed with a larger vehicle for their own family and wanted to bless a large family with their previous vehicle which was well-maintained. So the Harams have been gloriously, richly provided for!  What an amazing story!  :-)  It just cheers my heart to be reminded yet again of how much God cares for His children.

And I'm going to end this post by sharing something that I was sent on FB, which I think is hilariously funny.  If you like extra strong (or as they say here in the UK, "mature") cheddar cheese, you will love this as much as I do.  Follow this link!