I'm back, maybe.

It has been many long years since I last posted anything here.  We have moved, added two members to our family, walked through depression, and major transitions, and said goodbye to many friends.  Life looks very different now.  It is a beautiful, messy, noisy life.  Our home is filled with people and laughter and tears and food and crumbs and dishes and long-nights and early mornings.  God is at work here, just as he is at work in your neighborhood.  I hope to write more now but, as I said in my very first blog post in 2009, so now I will say again:  I can't make any promises.  Many things and people come first; they have dibs on my attention.  But I hope to write for the glory of God.  I would love to encourage others as they walk with the Lord and care for the people in their lives.  I hope it will be so.  At any rate, I'm glad you found me.  My prayer is that this will be a source of encouragement and hope, even if only sometimes.

In case you haven't heard...

We are expecting!! Baby Rogers is due on September 30th!

We are thrilled and can't wait to meet him or her.

In case you are wondering, we are 11 weeks pregnant and doing great!

My Mamaw

(I wrote the following post for my grandmother, my dad's mom, on January 23, 2009, shortly after we had our second miscarriage - I was 12.5 weeks pregnant. I don't know why I didn't publish it then, but because I have no idea how long it will be before I post again, I thought I'd better do it now.) (I just realized that January of 2009 was 2 years ago. Wow.)

My Mamaw is a prayer-warrior. She carries my family in prayer and I am so grateful. There are times when she feels helpless because we are so far away, but she is tremendously helpful. In the last month I have depended on her prayers. We found out that our baby was gone on January 5th and Mamaw prayed. She called me the day of our appointment because God laid me on her heart. She had been thinking of me all that day. She was the first person I told of our sad news. She responded to the prompting of the Lord by calling me and she continued to care for me by praying. She and my Papaw also sent flowers, which are still living despite the lack of care they have received!

Thursday, I woke up feeling sick, so sick I felt I could not get through the day without someone praying specifically that I would be able to! I called Mamaw that morning to ask her to pray. It was the first of two horrible days. I was the first, then Chloe, next was Kevin, and finally Jake. We all were throwing up and feeling terrible. Mamaw prayed through it all. (She wanted to do "more", but I don't think it is possible to do "more" than pray. Beseeching the One who created us is not the least you can do, but rather seems to me like the most you can do. Sure there are other things that are helpful and may seem bigger, but I think that is just our earthly, limited perspective.)

I am grateful for you, Mamaw. Your example is compelling. You and Papaw pray for us, your family. We may not always express our gratitude, or even be aware of the hours you have spent before the Lord on our behalves, but recently, the Lord has opened my eyes and I want to take this opportunity to say thank you.

Thank you for bringing me and my family before the Lord. Thank you for persisting in prayer. Thank you for following up and checking in and carrying me on your heart. Thank you for responding to the prompting of the Spirit. These things make my heart sing in praise to God for placing me in the family that he did. My dad, your son, is a prayer warrior, too. I wonder where he got it from? Thank you for your example. I love you!

Sigh

So, dusty old blog, how long has it been? I've stopped pretending that I'm going to come back to this.

When? At what point in my day will I blog? What would I have to stop doing in order to fit it in? Dishes? I wish. Laundry? I suppose I could always wear the same pair of jeans, but I'm not sure how Kevin would feel about wearing dirty clothes. I could stop feeding the kids, but they get grumpy when they are hungry. I suppose, for now, I will have to just accept the fact that I do not have the capacity to blog. This admission makes me sad because I really enjoyed blogging. But, in light of the fact that I even stink at responding to emails these days, blogging definitely must wait.

And wait.

Too bad. I have some adorable videos of the kids.

*Sigh*

Perhaps, someday, I'll come back to it...

To my Dad

Happy Father's Day, Dad!!

I wish I could be there to hug you and look you in the eyes as I tell you how much you mean to me. Dad, I respect you and admire your faith. I have seen you walk through this year of multiplied trials with tremendous, unshakeable faith. You have been in a season much like Job, but have continued to say, "The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Thank you for standing fast. You have built your house on the Rock; now that the storm has come, you are withstanding the wind and the waves. Well done, Dad!

I look forward to the day when you will hear that from the One you have served here! I know such a small fraction of what you do in secret, but one day our Lord and Savior will reward you openly and you will hear him say, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." (When I say that I look forward to it, I don't mean I would like you to go now!! It is my preference that you stay here for a good, long time. But I do enjoy thinking about what that day will be like for you.)

I love you! I hope you enjoy this special day. It is my prayer that you can feel the love of your children through the miles: from Tennessee to Maryland.

there is more to come...