It’s been a while since I have blogged.  I’d like to think that it’s only been months, but in truth, it’s been years.  I’ve kept the blog “alive” but it’s not been active.  I’ve had opportunities to shut down my blog site/page but God has always nudged me not to.  Here’s hoping that I have embraced God’s pull on me to write again as I feel inspired today.  It’s like riding a bike, right? 

Ted and I moved from Trenton, MI to Holland, MI two years ago in 2020 when we were all in the early months of covid.  More on that later as my stories unfold.  Our first priority was to find a new church home – which was no easy task with all the shut-downs of covid.  Happily, we have found our new home at Ridge Point Community Church in Holland, MI.  This past Sunday, part of Josh’s message hit home with me. 

Josh talked about the game, “I spy” where someone says something like “I spy with my little eye something BLUE!”  and right away, the Reticular Activation Center, or RAC, part of your brain starts looking everywhere for something blue.  Something blue.  Where is it?  Look left, look right.  I must find things that are BLUE!  Josh went on to explain that if we have a mindset of how miserable our lives might be:  “ohhh my aching back, and what naughty kids I have, and what a horrible job I have, and blah blah blah” that the result is, the RAC effect from our brains will continue to look for the negative; on the hunt for more bad.  However, it’s also the same effect when we look for GOOD.  If we take time to see and recognize the good things – the blessings – in our lives, the more our brains hunt down those positives.  Two weekends ago, I experienced something that sucker-punched this concept home with me.  An awakening!

I have always loved rainbows.  I find them beautiful, unbelievable, and just plain a miracle in the sky.  I used to always ‘look for the rainbow”.  (see previous blogs:  8/28/13 …storms… 9/3/15 …a sign… and 2/4/16 …pullin’ up the bootstraps…}  I haven’t been looking for rainbows lately.  Two weekends ago, the family was all together:  Jill and Kristen with their husbands and all 6 of our grandchildren with me and Grandpa Ted.  It was raining on and off all day, but finally the rain stopped enough that we could get the restless house-bound kiddos outside in the fresh rain-washed air.  The air was still damp and there were dark clouds in the sky with the sun trying it’s best to burn through and illuminate things.  In the eastern sky, a rainbow was trying to appear!  We shouted to the kids “Look at the rainbow!  Do you see it?  Look look at the rainbow!”  It wasn’t the brightest one I’ve ever seen, but it was there.  It dawned on me that I hadn’t looked for them lately.  With all my being, I looked at that rainbow and wanted it to shine for the kids to see and enjoy.  It faded quickly.  But it WAS there – my first rainbow in a very long time.

One of the things I love about rainbows is that it was a sign from God to Noah that He would not destroy the world ever again with a flood.  It was a sign of hope and love that the flood was over and that Noah and his family were kept safe by God and could now get off the ark and look forward to living life.  When I see rainbows it reinforces my faith and hope in a loving God that knows the plans he has for my future.  

For Ted and I, we currently have many “unknowns”.  We are still in our temporary living situation – that has now been temporary for 2 years.  One of our daughters and her family have a big move to another state coming up in the near future and Ted and I agonize over family being so far and how will we get to see them.  We worry and pray for our family’s health and safety and their spiritual lives.  We contemplate growing older with the changes of health and lifestyle that we could face.  It was a few days after seeing that rainbow with the family that it hit me  – as that rainbow stretched across the sky like God’s arms enveloping my family it reminded me of how God has always heard my prayers and answered them.  That rainbow felt like a big hug and reminder from God that He KNOWS and CARES and will hear my prayers.  I’ve always known that; I just needed this reminder.  Throughout all the years of raising our family, my prayers included keeping my family safe, helping them through struggles, leading them to good friends and praying for their future spouses.  God has blessed us beyond measure.  Thanks to Josh’s church message last Sunday, I have been reminded to look for my rainbows.  I do enjoy a literal rainbow in the sky – a true artistic miracle designed by the one and only Creator God.  But all the other ‘rainbows’ in my life – the blessings big and small, dim or bright – are there all around – but I must look for them!  C’mon Reticular Activation Center!  Let’s look for those blessings!  I spy with my little eye … a RAINBOW! 

just Laurel

Jeremiah 29:11  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.