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when it rains, it pours

Romans 5:3-5 (MSG)
There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary – we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

We’re running through cups mostly because we can’t remember which cup belongs to who. So we labeled them with clothespins.

As of this writing everyone is either sick or recovering. Elijah’s had a cold and his allergies are manifesting for the first time.  Mike is recovering from gallbladder surgery.  Noah and I both have ear infections.  It’s been a long few days in the Trevino house but we are on the mend – and just saying that feels good.

I’ve had my share of the inevitable freak out moments in the past few days.  My breaking point came somewhere between Friday and Saturday when a feverish Noah vomited Motrin all over me, knowing my phone call to the pediatrician would result in another late night ER visit.  But a little begging and pleading and a whole lot of prayer brought that baby’s temp down enough to skip the ER and visit the urgent care in the morning.

More than the moments of panic I’ve been engulfed in moments of gratitude. It’s times like these that remind me how fortunate I am to be living near my parents and that they are so willing to drop their plans to help take care of us.  I am thankful that I have the love and support of some pretty incredible family and friends who more than anything else have prayed us through this difficult space of days.  I am humbly grateful that when all is said and done the problems I encounter in life are really mere inconveniences when I take a moment to step back and gain perspective. We are loved, we are cared for, and we have abundantly more than we even need.

The old adage “when it rains it pours” may be entirely true for us right now but we are learning to find appreciation in the rain.  Along with the normal tired, worn-out kind of feeling you get after a weekend filled with hospitals and doctor’s visits, I am left with a sense of hope and joy and life overflowing because of God’s incredible generosity.

So bring it on Monday.  We are ready.