ouch!

I returned to Wisconsin from a week in California on Saturday. I was able to finish up my classes and had an incredible time with my California friends! It was an amazing week, and I'm so blessed to have had the chance to get to know people out there.

Ouch #1: I returned to the frigid temps (and ouch, it hurts!), but my family makes it so worth it. When I got to my house, I felt so excited to see my dad. I ran downstairs to see him, and he stood up from his chair at the computer, and gave me a huge hug. He pulled me away and looked at my face, touched every part of it, and tears were in his eyes. He said 'Welcome Home Sheena, I am SO happy to see you, my heart feels so incredibly happy, and I've been waiting for you!'. He rubbed my cheek and pulled me close to give me another hug, and just told me how much he loves me and cares for me. He said he had been pacing all day, just waiting for me to arrive. He kept on saying to my mom, 'I think I hear her, please go check the door to see if she's arrived!'.

I've thought of this precious time all week, will wake up thinking of it. And as it's played through my mind over and over, all I can think of is my Heavenly Father, and how he waits to greet us into his loving embrace in Heaven. He paces and can't wait to say 'Welcome Home, I'm SO happy to see you, my heart feels so incredibly happy, and I've been waiting for you!'. What a homecoming that will be!

Ouch #2 is.....I have an extremely infected eye. And it hurts. Bad. Possibly the most pain I've been in. I got an infection in the same place when I was in South Africa in April, and this is much like it, but worse. When I wake up in the morning, I can't open my eye because it is so swollen, and a red-purplish color. The doctor gave me some antibiotic creme to put in my eye. I also was able to pick out new glasses, since the only ones I have are very old and I can't see out of them!

Ouch #3: I have been very attacked spiritually. I have dreams where I'm being attacked, but have someone close to me with me. I wake up with bruises on my arms, and just feeling down and heavy. Things are going great at home, and we're constantly having conversations with God, and Satan does not like it. So....the attacks are strong. But, I have a huge support network praying for me and my family! "Bad days" from pre-January 4th seem like a joke now! :) My family's new circumstances puts everything in perspective.

I'm thankful that God is the Great Physician, and heals this "ouches", whether it is here on earth, or in heaven!