no more independix

Tomorrow morning at 10, Nora, Emma and I head to the hospital for her very last surgery of the season, Lord willing….removing all the ruptured pieces of her appendix and abscesses from where they have fused to other organs. She is nervous tonight and ready to have this behind her. She has told all her friends that the doctors are "getting rid of my broken independix", and amen. THANK YOU for praying.

My college roommate and dear friend Bex flew in yesterday from VA and will be here tomorrow morning and afternoon to man the at home kids...and two with me, three at school...and Brooke, Hannah and Beth to help with all the pieces till we get to come home Tuesday.

Matt continues to sacredly love on my dad 12 hours away as he rapidly diminishes and longs to be made new.…never have His promises of no more death, no more sorrow, no more pain been so clung to. Today Dad was very confused, frustrated, struggling to take his pain meds. My mama's brother flew all the way from Maine to sit with him for 45 minutes to say goodbye...so thankful. Matt is graciously and lovingly doing the exhausting, precious work that I am desperate to do and canNot…I will ALWAYS, always be grateful for his willingness to serve and lead our family in this selfless way and season.

Tomorrow is my sweet nieces 7th birthday, and her good, good mama is working so painfully to celebrate.

Tonight Lady Jane, Mr. Henry and Ethan joined us for family dinner, and out of crazy love our friends Betsy and Robin made and brought us dinner...we got home from church at 2...I didn't have to cook, I was able to prepare for everyone's next two days, AND we had a fantastic meal, and we could love our neighbors well and relish their friendship. I am just continually humbled and surprised by friends, and by how the Lord fills gap after gap. Lady Jane's chocolate chess pie is MAN alive.

I lay awake at night and run my mind through all the gaps...wondering what in the world I'm going to do, and how...and He lays awake at night and has already made a way. More than a way. He has whipped up the icing I don't deserve on the gracious cake, and just when I don't know how I'm going to get out of bed, He lavishes me with His love and His people and His unwavering faithfulness.

You have prayed for us so faithfully. He sees and hears and moves even more faithfully so. Thank you for lifting us up these days of walking on the waves, but not alone.

Bex and I were roommates 3.5 years at Asbury College, and then she moved to Sudan the same week we moved to Haiti. Haven't seen her in years (four children ago!)
...these short days together have been so sweet.

My dad, my mom's sister, my mom's mom and my mom's brother...David, Dad, Patty and my mom were all friends in high school and I cherish that both Patty and David made the trip to say goodbye. My mama's mama is still in Pittsburg.