Summer in Winter

I am blessed to have two young ladies in my life. Grace and Summer.

I'll tell this story until my last breath, that God audibly told me to name Grace, Grace.
I didn't however hear so much as a peep about what to name my second born.
In fact, I was so convinced she was a "he"... that I really had no girl names in my mind at all.

So... my husband and I decided it was okay that our 9 year old name our newborn... and Summer it was.

I'll admit, I've had some (minor) reservations about this name... is it awkward that we spelt it the same as the actual season... maybe.  Whether or not it was God's plan for her, he most certainly is revealing that He uses it ALL for His Good.

It's been a heavy winter.  Northern MN winters are always bitter cold. Cold winds. Cold below zero temps. Mounds of heavy, cold snow.  Born and raised here, it's no surprise to me and it may honestly have conditioned me to handle the other types of seasons in our lives.

This winter is a season of winter in my personal life. Colder and darker by the hour... losing daylight, sunlight, the source of light and warmth. Glory to God that He's been building my faith for the past 10 years... faith of a mustard seed is all we need... it's keeping the faith, day in and day out, season after season that is the true test. Truly believing that HE is our source of light and warmth in every hour, in every season.

James 1: 2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Seasons of trials pass. In this season of winter, I'm grateful for our sweet Summer.