Oh, the flashlight.  Remember my Uncle Bill? Every Christmas for as long as I can remember, Uncle Bill gave all of us flashlights.  In my family, getting a flashlight from Uncle Bill was the equivalent of getting underwear from mom or a pen and notebook from grandma-- we expected it.  When Sean joined the family, he was enveloped into the flashlight gifting, too.  Every single flashlight we have in our house is from Uncle Bill.  So, I went to the stash in our kitchen and pulled a big, bright orange one.  This one we got from Uncle Bill via my parents this past Christmas.  So what's the big deal about a flashlight?  Uncle Bill passed away several months ago.  This weekend, a lot of people are going down to the River to plant a tree in his memory and I so wish I could be there.  As I put the flashlight in hubby's bag, he said "I'll think of him every time I turn this on."  I've never appreciated those flashlight Christmas gift more than I did last night.  

We kept thinking and talking about Uncle Bill a little bit and hubby said something I'd never thought of before.... when we were home over Thanksgiving, we got to go for two weeks.  This only happened because there was a missionary convention and hubby's job had recently changed from Youth Minister to Missions pastor.  We had planned on going to Cincinnati for Thanksgiving this year, and would have if the developements of last Fall hadn't taken place.  On that trip home, we got to see Unlce Bill three different times.  Once before we knew he had cancer and then again shortly after the diagnosis.  It was so good to get to see him and talk with him, even if just for that short time.  Hubby reminded me that if we hand't gotten kicked out of youth ministry, we probably would have never gotten to see Uncle Bill again before he went Home.  

Hm.  As many fits as I threw and as many tears I cried last fall, I've learned that the Lord does work in mysterious ways.  And He most definitely does know what he's doing in working everything out to the good of those who love Him.  And I love Him.  I do.  And I am so greatful for those extra moments with Uncle Bill.