We’re all feeling a little singed here in the Simonin household after an extremely difficult month and a half that tested me more than I ever hope to be again. I can’t speak for Brad and Em, but as for myself I had to keep clinging to the truth that God is in control and worthy of my trust. The natural inclination is to believe that everyone and everything else is in control when we’re so aware that we aren’t, but the truth is that God is over it all, and nothing touches us that doesn’t pass first through His hands. Romans 8:28-29 reveals that all things work together for good for those of us who love the Lord, and are called according to His purpose. His purpose is to mold us into the image of His perfect, obedient Son who never once doubted Him and His goodness, regardless of circumstances. That’s the good, and it is good, but sanctification is also excruciating at times.

My Dad is (among other things) a professional knife maker. He has a coal burning forge, and he uses that to make Damascus blades. He heats steel cable until it’s red hot and hammers it over and over until it’s the shape he wants. He grinds it down, then etches it afterward to bring out the pattern, and it’s absolutely beautiful once it’s done. It’s hard to look at the raw materials used for the blade, handle, and sheath, and believe they could ever reach the perfection of the finished product. But I’ve seen Dad do it over and over. He takes what isn’t worth much and makes something amazing out of it by honing, shaping, adding, and removing until all that’s left is the beauty and functionality he knew was there all along. It’s impossible to look at one of his knives and think the materials used would’ve been better left unrefined.

Our Heavenly Father does the same with us. It hurts to be on the anvil, especially when it involves your kid suffering and you can do nothing about it. Em has a lot of health issues, I’m pretty sure I’ve mentioned that before. I can’t say more than that without infringing on her right to privacy. No fourteen-year-old kid wants to have the details of their health and suffering be the subject of their mom’s blog, so I’m sorry for being somewhat cryptic, but that’s why. I can say that Em spent most of the past month and a half in the hospital, and we don’t have nearly the answers we want yet, but she’s home now, which is a relief. An awful lot of people are praying for her, and we’re very thankful for all the prayers we can get, so please, feel free to add her to yours.

I’ve written very little since Em was first hospitalized, so I doubt it’s much of a surprise to know 423 Apprehensive Ave, book 3 in the Mystery Lane series, is on page 141 rather than finished. It’s taken almost two months to write the last 41 pages, and I certainly hope to pick up the pace now. Em will be homeschooled for the rest of this year, and all of next, which will make it easier to keep all of her doctor appointments without getting behind in her work. Since we’ll be using an online program, it won’t borrow a whole lot from my writing time, and my focus is already improving now that she’s home. It’s rather distracting to know you might get a call (and probably will), necessitating an emergency appointment with the doctor, etc. etc. There’ll be visits to the doctor I’m sure, but I don’t feel on edge since she’s here and at any given moment I can see for myself how she’s doing.

I don’t need James 4:13-15 to know I don’t know the least thing about what may happen in my life, or ours. However, unless further sanctification is planned for later, I hope to spend this afternoon writing and make headway in finishing Will’s and Gemma’s latest book. I’m beginning to doubt that will happen, considering how many times in the past thirty minutes I’ve been interrupted. One cat wants on my lap, one wants the flowers Brad and Em gave me for Mother’s Day, Brad wants a haircut, and soon everyone will want fed. Again! So we shall see.