February 6, 2021 The letting go is hard. I love holding on to things…things I can physically hold, things that have memories, things that are a part of my heart because they are memories of a beautiful past. I call myself a memory saver because I like to treasure the tangible things that are tied…
January 23, 2021 My morning devotional started with this: “The Lord will save me…”, which wasn’t really the focus of the devotional, and I kind of passed over it, though it ended with this: “The Lord delivered me. The Lord will deliver us.” Not really expecting a literal manifestation of this. Little did I know…
November 26, 2020 Spent today with my precious family, and had a very special gift for my Dad. Carol Pierce worked so hard to get this quilt made. It is perfect…beautiful! I see my beloved Ashley in every fibre, every thread. The stars are made from Ashley’s baby clothes (and one Zach blanket). So many…
October 20, 2020 NOTE: If you only read one thing, please read Ashley’s paper (the end of my post), which she wrote honoring her Papa. It’s a beautiful tribute from her 14-year-old heart for a man many love and admire, but only five of whom know him as their beloved, precious Papa. Our words matter.…
October 11, 2020 I feel her absence in every beat of my heart. I feel her absence when I look at her picture and long to touch that precious face. I feel her absence in the darkness of night, in the first light of dawn, and the waking moments in between. I feel her absence…
October 9, 2020 I have the kindest NICU/PEDI family, and am so thankful for them. If you read my last post, Pieces, this is a follow-up to it. My sweet coworker and sister in Christ, Justina, made this gorgeous piece for me after seeing my post about Ashley’s mug. And, I love that it’s something…
September 24, 2020 Ashley’s mug…shattered. The mug I have used for over a year. To have coffee every morning as I read God’s Word and talk with Him, as I think about Ashley, and talk with her. A sacred part of my new routine. Pieces. All the emotions and memories I hold so close…shared memories…
September 18, 2020 My Dad, Kenneth, is battling stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma. He underwent surgery less than a month ago. The latest biopsy showed that the carcinoma is back in his neck. After many complications and delays, he will have his first chemo treatment on Monday, 9/21. This past Monday, 9/14, he had a…
July 24, 2020 My Dad has been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma for over 20 years. This past year he was diagnosed with stage 4 squamous cell carcinoma. Both of my parents are the kindest, Godliest people I know. Dad will drop whatever he is doing to pray with you, and to share God’s love and his…
July 11, 2020 Recently, I have been rather consumed with “looking” for Ashley, and rather upset with God for not answering the multitude of prayers I have laid at His feet. I do believe that Ashley sends me “love notes” in the form of butterflies and heart clouds and dragonflies and other little ways. But…