Cancer Sucks

Last night we lost our (Doug's) aunt Roberta. She was a sweet little Christian woman. She lost her husband many years ago and just spent her life focused on her only son, Eric, whom they had adopted as an infant. That same boy, blessing that he was, took care of her in the little apartment they shared until the very end when she left to go to Jesus. Can't wait to go see that guy and give him a big 'ole hug. The rest of her time was spent teaching other children about Jesus.

Here in our town, the very hospital where we were last admitted with baby, lies a handsome young man, getting ready to meet Jesus. He got married yesterday in the basement of the hospital with the last remaining strength he had to a beautiful young woman who also is a cancer patient. I'm giving you the link so  don't miss this story- it's achaingly beautiful. I read the young groom's father's facebook update and nearly choked on emotion when I read he had been adopted from foster care as a toddler, along with another boy. It hit me in the stomach just how important and permanent a thing we are doing with these babies. Sometimes it seems an inconvenience and sometimes it seems not-so-important, like anyone could do it. But that's wrong. It's life-altering and my own weird habit of making light of everything loses track of the eternal importance of bringing these babies home to our family. Dear Rodney 's story reminded me of that today in a way I will never be able to forget. Starting today I will value my mission from God more highly and snuggle my babies from someone else's womb a little more often.

So, in the midst of all this sadness and pain and chaos and diapers in my little world, here's what I know: God is good. He is tender. He is kind. He cares about the smallest details of my life. And He cares about yours too. We are all His adopted children who choose to believe Him and accept Jesus as a covering for all of our wrongs. I'm so grateful for that. Grateful for restored dignity and grace- for me and or my husband and for all of my babies, big and small, natural born and soon-to-be-adopted. He is a healer- I believe and so I speak of my belief. My heart is hurting today but in a sweet way. Those we are losing we are losing to Heaven and an oh-so-caring Father to welcome them to their real home.