I found some index cards the other day while I was cleaning out my nightstand drawer. I wrote them to myself a little over 5 years ago when I found myself pregnant and single.

I remember sitting at my desk early one morning (I was a teacher at the time) when I put pen to paper. I can still remember the despair, fear and hopelessness I felt the very moment I wrote those words. A good friend had sent me that quote and I thought to myself, I better write that down where I can see it every day. Then on the other side of that card, I jotted down some truths to help me fight off the lies that Satan and this world had embedded in me for the past 25 years.

I’m not sure where you are today. Maybe you’ve accepted the lies of this world and you need some major truth in your life. God’s Word is His love letter to encourage us; make time to read it! No matter what you’re facing, you can walk in confidence that the Lord is faithful, even when we are faithless. (2 Timothy 2:13) He knows what’s best. The storm you’re in, this season of uncertainty…God’s already got the ending worked out. (Romans 8:28)

Here’s the other card I found… please read it as if it was written for you.

I needed to read that card today just as much as I did 5 years ago. Gideon’s circumstances have put me right back in a season of uncertainty…much like the one I was in before. The difference is that I’ve seen how God has restored my mess and I know that He’ll be just as faithful to redeem this. Even when we bury our son in the future… I know and trust that somehow He will bring good from it.

^“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.” Romans 8:26-28 The Message

I’m confident He’ll do the same for you.

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For women who need help combating the lies of this world, I recommend the book Lies Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss (in addition to the Bible, of course.)

Today was an amazing whirlwind. My little girl had her first dance recital & she did awesome! She was the cutest one on that stage! Okay, I’m obviously biased..

I say it was a whirlwind, because I volunteered as a class mom. So basically from 11 am (dress rehearsal) until 5 pm (finale) my life was… well…chaotic. Me and one other mom took care of 3 different costume/make up/hair changes for 16, 4-5 year old girls. We took them on and off stage 4 times (counting finale) and don’t forget we had to distribute snacks and take them potty as needed.

I say all that not because I want a huge pat on the back (okay, maybe a back rub from the hubs), but because there were several other moms there doing just as much, if not more. And because of that, several little girls (boys) had a precious & successful recital. It made me think of this quote I heard several years ago-  We can’t do everything, but we can all do something. 

Looking back on 2013, I often tell Kevin- I can’t believe we made it through. There were so many unknowns, so many devastating blows… but as I think back, I distinctly remember God using others to meet our needs in the exact moments when we needed them. Like the time I prayed, God just let me sleep! That next day I got a call from a friend who asked if she could come over so I could take a nap. Or the time Kevin said, “I don’t know how we’re going to pay for all this.” Not long after, a teacher approached him about a fundraiser.  Or even the times I thought, God I just don’t want to cook. It seemed like people came out of nowhere with gift cards and freezer meals! By the grace of God and the love of others, our needs have yet to go unmet.

Whether it’s a recital or benefit or just a family struggling, any time a few people choose to do something, so much will get done and so many needs will be met. So I want to encourage you to join me in looking for ways to bless those around you. Maybe you can help someone with a financial gift. Maybe you know someone who could really use a home cooked meal. Chances are many people could benefit greatly by the most precious gift of your time.

Everyone has a need. We cannot meet all the needs of everyone. But we can all do something to help someone.

Don’t know where to start? Here’s some options:

1) A  very sweet couple is selling shirts to help cover the cost of adopting a baby. They’re two days away from their deadline and need to sell about 40 more shirts. Can you buy one or two to help?

2) I know a sweet mom who is working and going to school. She has to write a paper, but she needs people to take a short SURVEY for the research part. Can you spare 20 minutes?

3) There’s lots of new parents out there who would LOVE a date night. Could you baby sit for them? (And don’t charge them!!)

4) Who do you know that could use some prayer? No excuses on this one…everybody could use a friend interceding on their behalf! Can you commit to praying for someone for the next month?

Thanks to my readers for loving us. I’m praying for you tonight, that you will seek opportunities to continue loving those around you, just as you have loved us.

We can all do something.

With all the recent graduation festivities, I thought this news couldn’t have come at a more appropriate time.

Some of you may know that Gideon was placed on hospice care after his diagnosis back in August 2013. Because of this, we’ve been blessed to have four Hospice employees visit us at varying times each month-a caseworker, a Chaplin, a nurse, & a house cleaner.

Yesterday we got our final visit from Gideon’s case worker and Chaplin; and today we sign paper work with his nurse dismissing us from the hospice program. And even though today is officially his graduation, they’ve been so gracious to let our amazing house cleaner come one last time this Friday!!

So what does this mean (other than my house will now be a wreck)?

Despite his terminal diagnosis, Gideon is not considered “sick enough” to require hospice care at this time- which is great news!! However when his disease begins to progress (hopefully not for many years), hospice will return to continue services for our little warrior.

Thanks for all your prayers and support throughout our journey. It’s been a roller coaster and I imagine it will continue to be that way for as long as God has loaned sweet Gideon to us.