. . . a CoUpLe oF ThiNgS . . .

First things first . . . 

Please help us welcome

KINSLEY JOY MARIE RYE

Born on 9/12/13

7 # 8 oz

19" long

Precious daughter of Nick & Ashley Rye

and adored little sister to Presten, Daila, Maddie & Lila!

(Papa Rickey is surely smiling a BIG smile in Heaven today!)

Auntie "Konky" (a.k.a. Kajsa Jo) loving on Kinsley ♥

Auntie "Table" (a.k.a. Taya Jill) loving on Kinsley ♥

Secondly . . . the house is a WRECK . . . we pushed things from one end of the table to the other so we could eat supper tonight, the dishwasher is FULL (at least it's clean), the sink is full (they are dirty), the counters are covered (I think they are white) and I'm sitting here, sipping coffee, enjoying spending time with Rick, blogging and watching football & FIFA world cup soccer!!  :)  I am learning that PEOPLE are more important than things and that time spent with loved ones can't ever be gotten back - the messy house will still be there waiting for me tomorrow (though I wouldn't mind a housekeeper!)!

Third, and the post that has been rolling around in my brain all afternoon is this . . . 

Do you ever just KNOW that something is right?  I mean, really you just know that it is so totally a "God thing" that you really can't believe it?

Well, I recently had (or thought I had) one of those situations!  As I stated in my last post, I worked my last day at the hospital a week ago today.  Everyone has been asking what I/we plan to do "now" and I've been pretty honest that we're not really sure.  With Rick just finishing up with school (and starting again the same day he finishes!), we are looking at some options we have tossed around for awhile now.  We haven't received clear direction on any of them yet, so we are still seeking and praying.  In the meantime, what looked like an opportunity presented itself to me.  It looked like the PERFECT opportunity.  The timing seemed just "too good to be true".  The details seemed like they just "had to have" been orchestrated by God.  Others agreed with me that it sure seemed like a good thing.  I did keep in mind that sometimes the things that appear to be too good to be true, really are too good to be true.  So I prayed, diligently, that God would make my path clear.  I basically "told" God that I need him to write it in the sky for me, so I would KNOW what to do!  Today, I found out that for whatever reason, that "perfect" opportunity was not to be.  At first, my initial reaction was to be wounded.  Hurt that "I wasn't good enough".  Angry at who ever played a part in the decision.  Ready to display an "I'll show them" reaction.  And then, God reminded me that I asked Him to show me.  I asked in faith (just as I had asked for a tree), and the same as before, He again "gave me a tree".  Only this time, it was not exactly the tree I'd prayed for because I thought this was so "right".  Now, hours later, as I sit writing about it, I can say with assurance that this "no" WAS an answer to prayer.  A clear, concise, direct answer to prayer.  No part of the decision was left to my choice, all I had to do was graciously accept the answer I was given, or stew over the decision and make myself and all those around me miserable.  I think I'll chose the gracious route.  God has a bigger plan than I can see.  Like the song from Casting Crowns, "You're Already There" says (in part): 

"From where I'm standing
Lord it's so hard for me to see
Where this is going
And where You're leading me
I wish I knew how
All my fears and all my questions
Are gonna play out
In a world I can't control

When I'm lost in the mystery
To You my future is a memory
Cause You're already there
You're already there
Standing at the end of my life
Waiting on the other side
And You're already there
You're already there

From where You're standing
Lord, You see a grand design
That You imagined
When You breathed me into life
And all the chaos
Comes together in Your hands
Like a masterpiece
Of Your picture perfect plan!"

In a world we can't control . . . where our future is a mystery (to us), it's already a memory to Him.  He has a picture perfect plan, that will come together like a masterpiece, if we can just be patient and trust that He IS already there, standing at the end of our life, waiting on the other side!  So while we wait for the answers tomorrow, next week, next month . . . HE'S ALREADY THERE!