Good Morning Girls!  You know that song The Christmas Shoes, about the little boy who wanted shoes for his mom because she was going to see Jesus?  Well, to be honest with you, I used to hate that song.  It was such a Christmas buzz kill you know.  Oh, by the way, please excuse me for any inappropriateness over the next few days......I really am not even trying to control the internal filter that is supposed to prevent me from saying the wrong thing...hope you can forgive me.  So, yeah, I admit I used to change the station whenever that song came on. 
Well......now I got myself my own pair of Christmas shoes......A pair of running shoes.  Sent to me anonymously by a HomeMaker I believe.  They arrived in the mail Saturday morning.  I thought it was so cool, that someone would know how hard it would be for me to go back to the Y and run without my dad.  What a sweet way of honoring him.  Then I looked at the gift receipt....they were purchased the day BEFORE my dad's stroke!  When this sweet Sister blessed me with shoes, she had no idea what they would mean to me......but God did.  He knows the end from the beginning.  He knew I would need me a pair of Christmas shoes to get back up on that treadmill.  He knew exactly what would be the hardest for me....and He made sure I was covered!  The fact that He put it in the heart of my secret angel before the stroke is more proof that He has great plans for us, and He will take care of us, and he loves us soooooo much that He delights in the details of our lives.
So Girls, even in the midst of my heartache, I do declare that God is good!  He did not take my dad, but He knew it was going to happen....and He is going out of His way (well actually nothing is out of His way), He is making sure that I know that He will honor his Word, and use all things for good!  Even something as tragic as this!
To my secret Angel....thank you so much.  I hope you hear this story so you realize how you blessed me with much more than a pair of shoes.  You blessed me with the courage to get back on that treadmill.......and that is exactly what I am going to do!

Love you all-
Jen