Joyfully Overloaded

It’s hard to believe a whole year has gone by.  It’s been such a mixed up year, hasn’t it? We’ve missed our friends and I’ve missed watching you learn Taekwondo.  But we’ve had some pretty sweet memories mixed into the year of Covid. 2020 began with you and I taking a little weekend retreat away.  A treat you gave me, after a year of saving and using your birthday money. You are a giver. Always willing to give.  When I asked you what you wanted for your birthday you told me money so you could buy your cousins the best Christmas gift even though in the moment you had no idea what exactly the best gift was. By now that’s the kind of answer I expected from you.  You see life differently than most, I think.  You find joy in seeing joy from other people. That’s not what most people do. You see a need and you do whatever you can to fill it.  In February I got to sit next to you at your very first concert with Jeremy Camp and Casting Crowns. In between sets y...

14 years ago today in the early afternoon we stood in front of an auditorium full of witnesses to our confessions of forever together. Through the good and the bad, the easy and the hard, sickness and health we promised each other that we would walk together for as long as we walked this earth.  Our purpose was to love Jesus and people. In 14 years so much has happened.  We’ve had three children, both experienced deep loss, pushed through exhaustion, for seven years-half our marriage-it felt as though we were simply sitting and waiting, the other seven felt like a wild river pulling us on, you’ve given me a million foot rubs, and I’ve made you a million tasty treats, you have worked long hours while I stayed home with the kids and vice versa. Through it all we’ve stayed true to our commitment to each other. Through it all we’ve stayed true to loving Jesus and people. It doesn’t matter how small or large our circle is we find a way to love people hard. Over the years I think we...