Dear Hope, I've shared some of your journey here for the past five years. I've written so that people could pray and come alongside us, and they have, in ways that I will forever be grateful for. I've written so I could process the thoughts and emotions I've wrestled with along the way. And I've … Continue reading He Will Not Fail You
Tag: hope
God’s Work on Full Display
Three weeks from today, Hope will be undergoing open heart surgery for the fifth time. After the success of the complex bi-ventricular repair she had in August, we had hoped she would be done with open heart surgeries, at least for a long time, if not forever. We knew her mitral valve was leaky and … Continue reading God’s Work on Full Display
He Faithful Will Remain
Be still, my soul... I hummed it to Hope as a newborn baby, bundled in my arms, the day before her first heart surgery. I hummed it to her in the ICU last month as she gripped my finger and my heart overflowed with joy at feeling her hold my hand again. And I hum … Continue reading He Faithful Will Remain
When I Look at You
When I look at you, I see wide eyes full of wonder. As a newborn, long before you could talk, your eyes spoke volumes. I’ll never forget how you looked, tiny face peeking out from a swaddled bundle, wide eyes staring up at me. I was terrified, feeling so inadequate to care for you and … Continue reading When I Look at You
What Child is This?
I have always loved the whole Christmas season. Growing up we had a number of traditions that made the weeks leading up to Christmas extra special and I looked forward to them every year. As we head into the Christmas season I'm looking forward to the traditions we've begun to establish with our girls. I'm … Continue reading What Child is This?
He Goes Ahead
In March, when the whole coronavirus quarantine began, I decided to take advantage of the extra time with Natalie to read The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis) together. I've lost count of how many times I've read them, but this was the first time with Natalie and it was such a joy to experience them … Continue reading He Goes Ahead
Strawberries in the Rain
It's rainy today. As I sat rocking Hope before her nap, another rainy day came to mind. A day over two years ago now, in June of 2017. Today Hope and I made our weekly trip to the library and grocery store. It might seem like a normal, inconsequential thing to most, but I treasure … Continue reading Strawberries in the Rain
Even If
Recently I found the classic VeggieTales movie Rack, Shack and Benny to watch with Natalie for the first time. While I nostalgically sang along with tunes I hadn't heard in years, Natalie anxiously half-covered her eyes with her hands. "I don't want to see the fire," she pleaded. She has learned the real story of … Continue reading Even If
He Knows Me
I thought I knew God. I grew up learning about Him at home, at church, at camps, and through my own study and prayer. I attended a Christian college and was just a handful of credits short of a minor in religion thanks to all the Bible courses I took as electives. I knew my … Continue reading He Knows Me
Empty
Because the tomb is empty, I am not. Because the tomb is empty, I am filled. Filled with peace because my debt has been paid. Filled with joy because God calls me His daughter. Filled with hope because I know I will spend eternity with Him in Heaven. No matter what life brings these promises … Continue reading Empty