Peggy Ross: Things I'm Thinking About

Well, it's definitely been too long since I wrote on this. Sorry about that. I've been thinking about life a lot lately. I was contacted by some folks from my high school. They're organizing a reunion. My colleagues in class are matching and getting ready to move forward with their transition from medical school to residency. I'm finding it hard not to compare my life with those of others. Finding it hard to not ask why - why am I not married, why do I have no children, why am I again waiting a year before entering residency, why do I not have a real home to call my own? that said, I'm also realizing the faithfulness of God my Father. I look at my life and think of the things I've been able to experience - it's kind of amazing some times to realize that this country girl from the small town of Veneta/Elmira, Oregon has been all over the world, lived thru a war, earned her pilots license, is graduating from medical school. Would I trade those experiences for a family of my own? I don't know - maybe but then who would I be? The experiences I've had have shaped me into the person I am today. Would I be a better person or a lesser person if I lacked these experiences? I don't know and it's probably not all that important because really, this is who I am and what I've done. In the end, God reminds me of His reckless, raging love and His constant faithfulness. He reminds me to be thankful for what He's given me. So, I'm thankful for my life. I'm thankful for the "kids" he's given me - Kristina, Aaron, Andrew, Zachary, Christopher, Allison, Alexander, Brookie, Carsen, Addison, Ariel, Annalise, Aaron, Nathan, Connor, Logan, Hailey, Sarah, Megan, Daniel, and even more. I'm thankful for my family, Mom, Dad, Susan, David, Paul, Amy, Dale, Tammy, Debi, Betty, Tom, and even more. I'm thankful for the plans He has for me - residency, marriage, family, maybe a life as a homeless person, who knows. I'm thankful that I don't have to know because He knows and what could be better than what He plans?

Romans 8:27-39 The Message
He knows us far better than we know ourselves....and keeps us present before God. 28 That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. 29 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. 30 After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun. 31 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? 32 If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? 33 And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? 34 Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us - who was raised to life for us! - is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. 35 Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture: 36 They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one. 37 None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. 38 I'm absolutely convinced that nothing - nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, 39 high or low, thinkable or unthinkable - absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Pictures from our trip to Egypt :) Enjoy!