Friday, June 19, 2009

Fingerprint Friday

*** Updated update. My apologies, only two fields were really damaged. For family, Dudden is 100% loss according to Steve, Smith is 50% (it got hail on Sunday night that dinged it and then the latest storm did more damage).***

** Update, the hail hit. At least four quarters damaged, one 100% loss. Luckily the one's to the east were saved, but north of here was hit pretty badly.**

This morning I was reading GingerLouise Clothing and she does a beautiful bit on her blog called Fingerprint Friday. It was started by Beki at PamperingYou and while I don't read that blog much I decided I'd like to join in. This is her description of what Fingerprint Friday is:

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:
I can see the fingerprints of god
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of god
And I know its true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of god

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

So, where did I see God's Fingerprint this week?

Early in the week there were storms and for us hail is a huge concern. The wheat is just absolutely beautiful this year and hail is a huge fear. One field up northeast (Smith ground for those in the know) took a bit of a beating from some golf ball sized hail but by His grace we only lost about 10% of the wheat on that field. Fields north of there are rumored to have lost 80% or more of their crops. For those who don't know farming that is devastating. It is a harvest that won't happen. Bushels and bushels of grain were pounded into the earth by the ice, the stalks of wheat laid flat making it difficult to pick them up with a combine, and peoples incomes for the year were nearly erased. Of course crop insurance exists, but it doesn't replace the value of a lost crop. I've been thinking of those families this week, that lost their wheat. They have children, car payments, maybe they're expecting babies too. I prayed for them, but the hail was His will. Only by His grace was our field spared.

Last night a terrible storm blew in, one of the big limbs on our crab apple came down. The tree was planted in 1963 I think, this is the first time since we've owned the house that a limb has come down. It missed the garage and house. Luke and I were up checking the radar, the storm had a tornado vortex signature and the gusts were huge. There was also half dollar size hail reported west of here, we're waiting this morning to see how our wheat fields fared... Once again, in His hand and depending on His grace to save us.

This often makes me think of that bit in the Bible, because He sends the hail and it threshes the wheat. It's a good reminder I suppose, because when the day comes, I want to be wheat.

Luke 3:17 NIV
His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."


After all He makes the hail, but He can also make this:
Harvest 2007


Of course, every time I look at these two I see God' fingerprint. Josie is an explosion, I talk to her and look at her and am blown away at who she is. Yesterday she was kind enough to explain to me how countdowns work, where she got so smart, how to properly do a pedicure.... Amazing.

And then Rie, how can you not look at her and see God's fingerprint. She is His child, I'm only holding her and how blessed I am for that. Look at how good she's doing! Believe me, not a day goes by that Luke and I do not sing praises for that.
And of course there's this:

But mostly, I see God's Fingerprint in this.
In Luke and I. Just look at him. He is strong, he loves his girls, and he loves me for reasons I'm not entirely clear on but I know it's true, he tells me all the time. We've been through incredible highs and terrible lows and he still takes my breath away. He understands me like no one can, and the best part is that together we're showing our girls how a marriage should be, and I hope that's a lesson they take to heart and apply to their lives. He is an amazing father, and that's priceless. Luke has the strongest faith I've ever seen, and he places his family above all else. He makes me better by being around him and I'm so blessed that I've been given this husband to walk through life with. I really could not do without him, I want him and I need him and I could not ask for more.

There aren't words, except that Luke is more to me than the sky is wide, the ocean is deep, the mountains are tall. God's fingerprint is on us. The odds were against us making it, but here we are these years later and I love him more now than I ever did before. That is definitely God, He is love.


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9 comments:

Tiffany said...

That was beautiful!! You definately have fingerprints of GOD all around you!!
HUGS

Anonymous said...

That was a beautiful fingerprint(s)! Thank you so much for joining in!

Erica said...

your family is beautiful and a great picture of God's fingerprints! wonderful post :)

artsyclay said...

Such a beautiful family!

♥ May God bless you on this Fingerprint Friday ♥

littlebird said...

Glad you did not loose too much of your crop and hope that those who did manage to cope.

littlebird said...

Glad you did not loose too much of your crop and hope that those who did manage to cope.

Rosebud Collection said...

You know what is so beautiful about this fingerprint..You realize it..So glad the crop is doing okay..All the pictures are beautiful and sure make a happy fingerprint.

The VW's said...

BEAUTIFULLY written!!! I absolutely LOVE that song that you printed the words out for!

I'm so sorry that you guys lost so much from the hail!

Have a wonderful weekend! HUGS!!!

Beki - TheRustedChain said...

What a sweet post!

Glad you joined in. :)