Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Dear God,

Anticipation, the longing of the heart for something good!  I believe this gift warms the heart making the soul ready for a movement of your living spirit.

As I drove down to Brown County, my car filled to the brim with eighteen sleeping bags, twelve blankets, six pillows, eleven towels, thirteen wash clothes, four full coolers, four tents and ground covers, one fold-up table, and an assortment of food items, pots and pans, Halloween paper products, bottles and bottles of fruit drinks, water, and soda, and so much more, my insides felt like they would pop.  I had worked two weeks preparing for a special time with seven grandchildren and three sons-in-law.  I had made eleven Halloween cloth bags to fill with surprises all weekend long like favorite candy, a pillowcase to match the bag, Halloween socks, ball caps with plastic alphabet names, bright orange shirts with a camp scene and a roster of eleven names, and assorted little treasures.  My friend had her truck filled with Halloween decorations and more stuff I simply could not stuff in my own van.  I was ready to see the bright, smiling faces of seven of my grandchildren and my three sons-in-law.  In fact I could hardly wait.

As I made my way up hills and down on a gorgeous autumn day, I whispered your name giving thanks for the opportunity to spend time with some of my beloved.

Gracious God,
thank you
for love
that stretches
and grows
every day.
Thank you
for anticipation
that drives us
toward one another.
Thank you
for binding me
to seven
of the
greatest kids
in the world
and their dads.
Thank you
for your
living spirit
that enlightens me
to the fact
that you
are the gift
behind the gifts.

Always yours, Andrea