Hope in the Secret Places

It has been rather silent here. I think of dozens of topics to write about - but somehow the day runs out before the words do. We are pushing to get the last weeks of school finished before warm weather hits. But otherwise, I don't have much to show for my days. That endless cycle of dishes, laundry, cleaning, and diapers.

The photo above is the sunset last night. Yes, we had more snow. As my daughter said, "I have to admit that the snow is pretty, but I wouldn't care if it didn't snow for a long time."

We made it through the winter with hardly more than a sniffle but the last week we were hit with some bad colds and coughs. A sick baby makes mom's nights short. (Or long - depending upon your perspective of seeing every hour.) I was spoiled to have a two month old that slept 8-10 hours a night. She is feeling better now so I'm hoping she goes back to her night routine.

I have been reading through Isaiah. (Very slowly. My Bible is prompted up on the arm of the couch and I try to read a few verses while feeding the baby. Sometimes I find myself reading the same chapter for the third or fourth time.) There seems to be so many needs - in my own life, in my children, in my friends - and I am drinking in the encouragement. Numerous times in the middle chapters of the book it talks of God forming us and knowing us in our mother's womb. Amidst all the unknowns - God knows.

Two verses that were extra special to me this week.

Isaiah 44:3 For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring:

Isaiah 45:3 And I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret places, that thou mayest know that I, the LORD, which call thee by thy name, am the God of Israel.

When I am thirsty, He refreshes.

When I am weary of mothering, He pours blessing on my offspring.

When in darkness, He gives treasures - secret riches.

That I may know Him.

And a tired mother is rich with hope.