Labor of Love

Labor Day 2015

Hello... and happy labor day, today we celebrate rest. Most of us need it. I hope you are taking this day to eat, play and refresh yourselves with family and friends.

I have taken a long rest from this blog, much longer than I intended, like so many Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, etc, has lured us away from our once beloved blog. I applaud those who have stayed faithful. 

Labor day marks the end of summer and the beginning of a new season. I forge forward into this new season with expectations of a better one. The summer winds brought about much change and sadness for our family. My loving husband went to be with his savior unexpectedly and quickly in June.  I praise God he did not suffer and the Lord honored Keith by taking him sweetly just as the man he was. He died of a heart attack, as we sat on our patio talking over the days events... one of his last words were, 
"this is a perfect day".
Keith was a man of integrity and grace, he honored me with praise and encouragement. He was always my launching pad, whatever hair brained scheme I hatched he was always there to encourage and finance... even though many times it was at a loss for him. We were married in 1990 and he loved me and embraced my 6 children as though they were his. He was a gift from God and he restored our family. Never being married before and coming from a family of 3 boys he forged new territory with 5 daughters and a son. He handled those early days with much laughter and amusement by shaking his head and saying, "girls are just so weird".  Eventually he got the hang of it and became Grandpa to eight loving grandchildren and they became the light of his life.
 He lived life well and I hope never to forget the ring of his laughter in the air. 
I did not intend this post to be a eulogy for my husband but I did want to tell you how I was so blessed and continue to be. 

I am working past the grief and now I am trying to carve out a new life and routine with myself. It is strange how everything seems different, the house is larger, the street is lonelier, my sitting chair no longer makes sense and the kitchen table has ceased to serve up food. The familiar is gone, what I once did depended on another from what I ate, to where I sat, to when I came home. For the very first time in my life I have no one else to consider. And yet...
It is well with my soul. 
I lean on my first love, my kinsman redeemer, my friend, my husband, my savior, my king. This labor day I reminded of the verse in Hebrews... There remains therefore a rest to the people of God. For he that is entered into His rest, He also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from His. Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest...
There is sometimes a struggle or labor to rest in God, these days I chose to trust and rest in His peace that passes all understanding. 
I trust Him... and as I do He shows Himself strong. There is in me a  strong hope and expectation of a new day, a new adventure that God has for me...
Wishing you a most blessed labor day.
Blessings
Rebecca