The Promise of Spring

As I scrubbed dirt out from under my fingernails for the second time today, I thought about how incredibly happy I was feeling. Today was a great day! I spent a few hours weeding and pulling the leaves out of my flower beds. I don't know what the future holds, but today it hinted at Spring.  Eeek!  I'm so excited!

I love Spring.  I LOVE SPRING!

It was 50 something degrees outside in the middle of February.  Recent rain has melted almost every bit of snow.  The daffodils, crocuses, and tulips, possessing a sure knowledge that Spring will come, have sent up their shoots.  It is going to come.

There's just something so promising about those first little green leaves poking up out of the rich brown earth, not worrying about the freezing weather or snow that probably will happen, maybe again and again, before Spring truly arrives. These plants can take it. They are frost resistant.

And so am I.

I can wait for the Spring.  I can make it through the Winter, even knowing that Winter is going to come again.
I'm referring to the seasons, but I'm also referring to life, the ups and downs that come to us all.

Sometimes the trials come so fast and hard that the only thing that gets me through is that promise.  Sometimes, Spring comes just in time to give me a little boost, to remind me of the promise of Jesus Christ and the plan of salvation.  The promise that this mortal life is but a small moment, that one day I will understand the tapestry being weaved in my life.

My Life is but a weaving
between my Lord and me;
I cannot choose the colors
He worketh steadily.

Oft times He weaveth sorrow
And I, in foolish pride,
Forget He sees the upper,
And I the under side.

Not til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas
And explain the reason why.

The dark threads are as needful
In the Weaver's skillful hand,
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned.

He knows, He loves, He cares,
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives His very best to those
Who leave the choice with Him.

author unknown

Every single Spring is a reminder that God is in control.  He knows what is coming. Hard things are coming.  And good things are coming. And no matter what, it's going to be okay, because God is in control and He is a master weaver.

So, with all of that said, I announced recently that we had become licensed to do foster care.  We didn't know that after the homestudy, and after the licenses are issued, there is still a board that reviews each homestudied family.  We were reviewed and the committee decided not to recommend us for placements. We found out on Monday with a "courtesy call". At some point we will get a letter telling us this news, but it hasn't come yet.

We will not be doing foster care.

They gave some reasons, but the summary of those is that they don't feel it is right for our family right now.  I won't go into details, but we were told to learn more about foster kids and how hard it is to care for them, stay strong in our family and marriage, and we could reapply in three years- after going through the entire process again. And the answer could be the same again.

3 years will be 2017.  I will turn 40 in 2017.

Life is full of hard things.  And good things too.  My husband is heartbroken.  Our extra bedroom holds a bunkbed and a Cars toddler bed with adorable cars bedding. The closet has little boy outfits that now need new homes.  We won't be needing them.

Hard things.

But, I know that Spring will come.  And we are going to be okay. God can see our tapestry.  He has given us so many blessings. His love is always there.  I will trust in His pattern and follow His plan.

Spring will come.