Have you ever been struggling to find the right words to express how you’re feeling, and suddenly a song pops into your mind that says everything perfectly? That happened to me last week:

My God, I thank thee, who hast made
The earth so bright;
So full of splendor and of joy,
Beauty and light;
So many glorious things are here,
Noble and right.

The garden is producing! Admittedly I can’t believe that I’m successful growing/harvesting/preserving food and absolutely loving it. My family probably all rolls their eyes when they receive ANOTHER garden update from KR- but I can’t help myself 🙈 also my $1 gathering basket from a July 4 yardsale is another item on my excited list.

I thank thee, Lord, that thou hast made
Joy to abound;
So many gentle thoughts and deeds
Circling us round,
That in the darkest spot of earth
Some love is found.

A lot of days I can hardly believe my current life. Blessings upon blessings upon blessings.

I thank thee, too, that all our joy
Is touched with pain
That shadows fall on brightest hours,
That thorns remain;
So that earth’s bliss may be our guide,
And not our chain.

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 Wow I’m convicted.

This verse is actually why I’ve been singing this song. My health has really hit a rough spot recently again. Ah, ulcerative colitis-the unwelcome guest. I won’t bother with a pic of all the pill bottles lined up on my kitchen windowsill… Hopefully we’re turning the corner, but I’m reminded again of how urgent it is to be thankful for the good days and how important the rough days are to drive me back to my loving Heavenly Father. Also, bless Ben for being so patient with me. Apparently I’m slightly needy when I’m not feeling great 😬🙈😂

I thank thee, Lord, that here our souls,
Though amply blest,
Can never find, although they seek,
A perfect rest,
Nor ever shall, until they lean
On Jesus’ breast.
Amen.

We just finished wheat harvest and what a year it was! Record yields and record price. But at the same time, my aunt forwarded me an email from a lady in Ukraine who wrote about the beautiful wheat fields; the lack of fuel to harvest and haul; the destruction of ports for exports; and the hidden land mines in those innocent looking fields. My heart breaks for those innocent people.

Joy, difficult things, the quest for peace… I’m guessing your current life might look a little different from mine, and yet these are the underlying tones of everyday of the human experience.

Looking forward to that day of Perfection with Jesus! Stay focused, friends ❤️

Kendra

Bonus Pics:

I’ve been thoroughly enjoying cooking from the garden-next year I think I’ll only plant one zucchini and one squash 😂

The twins approved of my $1 July 4th yardsale find for them too- a shovel and a rake. We were heading to the field and Uriah came carrying his “tools”. Thankfully they weren’t needed 😂

And finally- I’m in Lancaster on a van run this weekend and we visited the art studio of a man who was born without the use of his hands. This was one of the many masterpieces that he painted using his mouth. That in the darkest spot on earth, some love is found.