My weekend was filled. Much took place. I want to share the goodness of God.
Passover/Good Friday/Resurrection Sunday—Easter is and always has been a deeply meaningful and memorable time.
Spring is waking us all up from our snowy cocoons. The house needs a face-lift, a thorough cleaning and the windows need both sides cleansed.
Cold is interspersed with warmth and we all must adjust our hypothalamus whether we are aware or not.
It’s croup season.
Grandma had a set back, catching a bug that is going around. I had a few days of feeling dizzy and a bit off in my throat. It passed, for me, but Grandma is still recovering.
I’ve been so busy teaching that I don’t have time to get sick.
I worked at the hotel on this Easter weekend. It was very quiet. I was happy to see so many stores like Target deciding to pay respect to the Christian holiday and stay closed this Easter.
I am increasingly convicted about God’s command to keep the Sabbath. His laws and commands are never for stupid reasons.
Because I worked late on Saturday night (per usual, in the hotel business) I wasn’t able to attend any Sunday morning breakfast at church. I know they were held at all the churches I connect with.
Mom was going to host Sunday dinner, but because she wasn’t up to it she texted me during work Saturday to say that I would be having it at my house.
Thankfully, I had been cleaning. No, it’s not “ready” yet, because my septic/basement project is still half undone. At least my living room and dining room had space to put people. I ended up setting tables before I got to Easter Sunday service at Wayzata, Westgate.
The pastor there was a suite-mate of my oldest brother at Wheaton years and years ago. He also used to be the pastor at my church, that I attend now.
He had a good message about being dead, then becoming alive spiritually in Christ. It was a baptism service, as well.
For dinner, I had invited my oldest son and his family, my niece, Ed and Cherie, and three international friends. I invited three more of my Bible Study friends at church.
We all packed into Corgi Hollows for a salmon dinner, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, 24-hour fruit salad, Carrot cake muffins with real edible forsythia decorations (my niece made them ;)) and Forgotten Cake with lemon butter and whipped cream.
My daughter-in-law outdid herself bringing home-made sour dough loaves, beautifully decorated, and so delicious!
What a delightful lunch.
After dinner we all hiked out to the back hay field with Yuki and Corwyn. Little did we know we were about to see something big. It was. Really.
My son brought a long his .22, and the Yuki really doesn’t like loud noise. She took off.
We called, and called. No Yuki.
All of us dispersed to the north and the south, to the railroad track, to the east fields and the west. She simply wasn’t there.
We enlisted our neighbors to keep watch, too.
We prayed. As a group, we prayed.
A lovely Sunday had turned sorrowful.
But then—
A big black SUV drove slowly up the road towards us. I wasn’t on the road, but several of us were, and I could hear voices of joy.
Ed received a chagrined Yuki from the front seat of that vehicle. I ran out and shook the man’s hand, thanking him profusely!
Then I heard the story.
He lives south of the very busy, deadly U.S. highway by us. A young couple from Wisconsin stopped to pick up Yuki ON THAT HIGHWAY and brought her to the nearest farm they saw. The gentleman at the farm graciously took Yuki from them, saw that she had our city’s license tags, and chose to try to find her people on his own.
He didn’t call the city, and Yuki didn’t have our information on her collar.
It is just miraculous that he found us! We were about to give up the search because our international students needed to get back to the University campus.
The added activity clued him in that Yuki might belong with us!
God answered prayers, and we all rejoiced and thanked Him.
I am still thanking the Lord!!!
What could have been such a heart-breaking day turned perfect, even with a resurrection of sorts and great joy.
Three of my Chinese friends held Yuki down while we attached an old kitty tag that has our phone number on it. My daughter-in-law proved to be the best dog handler and fixed it in place. Sighs of relief. We didn’t want to remove her collar at all. We were all still jittery. Yuki, too.
We all marveled at God’s answered prayer the way back to the U.
I am still marveling. I am still grateful. I thank God as I hug Yuki even now.
Our students, some believers, some not, saw the amazing answer. I just pray that it shows the power of God and His interest in even “small” details of our “little” lives.
God is so good!
Needless to say, we are keeping our eye on Yukichan. Next time the .22 comes out she’s staying INSIDE!
Btw, Corwyn was afraid, but she wisely chose to return to the house, the front step, and waited there patiently for us to get back! Corgis. 🙂
A memorable Easter Sunday.
There are three eggs in the little nest by the front door. I’m not optimistic about this.
Margaret’s lambs are the cutest things ever! So, so tiny! I plan to get over there to see them up close this week. I see them in little white puddles in the pasture as I drive back from school. They are out with their moms in the afternoon.
Yes, there is a donkey keeping guard there, but those fox and coyotes are truly wily. Pray for these little creatures and their safety!
MARANATHA!