My post from Saturday, June 8, 2013:
Take a little walk through my day with me:
 

This morning God woke me up around 5:15.  First of all, let me preference this next part with this:  My mother-in-law, Jany, built this “Cabin in the Woods” with meaning, reason, and lots of love.  She had a reason for every window placing, every rock in the yard, fireplace, and steps to the porch, every plant and tree she planted, and just each little detail in her Kentucky home. I remember her telling me that she put a window right next to the toilet and one beside the claw foot tub so she could gaze out the window and look for deer, turkeys, and nature.  When I went to the restroom this morning, I opened the window blinds and gazed, just like Mrs. Jany would have done.  I saw the mist hovering over the pond surrounded by the beautiful woods.  Psalm 42:1 came to mind.  So I said in a whisper, “As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.”  I felt such a peace.
Then I glanced at the old tub and remembered that the first time Tim and I came up here with the kids, she drew me a hot bath and told me to sit, relax, and look out the window. (She always wanted others to feel comfortable.)  Well, I did just that.  I turned on the water and imagined Mrs. Jany preparing it all for me.
After my bath I grabbed my bible and went outside on the back porch, positioned the rocking chair so I could see the pond and one of the paths to the woods, curled up in my towel, and opened up my bible.  When I read Proverbs 15:15, I again thought of Jany.  It says, “Life is always hard for the poor, but the right attitude can turn it into a party.” (ERV)  Jany, being the storyteller that she was, would often recall the times of her earlier years growing up and when she and Wayne were first married.  She was poor.  I don’t believe that Jany was ever poor in spirit, but she was poor financially.  Throughout all those stories she would tell of the hard years, she always has a fun story and laughter to go with it.  Her attitude was right.  She could turn any situation into a party.  Life was rich for Jany, no matter how much money she had.
Sitting outside on the back porch was so serene.  I heard turkeys gobbling in the woods.  Wayne and Jany have many trails and meadows on their land and each hunting spot and trail had a name.  One location was appropriately named “Grandma’s Meadow”.  Well, guess where those gobbles were coming from?  You guessed it, “Grandma’s Meadow”.
The birds were singing and the sun was rising.  I texted Tim and told him how peaceful it is outside and that he should join me.  He brought his blanket, sat beside me, and had another good cry for his momma. Mornings have been the most difficult, but this scene did bring peace to him as well.
Jany had a hummingbird feeder hanging in the corner of the porch.  Well, guess what again…a hummingbird flew over and had a little drink.

 
The time had come and we had to leave to go to the church for the KY “Celebration of Life” service. The service was simple and sweet.  One of Jany’s requests was to have a silent invitation for those who need to accept Christ as their personal Savior. (For those who do not know what an invitation is…this takes place at the end of a church service in our Baptist churches.  This is the time that if anyone wants to ask Jesus into their heart so they can secure their place in heaven, they step forward and tell the preacher that they want Jesus to be the Lord and Savior of their life.)  Well….After all the heads were bowed and eyes were closed, a man walked forwarded to make it known to all that he was accepting Christ as his personal Savior.  Who was that man?  One of Jany’s brothers!!  Praise God!! Hallelujah!!!!
Before my mother-in-law had passed away, she kept urging her brother, and anyone else who she believed she wouldn’t see in heaven, to get their life and heart right with God.  To God be ALL the glory!  Our tragedy was going to be used for God’s glory, and by golly He got it!
 

Now it was time for the graveside service.  So after the bagpipes escorted out to the gravesite and played “Amazing Grace”, the preacher said a few words and a prayer, and then we all enjoyed food in the church fellowship hall. After lunch, we all loaded up in our cars to go to see uncle Jimmy baptized in a neighbor’s swimming pool.

When we left the church, Tim instructed Hunter (who was driving) to just follow the car that just left ahead of us.  Well, we followed it, and we were led astray.  This car wasn’t going to the baptism.  It was heading to Jany’s sister’s home to deliver some leftover food.  Tim was like, “Can you believe that out of all the cars we could have followed, we chose the one that wasn’t going to where we needed to be!”  He quickly phoned his dad and got the correct directions.
By this time, it was 2:15 in the afternoon.  Our delay caused us to perfectly time the next “Ahhh” moment.  Tim had wanted to see a deer today.  Well, “Cue deer…” a deer trotted across the country road, and Tim got his wish.
Now we started joking that Jany was in heaven saying, “Cue peaceful scene outside overlooking the pond.  Cue turkeys gobbling in my meadow. Cue hummingbirds.  Cue Jimmy making a profession of faith.  Now…Cue deer crossing the road.”
This sad day of putting my mother-in-law to rest seemed to be going just the way she would have planned it.  Let me change that, it was going just the way God had planned it.
But wait! The “cue” moments didn’t end there.
We were making a grocery list before heading into town and discussing what we were going to have for dinner.  Tim and I opened the freezer and saw three containers of grandmama’s homemade chili.  We shook our heads and said, “How perfect!  One of Holly’s favorite meals is chili dogs, and having chili is a tradition we have, even in the month of June.” This was the day before Holly’s birthday, so this meal was going to be perfect.  Grandmama was providing our dinner for us this evening from her heavenly home.  So we continued searching in the freezer and found everything we needed:  hotdogs, buns, rice, and a small bag of the last chocolate chip cookies that G-ma made. One more item remained in the freezer.  Tim told me to pull it out.  He lowered his head and said, “I know what it is.”  Sure enough, his favorite cake that his mom would bake for him…there was a half of German chocolate cake ready for the Shuff crew to enjoy.

There Jany goes, “Cue dinner.”
God was turning our sorrows into joy.  He was making our memories bigger than life (as her niece, LaDonna, told me would happen).
The evening ended with stories around the fire pit.
June 8^th, 2013 began with much peace and confidence in the Lord, and ended with great hope.
In the midst of our sorrows, God showered us with joy.

• “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”  John 16:20b

 
Oh how I hope and pray that you know and have Jesus to turn to during times of troubles.  He is our strength, our rock, and our salvation!  God will help you through your difficult time and fill you with hope and joy.
Blessings to y’all.