Way too much to say...

Hey everybody!!
It has been entirely too long since i've written and I have SO much to say about so many things.
I may be all over the place here so hang tight!! Lets see.....last Wednesday I had the opportunity to visit St. Jude with a friend and her son. Chandler goes every Wednesday to receive his chemo and I was able to go through the whole day with him and his family. I still don't think I can articulate how amazing that day was for me. Of course it changed my life. I am a changed person forever. I think I saw Jesus 5oo times that day....He was in the parents, He was in the kids, He was with the staff, He was in the many hugs I saw, He was in the worries I could see, He was in the tears that were shed, He was EVERYWHERE!!! The visuals alone from the day were almost too much to bear. It was alot to take in. St. Jude is a fantastic, beautiful, most amazing, kid friendly, and full of life, energy, and hope place I've ever seen in my life!!! HOW CAN THAT BE??? The sickest kids are there!!!

Life is truly precious....Life is truly a gift.....and Life can be changed in a heartbeat. I saw healthy life and I saw very sick life in the face of many children. It was almost too much to see their little bodies sick and overwhelmed with cancer. This place had family written all over it though. For St. Jude to have so much sickness in it, there was so much hope and love too. Everyone was so friendly and hugged and loved and laughed and cried and encouraged and took the time to really talk to you. I mean really talk to you. Noone was in a hurry. I think they understand how precious and sacred "life" is. Why does it take an illness or sickness or even death for us to really grasp the sweetness of health and life???

I cried, I laughed, I prayed and I loved my time at St. Jude. There is not enough space to write all the special, intimate moments I saw between families. I'm telling you....Jesus is alive and active in that place. I hope that when people see our church or our homes or our families that they see some of these things that I have described to you.....I don't want to wait until a tragedy occurs before I really grasp life and take the time to enjoy the people that are placed before us.
Maybe that is what I took away from my experience there.....treasure life and treasure each other and treasure God!!

Ok...on another note....i am just completely exhausted!! I shouldn't even say those words when I reflect on the tiredness of those families at St. Jude and all that they endure. But, I can say that we should ALL find rest and comfort in just being with our Lord. I have been reminded that even when that good nights sleep is nowhere near....ask God to come in and give my mind and body some rest....Let Him restore me and carry me through. Maybe the clock won't allow the rest to happen so I bet our great big God can help me out. I pray that I remember to ask Him when I'm that tired!!

Its a busy time of year for us all....I pray for you to enjoy your life....slow down....and be intentional about everything you do...there is no point in hurrying it all along. Its the relationships that matter and its how we impact those relationships that matter.

Have a fantastic week....I'll write more from Kansas City....I'm going to the 9 yr old world series there with my kids and hubby. I'm sure there will be lots of interesting things to report on while
I'm there. Blessings to you all!