Sweet Peace God has given me a gift in the midst of all this tragedy. Sleep. Each night I have been able to sleep. This is a gift and I know it. I am grateful for it. But it is the morning that is agony. It seems so unreal. I want to hear his voice. I want to hear his steps on the porch after chores, knowing he is waiting for something to eat! I want to make batches and batches of cookies for him. I want to feel his hug. Rub the stubble of his hair. And hold his big hands. I want to yell at him for leaving his clothes ... View Post
The Morning After
It's the morning after. . . The quiet echos. I walk out to see the sunrise. I went barefoot because I needed to feel something. The coolness of the grass on my feet was relief. Here is where everything I have ever known has forever been altered. I will not set 7 plates at the table. . . But I will turn and know that my redeemer lives. And I will lift my hands to the songs of praise that are etched in my heart of years of singing. And will I trust each step of the way. Each moment. And we know we are ... View Post
How a community grieves
We had visitors again. This time they received an open invitation. They didn't have to come. It was just an offering. But come they did. Young, old, students. friends, teachers, some whom we had never met, relatives. They came. Broken, shattered with grief. When a community mourns. You don't feel alone. For moments you're so supported. We did not see this . We had no idea how long people were waiting. . Waiting to hold us and whisper love into our hearts. I didn't want the day to end. I knew what it meant. I ... View Post
Unexpected Visitors
We had visitors the other night. They are not the kind of visitors you really want to have. They didn't bring a gift. They brought bad news and pain. Our beloved first born son had taken his final drive. Elijah went home to be with the LORD at about 12:30 am July 28. He is not yet 18. He just graduated. You all know that my faith is my life. And my family and I will continue to walk in that light. God is good because of who He is. Not because of what he does. I do not understand this plan or like it. . .Our lives are forever changed. But I will ... View Post
The Gift of Rain
In a year when it's flooded more times than ever before in the history of our town. Saying rain is a gift, seems like a stretch. Roads were washed out in May. Making travel impossible. And sending road crews working over time. Fields that had been seeded. . .now were flooded And the funny thing was. . . we were in drought conditions. Grass wasn't growing. .. because it was so dry. Water tables were very low. And we were concerned. How do you survive a drought in farming, when things haven't been really that great over the ... View Post
Date Night
Oh how we longed for the phone call. (yes on a phone. . .with a cord) We did have answering machines. . .but you knew they would call; and it made you excited. Each moment was like a breath of fresh air. New relationships are like that. I would sit with Gary for hours just talking or sitting in silence (he liked that a lot. . .me, not so much). It was just being together that was important. We went for walks in the pasture. . .we sat on the hill and watched the sun sinking low. Often in silence (he liked that. . ... View Post
