I am grateful for my nephew Adam. Isn’t he so handsome? Today is his 18^th birthday. Life goes by so quickly…I am grateful that I have been privileged to watch this little guy grow up into a fine young man. Tears come to my eyes this morning thinking about how Mom would have loved to have celebrated this day with her grandson. She loved when Adam and Jarod would play games with her, spending time with her – so do I. I’ll never forget the day he brought his instrument to Grandma and Grandpa’s to show us all, a new member of the Holy Cross band. He was so proud of that trombone. It has been one of the many joys of my life to watch Adam turn into an incredible swimmer, a member of the Salthawks swim team that went to State all four years of Adam’s high school career. He is THAT good. I have been so proud of this kid – holding part-time jobs now for several years, buying his own car, paying for his own things – his parents taught him well. He is well-equipped to face the world, and he will face it very soon, because he has joined the army and will begin a new life immediately after graduation. Who would’ve thought! When he was in elementary school, I remember the stories of the struggles of getting the little guy to turn in his homework and keep his grades up! His mom was so frustrated… Look at him now. We are all so proud of you, Adam Dean. Happy, happy birthday to you.

Adam highlighted in this article.

I am grateful for my devotion this morning. It was just what I needed to hear today:

Do not hesitate to receive joy from Me, for I bestow it on you abundantly. The more you rest in My Presence, the more freely My blessings flow into you. In the Light of My Love, you are gradually transformed from glory to glory. It is through spending time with Me that you realize how wide and long and high and deep is My Love for you.

Sometimes the relationship I offer you seems too good to be true. I pour My very Life into you, and all you have to do is receive Me. In a world characterized by working and taking, the admonition to rest and receive seems too easy. There is an intricate connection between receiving and believing: As you trust Me more and more, you are able to receive Me and My blessings abundantly. Be still, and know that I am God.

It made me think of this song, and now it will play on my internal jukebox all day. Listen, rest, and receive a blessing:

Love So High.

17  Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.18  And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.19  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. – Ephesians 3:17-19

And finally, I am grateful for memories of my girls singing “Deep and Wide” when they were toddlers. The middle part was a jumbled mess of nonsense, because they weren’t quite sure of the “fountain flowing” part.  Oh, for such sweet, sweet memories, I AM GRATEFUL.