Yesterday, we were spending a lovely afternoon with our family at the lake.

Courtney and Pop were outside working on a project and I was inside, enjoying time with Mom, GJ, and Oliver

As I walked out to take in the lake view from the back deck, there was a gorgeous rainbow across the water and I took a couple of photos:

On the way home, we received news that the United States had bombed Iran.

My mind is still reeling from this news – and the juxtaposition of such a gorgeous day and the (very real) war that we are now engaged in irrevocably is impossibly surreal.

Since then, among the many voices weighing in, we’ve heard a defiant U.S. presidential address and angry rhetoric, filled with threats, in response from Iran.

Of course, I hope that the information we are being given – that Iran’s nuclear capabilities have been destroyed or seriously damaged – is correct.

But – even assuming that best case scenario – it is foolish to think that there won’t be serious repercussions as the result of this shift with American engagement – whether it is Iran escalating the situation with attacks on our bases nearby (and I am praying hard this threat will never be realized) or the increased concern for some sort of terrorist attacks in response.

Regardless of how this all plays out, everything has changed.

The doomsday clock has been sitting at 89 seconds to midnight since January – and we now even more reason to be alarmed.

Doomsday Clock.

I am watching closely and praying for peace and as well as praying for the safety of everyone, especially our troops, who are in this region.

Be well, everybody. Take care of yourselves and each other.

Grace and Blessings.