These birds arrived at our house tonight…but I missed the “fly-in!” They are part of a fundraiser for the Senior High Challenge 08 in Utah.

The birds arrived when I was busy in my office and Jon was walking the puppies. The delivery van was leaving as Jon crested the hill…the bird’s keepers got away.  Perhaps the van seen leaving the scene was being driven by my very good friend – the one who ordered the flock…ahhhh…a mystery to be solved.

On my desk sits this little flamingo left at my door.        I’m glad for the bright reminder to pray for this venture and more important…for the kids.

So…we’ve been flamingoed! And goofy woman that I am…I’m delighted.

I’d been feeling better…then while teaching in my mini-congregation at church something went very wrong inside me.

At first it felt like a little rumble I wrote off as nerves…then it began to roar as chaos swirled in my brain…it became an emotional earthquake. With God’s help, I did okay externally but internally I was falling apart in an avalanche sort of way.

On the way home, a deeper darkness settled over my growth once again. Fragile, weak, and afraid, I shared with Jon and then emailed some close friends asking for prayer.

There were some things I knew and held on to…God was there in every single second of my implosion. I didn’t hear or see Him…but I knew He was near. Nothing could change the Truth that He is. Jon and my friends steadfast love was like sunshine and fresh air…although I only got glimpses and small gusts amidst the fog and heaviness I seemed to be breathing.

Now a week and a half later I realize there is a holy rain falling over my soul. God’s presence is soaking into me…all the way down to my fragile roots. This invigorating immersion is replacing fear with peace – even as the darkness lingers.

And guess what? I’m growing in the dark!