What a few days this has been...

 As I sit here contemplating the past few days I am not sure where to begin. Emotions running from sooo Happy, to sooo Sad, and back again.

   But, it is just life,  as they say.

We have been looking forward to the birth of our 6th great granddaughter.  You know how it is at the end of a pregnancy.... "When will she get here?" "on time, overtime, early, someone's birthday?" and on it goes. Anticipation is on overload! Our grandson, going to be a papa... what joy for him and his wife, baby #1.  And bless their hearts they've given the poor child 2 middle names, after both her great grandma's on his side.  What an honor!  She came just fine.. 7 lbs. and 19 1/2 in. long. Madalyn Jane Louise.. Welcome!

   
Then last week-end a dear friend from church passed away, VERY unexpectedly. What shock for the family and his friends. What loss! What heartache. Yet, I begin to accent the positive.... and I have been privileged to have known him. His quiet, teasing of me was always such fun and he sure got a kick out of that. For a long time he would be serving the church, "fixing" something or just being around. That was a real help. The greatest joy tho, was his being ready to "go home." AND the added blessing, he went in the manner he desired, God answered him there.  For those left behind it will be a long time of grieving and getting over (if you do) the shock of his being here, then so quickly gone.

  
   Things that come to mind in all of this ~ nothing is certain. We do not know "when" we are coming into this world, nor when we are leaving.

  We just plan/prepare for either and then God has His way. And we had better be prepared to meet our Maker when He chooses to call us.

  Time that old time, it comes, it goes and we best make the best of what we have, enjoying the blessings of the day and remember, "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the Name of the Lord."

   
    As this day unfolds, I go to say farewell to a friend, comfort the family, and then to see and welcome new life, and responsibility, and joy into our family and one day the family of God, is my prayer.  

   YES, Blessed be the name of the Lord. :-)