A Cross before a Crown

I finally downloaded a few months worth of pictures I had been taking.  Here a just a few:

We think outside the box for birthday desserts.
Why limit yourself to cake? 

MJ wanted apple pie - yum!

Playing at the park with friends.  A fun day!

Bekah was THRILLED to have her young cousin
fall asleep in her arms!

At the zoo with our friend Grace
who I've known from the day she was born...
what a joy she is!  

I'm glad my kids have her around to look up to :-).

Two Lorikeet's picked a fight while on my arm, 

and Grace snapped a picture
of me using my scolding skills
(I am still perfecting these).

And lastly,
a picture of my dear friend Mira and our Friday School kids! 

Every good and perfect gift comes from our Father above.  Sometimes those good gifts bring carefree smiles to our faces, like you see here.  Sometimes those good gifts are like the surgeon's tool cutting sinful inclinations out of our heart's like cancer and it hurts, but in a healing sort of way as we trust Him.  We're told in Ecclesiastes that there are seasons for everything...time to sow, time to reap; time to weep, time to laugh; etc.  As I meditate this week on my Savior submitting Himself to His Father's will perfectly, even unto death, I want more than anything to trust my Father like THAT.  I know He is worthy of my complete trust.  And I know that one day, BECAUSE He is faithful and He has promised to complete the good work He has begun in me, I will see Him face to face and never doubt His Fatherly care again.  But because that day is not here yet, I yearn for Him to do whatever it takes to make me more like Jesus, even if that means fewer carefree smiles and more surgeon tools.  He is risen.  He is risen indeed.  And there was a cross before the crown.