gifts

today's gift is graduation of a brother and families to love. today's gift is Ian driving his brothers in a golf cart around a golf course, finally able to be back on the greens after seven years.

today's gift is sitting here on the porch as the nephew and nieces sleep, knowing that God has and continues love.

to myself, a reminder

this is for myself, a reminder for when the next day comes that was like the last. a reminder on the next day that i don't know how to enjoy with a brain injury and the day that the things he used to do are all that i see. this is a reminder for the next time my mind has my bags packed and i wonder how i will keep loving.

there is someone who has already swallowed up my marriage and someone who has already swallowed up my loss. it has been finished and so i can wait with my husband, tearfully, and know that my way has already been made for me. i can wake in the morning with mercies that don't seem new and know that this has already been done for me.

it was done before i was born. done before i knew him. before mrs. murphy.

i can keep making my way in hope because He has made me His own.

i can know that this has nothing to do with me. but instead, Him.

a promised gift

this weekend was for being away and for being out of reach of cell phone signals - a place where refreshment comes easily. we arrived to a lake house full of family and woke saturday to more babies and aunts and pancakes and eggs. 

 

God is a god of gifts and rest, both of which He gave to us abundantly this weekend. because in the mountains, even a day of painting cabin bunks and canvases means an escape.

with just a walker

ian went to church this week without his wheelchair. he walked into the new building for the first time with his walker and devon helping behind him.

we're thankful for the progress that he's making and hope that it continues.

thank you, for praying.

i&l

Take me back

this weekend, I spoke to 2,200 incredible and encouraging women of Philadelphia. Ian joined us by Skype and I only wish that we could be back there.