"Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours."  Mark 11:24

Since Rebecca's childhood, we have faithfully prayed for her future husband. This was always a high priority on our prayer list. We didn't know how or when God was going to answer this, but we knew this prayer was going to be answered.

For more than two years, Rebecca has been seeing a special someone in Georgia, but we didn't know how serious this relationship was. Rebecca always seemed too shy to bring up the subject. However, in the third week of January, while Paul was still recovering from his surgery, we received an e-mail from Rick. In his e-mail he asked if we could have a telephone conversation later that evening. We, Paul and Gail, looked at each other with question marks running through our mind. Needless to say, the telephone conversation quickly turned to the main reason he called which was to ask for Rebecca's hand in marriage.

We are thrilled that Rick is going to be our future son-in-law and we are making plans for a garden wedding in July in Georgia.  We can see that Rick has many wonderful qualities that complement Rebecca's personality and together their desire is to make a difference in the lives of people. Therefore, they have our total blessing on their marriage.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail 

As we were driving around Adrian today, we were amazed at the number of flowers that were in bloom and many of the trees, which is unreal for this time of year in Michigan. We have even heard reports of people already mowing their lawn so we quickly grabbed our mower blades and took them to be sharpened. Since today is the first day of spring, there is no doubt that spring is in the air.

This reminds us the arrival of spring is punctuated by the bursting of new life in the flowers, trees, and all other sorts of vegetation. Along with the bursting of plant life, we enjoy the fresh air and the subtle fragrances that have been absent during the winter season.

Within the past week Paul has renewed his work in the pottery studio at Adrian College. This is a new beginning for him since he had not been able to take the winter class because of his surgery and recovery. It was so exciting to be able to take a block of clay and prepare it for the potter's wheel; to once again put his hands in the wet clay on the wheel.

There's a similarity in how the Lord must feel when He touches our lives and begins a new work, shaping and molding us as we yield to Him. God is always willing to give us a new beginning.

II Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ he is a new creature: old things are passed away: behold, all things are become new."

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail

Praise the LORD, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits - who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.  Psalm 103:1-5

The psalmist is reflecting on all that God does for us in order to benefit our lives. In John 10:10 Jesus talked about coming that we might have life and have it more abundantly. David, the writer of Psalm 103 details some of the benefits that make for an abundant life. They are: God forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases.  Your life is redeemed from hell.  You are given a crown of love and compassion.  He satisfies your desires with good things, and he causes your youth to be renewed like the eagle's, meaning you are always young in his presence.

As we have lived through the past three and a half months, we are amazed at God's healing power. From hardly being able to swallow a little bit of water to now being able to eat an entire meal we stand in wonder at the way God designed our bodies to be able to heal itself.  To know that God not only forgives our sins, He also forgets our sins.

Because He crowns us with love and compassion, we are to reflect these qualities to others. During Paul's surgery and recovery, we were recipients many times. God very much used people to show forth His love and compassion. We all need to be encouraged to look for ways each day to be a channel for God.  You never know what you might do or say that could change someone's life.

Blessings and Encouragement,

Paul and Gail

                                                    Title of painting:  Group Hug

                                                                                    Painting by Gail Palpant
                                                                             

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble." Psalm 46:1

The last few days have been quite eventful which has caused Paul to lean on God's strength during this time. The areas that have been slowest in returning during his recovery have been his strength and stamina. Paul was determined to resume his normal activities at the beginning of March. Therefore, on Saturday he went grocery shopping with Gail  He was able to keep up the entire time but when he got home exhaustion set in. Praise God for the strength that He did give to be able to help with the shopping. Then, Saturday evening we attended the Lenawee Christian School dinner and auction. Again, Paul had strength to be able to stay the entire evening. 

For a number of years Paul has taught the Senior Adult Sunday School Class at the church. He last taught the class the Sunday before Thanksgiving in November. Barring unforeseen circumstances, Paul was determined to resume teaching the first Sunday of March. This past Sunday he was able to stand before the class for the first time in over three months. It felt good to be teaching again because it is something for which Paul feels very passionate.  Strength was provided.

For a number of years we have been caring for our daughter's dog, Abby, which turned seventeen this year. She had become a big part of our family. In recent days her health was beginning to fail which caused us to make a difficult decision to have her put to sleep. Today was that day. We thank the Lord for providing the emotional strength needed as only dog owners can appreciate. We are including several pictures of Abby with this blog.

Love and Blessings,

Paul and Gail