Cloudy with the Chance of Sun........

     A.'s diagnosis has caused a traffic jam of sorts. We are grateful for a name, an answer, validation to everything we have said over the last 6 years. But, as you can imagine, I have been on the phone and internet researching all I can about A.'s diagnosis and what it means long term for her, short term for our family and long term for the other girls. My head is spinning with questions that I still have, new questions, test names, doctors names and numbers and all the paperwork that goes along with this journey. Then there is Obamacare that is gonna play a part in this all, though I am still unclear how big or small. *sigh*

     It's a lot for this mama to take in while trying to get the every day stuff done and growing a baby! So, I'm trying to get more sleep, and remember to eat well something when I get hungry. I am not stressing about the things that aren't getting done and I'm trying to make the important things a priority around here (food, Scripture, Prayer, some school and minimal cleaning).

     I don't have anything profound to share, except that us Mama's gotta do what we gotta do- even when it's not the ideal whether ideal for us or someone else. I don't have it all together, we aren't doing Art every day nor are we checking off every box on our weekly plan. Our baseboards are dirty and I can't remember the last time I dusted.  We're just getting thru life, the best we can..... together, for His glory. We are taking this diagnosis and trying to create a new normal where it doesn't define us, but has it's own place. We are learning life skills- the skills to keep going even when we have a ton of questions and not many answers on the horizon. We are pursuing endurance to continue on and give Him the Glory even when we don't have clarity. We are remembering gratitude for all the blessings He has given us, even in the midst of the clouds of uncertainty.
 
      I named this blog Faith in the Shade, because in this journey He has called me to I have found the most faith, the most assurances, the most comfort in those times of shade; whether that shade be a storm of illness or a cloudy day of unknowns. He has been faithful to call me to Him and provide rest and for that I am most grateful. But in these storms of life that we never plan for ourselves or expect, we have a choice. Sit and cry it out (tears are welcome, a tantrum is not), or shed a tear or two and just get thru...... on His strength, which is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

     There is a sunny day to come Mama's, we just can't always see how bright those days are until we experience some cloudy ones. We sure do appreciate those sunny days more when we've been thru the storm. So fight for for your faith, even in the shade. Seek Him. And, just remember that you don't have to have it 'all together' to come to Him for refuge......