Joy for Joi, week 14

Every time we've checked the weather forecast for the last 5 days, we've found them predicting another week of straight rain.  But, with maybe one exception, we've had sun poke through at various times every day.  Today I was thinking about how God keeps poking through like that... showing His presence and His love, sometimes unexpectedly, in stark contrast to the rest of our "weather."

This week has had its share of "cloudy times"....  Pete had a frustrating day driving all over the place with a couple of local young men, trying to accomplish a couple of simple errands yesterday; we had a long morning on Tuesday spent in Moldovan government offices; and I just found out Pete might be leaving us to go to Croatia for a few days.

It's been muddy outside -- and thanks to 8 creatures continually going in and out and in and out -- it's been muddy inside as well. And when everything around me starts to get muddy, the mud that persists in my heart becomes all too evident.

BUT, in the midst of the cloudiness, the Son breaks through and reminds me there is always Joy to be found!

And in between showers of the regular rain, we've enjoyed playful times with Flower Petal Rain!

Other blessings this week have included:

+ getting our registration documentation finalized at last -- our cards stating we are allowed to be in this country should arrive in about a month (about one month before we're due to leave!)

+  meeting with Moldovan women last night as they learned about teaching toddlers from another American woman

+ getting to know a woman who lives on our street

+ working on vacation plans for this summer

+ new job opportunities for the Fall

+ seeing lalelele blooming at last

and

+ finding that the littlest boy had climbed in with his bigger brother again a couple nights ago:

Thanking the God who brings both rain and sun to encourage us and draw us closer to Him!