Yep, I’m still here 🙂

Life has been crazy…and I feel like a broken record saying that.  But, I do have a really really good story to tell you!  It may take me a couple posts to do this story justice but that’s ok 🙂  Here it goes…

Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl….just kidding 🙂  It’s not that kind of story.  This is a real life story.  A God story.  With no happily ever afters or glass slippers or magic pumpkins.  Just grace and mercy and a perfect plan worked out by a Holy God.  Because while God’s ways are beyond our comprehension…I stand in awe that He is in every detail and He places every piece of the puzzle of this crazy life.  I’m so very thankful that He’s in charge and not me…because I would totally mess this up!

So, about 10 years ago I was a freshman in college.  I went to a little Bible college and I only went for one year but while I was there I became friends with this boy.  We appeared to be very different people with very different personalities and backgrounds, but we conversed very easily and enjoyed a good friendship.  I never thought of him as anything other than a friend because he was dating someone else at the time and then during my second semester at school I started dating Josiah.  At school I think everyone either assumed we were related or dating, even though I would emphatically respond that we were neither.  We would play Yahtzee on his palm-pilot during certain…ahem…boring events we were required to go to.  I never said we had a very mature friendship 🙂

He…let’s call him “D” for now…eventually married the lady he was dating and just a few months later Josiah and I got married.  D and his wife had their first daughter about nine months before Ava was born.  When I was very pregnant with Ava we bought our house that was literally just down the block from D.  D had a second daughter and a year later Lincoln was born.  When D’s second daughter was just a baby his wife started having health problems and later was diagnosed with cancer…and about a year later Josiah was diagnosed with cancer as well.  D and I would occasionally talk and try to encourage one another.  We went to the same church so we watched each other as our stories unfolded.  We prayed.  I brought them meals and D would mow my lawn.  And you already know that Josiah eventually passed into Glory…and about a year and a half later…D’s wife joined him.  In times like those you just really have to wonder what God’s purpose is in all of it.  But God’s ways are beyond comprehension.  For His glory, He took a young husband and daddy and a young wife and mommy Home to be with Him…and we rejoice for them!  But what about those left behind?  God’s plans are still at work for them…His work in us is not yet finished!

………………………………

I know I’m just getting started but that’s all for tonight.  To be continued…