Unexpected Day

I woke this morning hoping
that the kids would choose
Longwood Gardens over bowling.



It was supposed to be the last
great day before rain for the
rest of the week.

Unfortunately, for me,
they preferred to see
their friends at bowling.

So I resigned myself to spending the
afternoon inside the bowling alley.
Now, I have great friends at the
bowling alley too...but they would
not have begrudged this girl a sunny
afternoon. I just know it!



Then the phone rang.

It was my friend M.

She said she was headed my way.
Life was really tough right now.

When I asked what was up she said
she would tell me when she arrived.
It would be too hard to tell while
driving.

So I spent some minutes searching my
brain for what horrible thing would
send her to me in such a state
when she should be at her job.

Then it hit me!
As I was quickly dressing.

Gypsy!!!
Her 19 year old kitty.

Sure enough...M. had just been
at the vet having Gypsy put to
sleep.

Oh...the heartbreak.

M. is single.
Gypsy was so very special.
They had been best friends for
all but nine months
of those nineteen years.

After talking for a while
I mentioned Longwood Gardens.



M. said..."Let's go!"

Quick consultation with the kids
settled that they would head to
bowling while M. and I headed to
an afternoon in the gardens.

Such mixed feelings about today.
I am so sad for M.
But I really enjoyed spending time with
her and perusing the beauty offered at
Longwood.



This evening we had two unexpected
young men for dinner
and as overnight guests.
They are friends of the boys.
Good kids.

As I type I hear them talking
and playing games downstairs.

It is a very good sound.

Today our home lived up to its name.
Hospitality Lane.
This is something that brings me
joy from the inside out.

Knowing that this is a place that
offers comfort and shelter.
A place where friends can
just be themselves.

That brings joy.



That it happens unexpectedly
is really God's gift.
If I had known these things were
going to happen today I would have
prepared....I would have felt ready
in my own strength.



In His own way God allowed me to
lean on Him for the words to say.

He prepared me in advance with the
desire to go to the most perfect place
to wander and talk.
To be distracted...just enough.


(We thought this looked like
a laughing face. Do you see it?)

Having had to put our dog, Kimmy, to sleep
so recently I connected with M's pain.
Yet another preparation.



I'll never believe that anything
"just happens". We may not always see how
these things fit together,
but they surely do.

Sometimes we get to "see" it.

Hope you are looking for "planned"
in the "unexpected" events of your life.