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I can pick up from exactly where the last blog post ended. After those delicious donuts and tears, Willa went down with a fever. From that day until this we’ve had exactly three full days where all five family members were well at the same time. Currently, Willa and Gemma are snorting their way through the second wave of gunk. I honestly can’t complain too much. Although it did come in the midst of the music recital, a long-awaited visit from PNG friends, Thanksgiving, and (horror of horrors) Christmas decorating… the Lord has been so good. Somehow we’ve been able to participate haphazardly in all those things. Cairns is a highly transient, highly international city, so we have missed out on saying goodbye to friends leaving during the summer school holidays to go to their second homes all over the world, but we’ll see them back again in January. So, yes. Tis the season for all sorts of bugs, but also tis the season to watch how God is gracious in the midst of the discomfort.

Possibly my favourite memory from the last five-ish weeks is my special time with Ray. She’s dancing around with those teenage years and, as such, is less vibrant on the whole. When it was her turn to be sick (which is rare… she’s a strong one), I was also sick. We cuddled together with puppies hydrating constantly and rolling through old episodes of Poirot. She giggled and guessed her way through each mystery forgetting, for the moment, to be a tad bit moody. It was a sweet time for which I’m grateful and wouldn’t trade for health.

Perhaps the start of this holiday season feels less festive and more humbug for you as well, whether due to sickness or something else. Our prayer is that, through it all, God’s presence and goodness will cut through the missed expectations bringing you to a place of greater joy than you had planned for yourself. God is a giver of good gifts, and ultimately, tis the season for remembering his matchless grace.