New year equals...

Ok folks, as many of you know (or may not?), my sweet other half (notice I did not say "better" half...its a tie, thank you very much) and I live in a townhouse that is owned by his grandmother. It was owned by his grandmother and great-aunt...sisters...but the aunt passed away this past summer so the complete ownership passed to Grandmommy (as she is called). They both moved to an assisted living place across town, closer to Chad's mom, before Aunt Mary passed away. Well, now Grandmommy isn't doing well. A combination of health issues has finally begun to take its ultimate toll on her shockingly strong body. We were told by hospice that she wouldn't last till Thanksgiving....then Christmas...then she wouldn't see 2009 but that wonderful, tough, sweet woman is still with us. The decision has been made to move her back to the townhouse since she can get the same amount of care here that she can at the place where she is living, which is not really equipped to deal with the 24-hour-a-day care that she now requires. This move back home will probably happen in the next week or two (or less) so please keep us in your prayers as we adjust to having new people in our house (which isn't really OUR house anyway) and working around other people's schedules and buying groceries for more people, etc. I mean it, pray. Lots.

Second, on an equally sad note, my grandmother (Mema) isn't doing too well either. My family decided to move her from FAR south Georgia while I was in India the first time (was that really 2004??) and she has been slowing and steadily declining into demensia for years. She no longer knows me which is probably the most heartbreaking part...my mom says that she isn't really interested in eating or drinking much anymore. Some days are better than others, as all are in life, but especially in these cases. Pray for my family, but especially my mom. More for her please.

I have been on this kick, listening to a few songs that were my theme songs (along with the rest of my team) while we were in India. Exactly two years ago I was planning and packing for three months with 17 strangers and I sorta feel the same way today...not the packing so much or the 17 strangers but I guess life is always like that. New changes, new challenges, new years...I am trying to find myself and where I belong in all of it all over again. This song by Sarah Edwards "Dark but Lovely"...among a few others. Always amazed at how much my God loves me and how His grace always abounds though undeserved, and how He is somehow taken by me and my weak love.

"I can't understand this work of grace
how a perfect God would come and take my place...
the stars they don't move you,
the waves can't undo you,
the mountains in their splendor, they can not steal your heart
this God who is holy, perfect in beauty, awesome in glory, is ravished by MY heart
Though I'm poor, you say I am lovely
though I'm dark, you say I am beautiful...
I can't understand this work of grace
how a perfect God would come and take my place...
somehow my weak glace has overwhelmed you,
and somehow my weak love, it has stolen away your heart..."