You are good....

Easy words to say of the Lord when all is going well, but harder to swallow when things are not.  In the last few weeks, we learned some sad news from some dear friends.  Their sweet 4 1/2 year old daughter, Ansley Faith, was just diagnosed with lymphoma.  She has already undergone many procedures and has started her weekly chemo.

I also learned over Christmas break of my sister's friend, Kelly, who is carrying twin boys (Liam and Isaac), knowing that Isaac is very ill and will only live hours after birth.  Can you imagine?  So much joy and sadness intertwined...

Yet...the Lord is the same before and after these diagnoses...our Lord is the same.  He is unchanging, sovereign, and loving.  He is GOOD.  I don't understand it, yet I know it to be true, and I'm grateful it's true.  

My sister shared with me yesterday a story of an Alzheimer's patient she was working with in hospice.  As they were singing Christmas carols, the patient was trying to remember what a manger was.  My sister reminded her that it was the feeding trough that Jesus was placed in after his birth.  The sweet lady then, in a moment of clarity, remarked that she remembered....it was where God fed us Jesus!  

Thank You, Lord, for feeding us Jesus.  Thank You for hope.  Thank You that you are unchanging in the midst of joy, cancer, life, and death.  Please pray for these two sweet families as they grow to know the Lord deeper through their current situations.  Pray that they would feed on Jesus...

You are good, Lord...

Grateful

As the Christmas season has come and now passed, I am reminded that I have much to be grateful for.  Little Miss Madeline arrived on November 23rd, but not in the way we anticipated.  She surprised everyone (even my doctor!) by being breech.  That, unfortunately for me, led to a c-section with a much longer recovery, but as I am now a month out, it seems less dramatic than it did at the time.  Ed has been amazing, and the greatest husband and daddy that I could imagine.  He really stepped up and took charge with the kids, and his 3 weeks off was spent mostly on daddy duty as I was pretty much out of commission with the older girls.  I love you, babe, and appreciate you so much!  And as for Madeline, I am in love...

Clara and Ainsley took immediately to Madeline.  They of course have had their moments, but for the most part, they are crazy about her.  Clara has been amazed at how little Madeline can do and has declared that she must teach her how to do everything...smile, talk, crawl, eat, etc.  I have no doubt that her sisters will teach her many new tricks!  They are so sweet together, and I am incredibly in love with these 3 little miracles...

Praise the LORD, for the LORD is good; sing to his name, for it is pleasant!  

Psalm 135:3