The cooler sat on our front porch with a note… our Sunday dinner delivered by a friend. As I pulled off the lid and began to lift food out, the tears fell freely. It seemed I would never stop reaching in and pulling more out. All this food, such a blessing…

And not just today. Four days a week there is someone at our door bringing piles of food, enough that we have leftovers twice a week.

Then there’s the mailbox. Every day there’s a new letter, a word of encouragement in our fight, a picture drawn by the hand of a budding artist, a gift card for music or books or more food.  Read more... (357 words, estimated 1:26 mins reading time)

In John 11, Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead. He enters in to the grief of his friends Mary and Martha. He weeps. Then He moves miraculously and brings their brother back to life. I’ve always been struck by His heart, His tenderness. He knew where He was going with this. He knew when He was first told Lazarus was sick what would happen. He knew He’d be demonstrating Gospel power and raising Lazarus from the dead. He knew all that would happen, all the good things He was going to bring to that home, yet He took the time to sit with them in their grief.  Read more... (512 words, estimated 2:03 mins reading time)

The weeks leading up to my surgery and following have been a drain on our family… on Brian’s and my marriage, on the children, on my parents. It is exhausting to be constantly fighting for survival–survival of us, of our hearts. Sometimes it seems survival of our very faith, even though I know that He Who began a good work will complete it…

My sweet Bear has been struggling. Y’all, can I just interject how those dimples melt my heart? There is a sweetness to him that is achingly beautiful. He doesn’t talk much about things, but he feels deeply and fears greatly. Those fears turn physical for him, and almost every night we have found him coming to us or running to the bathroom with nausea and feeling as if he might throw up.  Read more... (726 words, estimated 2:54 mins reading time)