dark enough to see the stars

(the picture to the right is my step-mom, Robbi, with Adelaide, my daughter, in February this year)

we moved into our apartment around the first of april. ben has been working, i've been taking care of adelaide and have also been flying back and forth to tulsa 3 times since we moved in. needless to say, there are still a handful of boxes yet to be unpacked. i was working on emptying one today and came across a box of old pictures, mostly ones that i had taken during elementary school. i went through the box and lost in the midst of the pictures was one letter, written to me from robbi, my step-mom, who passed away on may 1 this year. the letter was post-marked august 26, 1998, only 2 years after my dad and she had married. these are the contents of that letter:

Dear Rachel -

I hope this letter finds you well. We were so glad we got to see all of you and spend some time with you. It was a short visit but, sometimes the small things mean so much to us. We were disappointed to find out we would be working on Labor Day, but it's part of this job. And we're very thankful for our job.

We put your bear with the other bears and its very happy. I think that's why I enjoy Teddy Bears so much, they're always happy. Pooh is my favorite, because no matter what situation he gets in, he's always happy.

Life is full of situations and some of them are unpleasant, but God wants us to find happiness, even when things feel unpleasant. 

In the Bible, Paul is a great example of that. He experienced alot of unpleasant things and he remained joyful knowing that God would see him through it.

I hope you enjoyed the tape, your dad and I were blessed by their music and ministry. They have a song called Window of Mercy and its fabulous. It talks about God's faithfulness no matter what the circumstance, just believe in him and he will pull you through it.

Your so precious, God has his arms wrapped tightly around you, and everything will be alright. There is a wonderful saying; "When it's dark enough to see the stars." which meanseven when things seem so bad theres a wonderful miracle in it. Have you ever gone outside and just looked at all the stars in the sky? Out here the stars are so brilliant, you could almost touch them. There are so many of them and they shine through all of the darkness.

Some night Rachel, go out, not by yourself of course, and just look at all the stars and be encouraged. Thank God for all of those wonderful miracles shining through the darkness. We miss you and can't wait to see you. Take care little angel.

Love,

Robbi

i don't think robbi realized at the time what the words of this letter would mean to me today, 11 years after it was originally written, and with me in such a different place in life. at the time, i was 10 years old, living in claremore, ok, with my mom and brothers. my how things have changed. i now live with my husband and our little girl in new jersey. it will be interesting to see where i am in another 11 years... 

today, i am thankful for all the wonderful miracles that shine through each star. i am thankful for my Jesus that has all of my hopes and dreams and wonders and cares in the palm of his hand.