Week One - All the Stars

For most people, Week One occurs in January when a new year begins. For me, it happens the first week of classes in the fall at our school. It's monumental. It's hyperactive. It's exhausting. 

Monday began with an influx of about 8000 students, along with their cars. The entire week revolved around welcoming them to campus and making certain they start off the semester with success. There were welcome tents plying them with directions and swag (notepads, cling stickers, phone holders, etc.). There were doughnuts with the Deans, entertainment, crafts and a fireworks show at the end of the week. 

After the fireworks show last night, I noticed a full moon in the sky. When I got farther away from the lights of campus, I saw the stars. I thought, "Fireworks are temporary, but stars shine on." 

Psalm 147:4 He counts the number of the stars; He calls them all by name. 

Wow! God names the stars! How much more important are all of us than the stars? Every person on campus this week held more value than a star and God knows them all by name. It's rather humbling and helps put me in a better frame of mind this week, when it's my turn to help someone and not ignore them to do my own thing. 

Flying High

My son has wanted to be a pilot since he was 13 years old. He is an active member of the Civil Air Patrol and attended college full-time, starting his junior year in high school. He took some tough classes last year and kept an A in every course. He ran cross-country in the fall and track in the spring. He even went to a summer seminar at the Naval Academy in Annapolis for 6 days this summer (think Navy Seal boot camp). 

After the camp, he decided to work on his private pilot's license for the remainder of the summer. This week, at age 17, he took his first solo flight! He's still a student pilot and needs more flight time before getting his private pilot's license, but WOW!

Proverbs 10:5a He who gathers in the summer is a wise son;

Now we begin his senior year in high school, still aiming high!

Floods and Rainbows

On Wednesday evening at my house, we got over 3 inches of rain in an hour. The yard was flooded and the 4 ft ditch in the back was overflowing. I honestly don't ever recall seeing that much volume of water in such a short period of time. I was simply amazed!

It didn't take long for life to get back to normal. Other than discussing the unbelievable deluge, we were back to work and school the next morning. The ground began to dry out enough that on Saturday I was able to do the yard work. But that evening, the rains came again. This time softer and gentler than the downpours a few days prior. The best part was the beautiful rainbow that greeted me from the sky.

Like me, you might be thinking about Noah's Ark and the rainbow covenant. But there are other mentions of rainbows in the Bible. 

Ezekiel 1:28 Like the appearance of a rainbow in a cloud on a rainy day, so was the appearance of the brightness all around it. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the Lord. 

Do you know how you always smile when you see a rainbow in the sky? It's just wondrous! Can you even imagine the smile you will have when you see Jesus? 

My Friend

On Monday I was finally able to connect with my friend Gina and celebrate her birthday with lunch. We've been taking each other out for our birthdays for years and it is rare that I can celebrate with her during her birthday week, much less the actual day! She's often on a trip in early July and by the time she's back I'm barely staying afloat at work. I was thrilled that we actually got together during her birth month this year. :)

Friends like Gina are special. You know the ones that you can not see for weeks at a time, sometimes longer, and suddenly pick right back up where you left off. The ones you can call at any time day or night and know they will answer. The ones who really care what's going on in your life and is a great cheerleader for you. Yep, that's her. 

Proverbs 12:26 The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.