Grateful for the Greatness of God's Grace

He did it! Austin finished his graduate studies and is now officially "done" with school. (I know Dad, only bread gets done, "He's 'now officially FINISHED with school.'") All eight of us, well actually nine including Annie's friend, Brian, rendezvoused in a small cottage near Santa Cruz, California. It was a perfect, cozy little spot, set in a redwood forest next to a creek that apparently Steelhead Trout spawn in. It wasn't completely isolated because other small homes were nearby, but we didn't care. It rained pretty hard the first night which made it that much cozier as we sat around the fire and just basked in the fact that Austin no longer had to concern himself with college studies any longer. When we asked Austin how he felt, he was kind of pensive and said it was weird, almost sad in a way. I think I know what he means. Annie and Brian were pretty relieved too because they had just completed their Winter Quarter of school and have a week off before they head back to the grind on Monday. We're so proud of all our kids and couldn't be more grateful for the greatness of God's grace.

There was a moment on Monday night when we were all sitting around the dinner table, literally chewing on the fat of the calf I had just barbecued and chasing it down with some incredible Tempranillo wine we purchased from the Capay Valley a few weeks earlier, that I caught myself in one of those sort of "out of the body" experiences. Not literally, of course, but I was very contemplative as I looked around the chairs and soaked in each incredible face. My wife who was undoubtedly in her element with all of her chicks in the nest (and then some), my son Austin who's so wonderfully persevered through almost six years of university life, my future daughter-in-law Meagan who's already brought so much joy to our family, Annie who's as nutty as ever and also beautifully turned into a woman-of-God, her friend Brian who's humble commitment to Jesus is magnetic, my son Barret who's being visibly fashioned more into the image of Jesus with each passing day, my miracle girl Poppy who so unexpectedly entered our life and has given us new meaning to family, and the ever energetic Willow who none of us can seem to get enough of. These thoughts ran through my head, almost like a movie scene, and then I silently said to the Lord, "I don't deserve this, but I'm o' so very grateful. Your hand has clearly molded and shaped something remarkable here. Thank you." I never said anything to my family about that moment, but I sincerely think it might have been one of the most contented experiences of my life. 

Can it get any better? The amazing thing is, yes, it can. Whether I'll see another day on earth tomorrow doesn't really matter. I'm full and the future is brighter beyond the horizon than I could ever earthly imagine. 

I'm excited,

Tom