Covenant of Peace

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor My covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

- Isaiah 54:10

It feels as if some mountains in my family were shaken this past month with my Dad's health issues and not being able to attend my sister's wedding. However, the LORD has been faithful - He has not forgotten us and done some pretty remarkable things...

• Two weeks before the wedding Sarah and Mike were able to fly up for a quick overnight trip to visit/pray with Dad. While in town she installed Skype on Dad's computer so he could watch the wedding in case he couldn't make the trip.
  

• Tuesday before the wedding the doorbell rings at my parents' home and Donna Lee is standing there - she was in their small group Bible study in new england (and is still there - my folks relocated last spring)... without invitation or consultation she took it upon herself to fly here, rent a car and book a hotel room for a few nights.. she simply said "I am here to pray!" What an extravagant display of God's love - for my Dad to see people reaching out to him, and for my Mom to have a buddy for a few days uphold her and just run errands with. Truly an amazing friend!

• During Donna Lee's visit a plan beings to unfold where Mom will fly down to Florida the morning of the wedding and leave the next day - and Donna Lee will send her dear husband Phil to stay with Dad. Phil is very low-key and a perfect companion for my father.
  

• The flight down with Nana and Elizabeth went smoothly - Greg was soo helpful! I saw during this trip how much he calms me down and what a wonderful man he is - he loves me and my family so beautifully! He was truly a gift to me during this trip.
  

• Sarah orders a boutonniere for Dad - it is delivered on her wedding day - he proudly pins it to his sweatshirt and wears it all day.

• Charlie, a friend of my sisters Sarah and Carrie who is gifted with techie-skills, comes over the day of the wedding to set up the computer to view the webcast.. he stays with Dad during the entire ceremony and when the feed is lost he quickly gets it back again - a real God-send! So Dad is able to watch the ceremony live from his computer - he and Phil and Charlie, crowded around the laptop screen.. what a picture!

• Sarah calls Dad on her cell phone before the ceremony starts, then puts the phone on speaker and holds it with her bouquet. At the end of the aisle Mom jumps up and stands beside her... when the officiant asks who gives this woman to be married they put the microphone up to Sarah's cell and Dad said "her mother and I do".. so Dad got to say his line and be a part of the festivities.

• The wedding and reception were beautiful and joyous and wonderful! The weather was perfect for Sarah's outdoor ceremony - a bit windy - I think the Unity Candle blew out! But it was a bright, sunny, beautiful evening. Sarah was an amazingly beautiful bride - she just glowed - and we were able to just kick back and enjoy the evening - they even did a special tribute to Nana, singing Happy Birthday to the new 90-year-old. So I think Sarah felt properly honored and celebrated.

• Everyone arrived home from Florida - there were some hiccups with flight delays, baby-meltdowns and being locked out of the house, but all in all we made it back safely.
  

• Two days after the wedding Dad goes back into the hospital. The Lord even worked the timing - Dad's doctor started the hospital admittance process early afternoon - but there wasn't a bed available so they went home to pack and wait for the call - when it came in about 8pm I was able to go with them (the hospital is in the center of the city) and there was a big sporting event that night that we could have gotten caught in traffic - but His timing was perfect so we sailed on by! The admitting doctor was the same one Dad had before, so it was good to see him again. They ran some tests, keeping him in the hospital until Saturday afternoon.
  

• Sunday afternoon my Mom says that their good friends Dottie and Herb just dropped by - they live about 4 hours away! They just popped in to check on Dad and pray for him.. what a wealth of friendships!
  

So while things are still uncertain regarding my Dad's health - the doctors think the issue is a pneumonia-based infection, but they aren't sure - one thing is certain and that is that whatever happens, the Lord has not forgotten us.. He has compassion on us and loves us.. and for now that's enough.