Update

How do you create memories with your missionary grandkids?
You record stories on the computer via a web cam (audio) then you burn these recordings on to a CD. Ship the cd and books to your missionaries. Or you make sure they already have the books you are planning to record.
I borrowed the books from the library after Melissa told me which ones Braylon and Audrey already had in Jamaica. Plus I included a couple of new ones. To save on postage Nate took them down when he went for a 6 week visit.

How else? Audrey and I type e-mail letters to each other using lots of little, funny icons.
Braylon and I make truck noise and funny faces on skype.
And of course there is snail mail with little surprises included.

The parents of missionaries group is taking shape. Actually it is a group for anyone close to a missionary-parent, sibling, family, friend. The first meeting will be Thursday, July 15th at 6:30. If you are interested in coming contact me through here, facebook, or The Branches at Farmland Friends Church.

I am Nana again!
Carla and Mike became a threesome on Tuesday, June 29th.
Zoe Jo Lacy weighed in at 7 lbs 2.7 oz and was 19 1/4 inches long.
Everyone is adjusting and doing well.

Can't Have One Without The Other

The following verses were taken from my daughter's blogspot of February 2010.
Why did I post them? Because they brought comfort and hope to me today, just to hear an explanation from God's Word for all the hard things that life can hold in it.

http://melissablack10.blogspot.com/2010/02/pair-what.html

God's Word shows us many times that one emotion cannot come without another:

2 Cor 4:17

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.

1 Peter 4: 12-13 Beloved do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

How?

Today is a sad day as I just had my last sleepover with Audrey in a while. As I look at toys scattered around, clean up our deeelicious waffle breakfast with all the toppings, jump on the trampoline with her, show her the different flowers coming up, and do the ornery Nana thing of showing her how to blow bubbles with the straw in her pop I think of how much I am going to miss her. I wonder about how many milestones I won't be close for. How the memories I make with Audrey and Braylon will not be the ones I have always assumed they would be.
Lord, Your ways are higher, better, and different then mine but right now those ways are hurting me . Help me in my weakness.

Anticipation

Next Wednesday, April 14th, is the day! Melissa, Aaron, Audrey, & Braylon leave for Jamaica.
How do I feel? Joy, excitement, sadness, anticipation, pride, humility, eagerness- all the emotions are flowing.
I think most of the emotions are easy to understand but I have been thinking a lot about one in particular thanks to a book that Melissa and Aaron gave to us as a gift- Parents of Missionaries.

Anticipation and eagerness-I am excited to see how God is going to unfold this next chapter of life. Not only for the Black but also for me & Kevin as POMs-Parents of Missionaries. What opportunities await?!

Want I wish to do is connect with other POMs. To be a support for them and also to seek out their support.

Being a POM also gives me opportunities to be specific in prayer as M & A give me information and as I talk with other POMs.

Maybe this will lead to a new growth group through Farmland Friends Church.

As you can tell my head has been spinning with possibilities. It is exciting to be a part of this thing call missions.
It is also humbling to realize that God has chosen me to a parent/grandparent to HIS missionaries. How to be a long distance parent/grandparent? It takes creativity that's for sure.

Stayed tuned-there's more to come.

Trust

Trust in the Lord.....here's the challenge..... "with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". What's in a heart to trust the Lord with? In my heart is my family. Do I trust Him? Yes and with new seasons beginning in all of our lives that trust is being stretched and proved. Melissa and Aaron waiting & waiting on the green light to leave for Jamaica; Carla and Mike waiting on the newborn cries of a their first child; Nate just launching out into adulthood, waiting for his plotted course to be revealed. And us just waiting in the wings to be there, adjusting in whatever way is needed. How often I have wondered "what's next? and when is next?" Tried to figure it all out but I always seem to come back to "I don't know". Like walking in a fog, can't see very far ahead, just enough to know the next footstep.
In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight....our part is an action part, although maybe not the action part we want. Acknowledge Him, honor Him, trust Him with our lives and what will He do? He will make straight our paths, straight as in right, correct. Maybe not easy but honest and upright.