Providence

After two finals today, we are done with four of our nine finals!  We're pretty tired around here.

And this is about how we feel about studying right now...

What are notes good for?  Crumpling and eating, of course!

We have been enjoying the beautiful weather, though.  Julia is her mother's daughter in that she loves being outside.  Yesterday, we spent a lot of time in the backyard, swinging on our swingset, exploring the bushes, and enjoying the squirrels and birds (including a beautiful cardinal!) who make their homes in the huge trees in our yard.  Our yard has a Secret Garden feel to it - despite having neighbors close by, the giant trees have branches covering almost the entire yard, making it feel secluded and peaceful.

"Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice; let the sea and what fills it resound; let the plains be joyful and all that is in them. Then let all the trees of the forest rejoice before the LORD who comes, who comes to govern the earth, To govern the world with justice and the peoples with faithfulness" (Psalm 96:11-13).

This evening after dinner, the three of us went on a walk and Julia was positively exuberant.  There's just something about being out in nature that makes one happy to be alive!

Being outside is always such a reminder to me of the providence of God.

"'Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat (or drink), or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they?  Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will he not much more provide for you, O you of little faith?'" (Matthew 6:25-30)

God feeds the birds and clothes the flowers and grass of the field - how much more does He care for us!  During these crazy times of finals, I am very aware that God is faithful and He is taking care of us.  We may be sleep deprived, but we're all fed, clothed, and happy.  We haven't even been able to make through all the material for some of our finals, and yet they've been going really well.  As my confirmation saint, and Julia's patron saint, Saint Julie Billiart, often said, "How good is the good God!"  Thank you, Father, for Your providence!