The Good List 12-18-13

10. Looking forward to the winter olympics in just a few weeks. Somehow more fun to watch since moving to the frozen tundra. ;-)
9. I just learned that Community K-cups exist! How did I not know this sooner? Best coffee ever!

8. Ping Pong. I haven't played in way too long, but I want to. Who has a table?
7. A care package from Choremonster, because they noticed the girls had been doing a good job with their "brushing teeth" chore. (Huh? This was a weird, but nice surprise.)

6. Arthur Christmas, a recent addition (last year, I think) to our annual Christmas "must watch" list. Sweet and fun.
5. A little taste of Texas from the in-laws. Thanks, Jeremy and Danielle!

4. Ordering my Christmas cards for FREE (thanks to a Groupon I purchased in November, but it was a GREAT deal!)
3. Home Free's performance of Ring of Fire Monday night. Seriously ridiculous (by which I mean amazing). Are y'all watching The Sing-Off? If not, ummm. . .  why not? Get on that, K?



2. Friends who love my children well. Such a blessing to me. Like this little sweetness from our precious "Miss Rachel" in Tennessee. Made Macy and Grace's day!

1. In just 10 days, all of the crazy people will be together in Tennessee for a huge Methvin family (after) Christmas week-long party. Good times. Can't wait!

The Good List 12-11-13

10. Arm knitting. Pretty cool. 

9. Old maps. Why do I love them so? 
8. Christmas Songs by Sinatra. Sing to me, Frank!

7. Macy got her school-assigned iPad earlier this week. She currently thinks she's a rock star.
6. Christmas movies. Eventually we'll have to watch them year-round to fit in all our favorites.
5. The Sing-Off. So much fun to watch!
4. Musical people. They make me happy.
3. Being reminded of this this week. I still giggle every single time I watch it.
Post by Becky Methvin Wilson.

2. Macy's winter concert is tonight. I love it when she sings.
1. Meal planning for our epic WHOLE FAMILY after-Christmas getaway in Tennessee. My parents, all of my sisters, our boys and all of our kids. I'm already giggling just imagining the shenanigans.

The Good List 12-4-13

10. A grilled shrimp spinach salad with avocado. It's kind of perfect really. Also: equally as delectable with scallops. And adding bacon doesn't ruin it either.
9. The conversations I get to have because of my crazy hair. Never a dull moment.
8. Macy and Grace are registered for Camp Tapawingo 2014. They're so excited!
7. Remembering Macy's role as "Duffy" in the Annie production at The Paramount this time last year. Such a fun time!

6. My friend Catherine's latest book release. A precious 52-week Bible storybook complete with a Family Talk Time and Memory Verse for each week. May I suggest this would make a lovely Christmas gift for many on your list?

5. There is a youth group party Thursday night, and Macy has already lined up 2 friends from school to join her. ;-) 
4. A Thanksgiving Day phone call from my friend Tyrone. He makes me giggle like few others. Love that brother.
3. We got our first Christmas card yesterday from the preciousness that is the McLemore family. I love them so much.

2. The Claboughs are coming to see us! In March! (See what I did there, Mike and Melissa? Now it's public information, so you can't back out. Yeah buddy.)
1. Anne is joyfully home. I miss her, but I'm so happy for her!

Anne is Joyfully Home

Today she will dance with Jesus. Maybe she already has. She will hold his hand. She'll look into his eyes and find there the purest love she's ever known. Today she will sing glorious praise. Today she will feel no pain and know no sorrow. Rather she will glow with radiant joy. I think maybe I can hear her laughing. (She has such a great laugh.) I bet she found Peter and David right away and gave them a big hug. She always had such a soft spot in her heart for people who just needed to be heard. I wonder if she's tending the most epic garden ever. Surely she is growing us plenty of tomatoes and basil for when we join her. I hope her first meal there was ice cream. I'm pretty sure it's her favorite. 

I wish I could see her face. 

I wish I could hold her hand.

I wish I could hug her again. I know I will one day, but I wish I didn't have to wait.

I don't know why her beautiful life ended the way it did, but this I do know: CANCER DID NOT WIN. It simply rushed her into the arms of her Savior sooner than we would have liked. Her cancer is OVER, but her glorious, eternal life in paradise has just begun. And it will never end.

We are sad, but she is not. And she never will be again. Thank you, Jesus.

I love you so much, Anne. So very much. I always will. I'll see you soon, and I can't wait!

The Good List 11-27-13

10. The Patriots comeback on Sunday night. Shame on errbody who went to bed early. The second half was football magic.
9. The smell of rosemary. I would very much like to wear a sprig of it as a mustache. 
8. This crazy little codependent dog. This is how he lets me know he's done with me being on the computer. The problem is that he's typically done as soon as I open it up. But he loves me. So there's that. ;-)

7. Finding moments of laughter in the midst of days of tears.
6. Macy has auditioned for several different parts in junior chorus, Vivace, and district chorus. She has only gotten feedback from one so far, but she got the part! She's so excited!
5. Preparing our Thanksgiving meal. Sweet therapy. Good for my heart.
4. Hearing Anne snore. I know that sounds weird, but after seeing her suffer so immensely for quite some time, it was beautiful indeed to see her resting comfortably.
3. Listening to Mark play piano and sing at his Mom's bedside. Preciousness.
2. Listening to Jeff share the entire Gospel story with one of Anne's nurses. So sweet and beautiful.
1. Packing every room of the Miserocchi home with prayer warriors on Sunday. This was gorgeousness.

Prayer Time for Anne

Tomorrow at 1pm EST we will be filling the Miserocchi home with prayer. Please join us if you can no matter where you are geographically. And if you're so inclined, please respond even if with just a 1 or 2 word comment as to where you are in the world. Maybe a little silly, but it helps to feel the love and support from the family of God across the globe.

Lord, knit our hearts together in prayer over Anne!

A Prayer for Anne and Everyone Who Loves Her

Lord, this is so very hard.

Some days. . . .  most days it feels like too much for our hearts to bear. It's too heavy. It's too painful. It's too deflating.

We see her suffer, and we feel helpless. We hold her hand and wince with her as she grasps her head in pain. We watch her struggle just to get a sip of juice to her mouth. We witness her body diminishing daily before our very eyes. Just 92 pounds now, but small as she may be, she is still so very significant. She is our wife, our mother, our sister, our friend. She is a mighty woman of God. She is a daughter of the King. Have mercy, Lord! We so desperately want to see her eyes sparkle again. We want to hear her laugh. We want to hold her hand and walk with her just because we love her and not because she can't take a step without our help. We know that this will take a miracle, but we also know that you are fully able to do this. You created her from nothing, and what an amazing job you did, God. She is a masterpiece! Surely you can also restore her. This is our prayer. We boldly ask for healing.

But we ask this understanding that you are sovereign and that your ways are higher than ours. We don't understand, but we trust. We don't like any of this, but we believe you have a greater plan than what we can see. Or at least, we want to believe. Lord, help our unbelief when it's difficult to see past the pain. Help us to trust that Jeremiah 29:11 is true, but that it is because of the promise of Heaven, not the temporary things of earth.

Thank you, Father, that you are not unfamiliar with grief. You have walked where we walk, and you did it on purpose. You volunteered for the anguish of watching your Son suffer, and you did it for us. Lord, may we remember your amazing and lavish grace. Give us a vision for Habakkuk 2:14 when the whole earth will be filled with your glory, and the radiance of your Son will be pressed into every corner. No more suffering. No more death. No more exhaustion. No more tears.

Lord, pour out wave upon wave of miraculous comfort onto Jeff and Mark and Ally. May they sense the fullness of your presence in a way they have never before experienced. Give wisdom as they continue to seek the best options for Anne's care and comfort. Give rest as they pour out themselves as her constant caretakers. Set their hearts at peace--a miracle in itself--the kind that can only come from you. Help the truth of Scripture to come alive inside their hearts throughout every day, that they might burn with a glorious hope that transcends every earthly thought. 

HEAR OUR CRIES, LORD! Bind up our breaking hearts and ready us for whatever lies ahead. Help us to cling to the cross and rest in the finished work of Christ, and give us joy as we envision Anne embracing her Savior, whether that be months, years or decades from now. Thank you that no matter what her short-term future may be, her eternal future is with you. Hold us close, Jesus. We need you so desperately. Hold us close and make us whole.

The Good List 11-20-13

10. Halls defense drops. Yeah, I know they probably don't really do anything. But when people all around me sound like they're coughing up their pancreas, for some reason it makes me feel better to have some vitamin C in my mouth. ;-)
9. Wool socks. Yep. It's gettin' to be that time of year when my feet are ALWAYS cold.
8. This song. Which I'm pretty sure I've listed before, but it's repeat-worthy, don't you think?



7. Remembering this craziness from a couple years ago. Can't say I'm necessarily dreaming of -22 degree weather, but you have to admit this is pretty cool. Instant snow!

What Happens to Boiling Water in -22 Degree Air? from Jared Wilson on Vimeo.

6. Friends who make me laugh even when I think I don't feel like it.
5. Macy made the high honor roll during her first semester in middle school. Off to a good start!
4. A double date night with Elder Dale and Mrs. Elder Dale last weekend. Dinner. Movie. Good conversation. Love those rare times.
3. AND at the same time as our date night, Macy and Grace got to have a sleepover with some of their favorite ladies. They thought they were super special for sure. Good times.
2. I finally got to hand this off to Erin on Sunday. (I didn't want to publish it before she had the hard copy in her hands.) A gift of love to Erin, Miley and Judah. Richard Shawn Scott: A Life to Celebrate

| Start your own Photo Books | Create custom Christmas Cards

1. The outpouring of love and support for my friend Anne and her family that I continue to witness. So amazing. Prayers from all across the country (and even beyond), constant service, financial support, etc., etc., etc. When I send out requests for help, I get an almost immediate response each time, even when there are requests every day for several days in a row. I've already mentioned several times how much I adore this family, so I'll spare you another soliloquy, but I love them so much that even though all of these acts of love are for them, they feel like gifts to me as well. So grateful.

Our Leanable Jesus

John 13:25 has recently become one of my favorite verses in the entire Bible. I wonder how many times I've read right over it as though it barely even deserves to be there. Many, I'm sure.

For some reason, this has boosted my heart so richly recently. This idea of young John leaning right into Jesus, probably in a posture not unlike what my daughters and I would call "snuggling." Sweet affection. Maybe I'm reading way too much into this, but it doesn't seem John even considered whether this was "appropriate" or not. He didn't wonder if he was being irreverent or getting a little too comfortably situated into Jesus' "personal space." It didn't seem to occur to him even for a second that pressed against Jesus' chest wasn't exactly where he belonged. He just loved Jesus and felt safe and secure tucked under his wing. And Jesus obviously let him stay happily tucked there. This makes me so happy, I can hardly explain. So grateful for our affectionate, "leanable," approachable Jesus.

The Good List 11-6-13

10. The "parent portal" used by Macy's school. We can get updates on grades, assignments, absences, etc. any time we like with just a few mouse clicks. Super helpful.
9. Fantastic Mr. Fox. It's so weird and awesome.
8. This video, which is probably only funny if you're a football fan, and in that case, it might make you pee.


7. Stormy Saturday mornings. Oddly cozy and relaxing.
6. Watching people I love enjoy a meal I've prepared for them. Few things delight my heart more.
5. Window seats. My dream home would have one in every room. So many amazing and interesting things could happen there, don't you think?

4. Our small group starts back up tonight. Looking forward to the fellowship.
3. Rain on a tin roof. Such a cool sound. Reminds me of my precious Memaw and her sweet little house.
2. Baby Max, whose mother was encouraged to abort him half-way through her pregnancy due to loss of amniotic fluid. So grateful for her resolve and commitment to this child. He is now 6 months old and getting stronger and healthier every day.

1. After an incredibly difficult week, which included a THIRD brain surgery and several days of near-comatose condition, yesterday Anne was feeling strong enough to walk to the hospital chapel. This photo was taken by her son Mark. OH, my heart!!!

Calling ALL Prayer Warriors!

Anne is having a very difficult day. She woke up with an infection and a fever of 101.6. She is back at Dartmouth waiting to be admitted for blood work and a CT scan to determine whether or not she may have an abscess. If so, this may require a third emergency surgery if it is determined it can't be treated with antibiotics. 

Thus far today she has been mute, motionless, and unresponsive other than to squeeze fingers when asked (but even then she doesn't open her eyes.)

Will you please cry out with me on her behalf and also ask for the floodgates of mercy and comfort and all-surpassing peace to swing wide and engulf her family in supernatural strength and grace?

***I will update throughout the day as more information becomes available.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Update 4pm: Anne was sent into emergency surgery shortly after 2 pm. This is her third surgery.

----------------------------------------------------------

Update 10:45pm: Surgery is complete. Anne is stable, and the infection has been "washed out." They are keeping her for the next 4 days to keep her on a steady flow of antibiotics. Please continue to pray for a strong recovery.

Tucked In

I probably shouldn't continue to give further and further evidence of my oddities, of which there are plenty for sure. But I suppose I would have very little to say if I only mentioned my more "normal" moments, so there's that. ;-) So anyway, here's today's weirdness: I realized recently that I have a little bit of a strange obsession with tucking my kids in at night. ("Well, that's not *that* weird," you may think.) No, for real. It's weird. Because for some reason, I can't just do it once and be done with it. I go and tuck them in as soon as they're ready for bed. You know the drill. Make sure the doors and windows are locked. Make sure they have enough blankets. Turn the big lights off and the little lights on. Pray. Hugs. Smooches on all 4 cheeks and 2 foreheads. That sort of thing. And then as I'm walking out the bedroom door to close it behind me, we try to see who can be the last one to say "I Love You." (Macy always yells it one last time after the door is closed, which I treasure more than she knows. :-D) At this point, the girls are all set. They're happy and cozy and likely to drift off to peaceful sleep in just a few minutes. I literally do this every single night we're in the same house together. I can't sleep if I don't.

After this, Jared and I usually stay up for at least a couple more hours. (Ok, who am I kidding? More like 4 or 5. Who needs sleep anyway?) But no matter how long the girls have already been peacefully sleeping, I can't sleep myself until I have gone one more time into their room for that last little "tuck in" and prayer before I lay down my own head. 

I wonder how much longer they'll let me do this. They're 10 and 12! It's not like they can't put themselves to bed. But I'm finding these days that tucking them in has much more to do with securing the edges of life than the edges of blankets. It's about hemming in those flailing moments of uncertainty with solid places to land and rest from time to time.

This is easier said than done, to be sure. But maybe that's why I'm so adamant about taking every chance I possibly can to get it right. One more prayer that I'll say the right things when the hard stuff comes. One more hug and kiss and smile to help them understand how much I love them. One more moment of giggling together. One more opportunity to build trust just by "being there" with them. One more chance to do something right in raising them. One more chance. I always need one more chance. Thank God it comes every day. 

I wrestle with the tangle of paths they face (WE face) each day. I can't hem them in completely. I know this. But surely I am responsible for building hedges of safety. I can help re-route around dangerous areas. I can illuminate the dark corners and shed light on areas where they insist on further investigation, all the while allowing them to form their own identities and learn to embrace truth for themselves. 

Shudder. Can I really do this? Let them make their own decisions? Let them investigate the scary stuff? Let them learn a few things the hard way?

This is terrifying! I can't do it. I can't. At least not without the promises of a sovereign God, who loves them more than I ever could.

And so, what I think I'm learning through all of this is that the reason I crave that last little moment in my day so much--one last prayer over my sweet girls and maybe one more little "tuck"--is that it's in this moment that God tucks in the edges of my heart. Do y'all know these edges? The ones that are flayed open to be destroyed by the tiniest thought of any harm that might come to your children? I don't even mean the really bad stuff. It could be as simple as worrying that someone might hurt their feelings tomorrow. Does that thought have the power to destroy the edges of your heart? It does mine. I need those edges tucked in. Every single night. By my Comforter and my Keeper and certainly the Keeper of my children as well. Thank you, Lord, for loving them better than I ever will! And thank you for securing my heart every night as I secure blankets. Maybe my girls won't outgrow their need to be tucked in. It doesn't seem their mother has. ;-)

Fall Favorites

Well, the trees are mostly nekkid now. So I'm pretty much in limbo. No more crazy gorgeous fall foliage, and I'll probably have to wait a bit for the beautiful, peaceful snow-covered landscapes. Each year when fall begins to wind down, I always wish I could have gotten a few more pictures, but I think I would feel that way even if the colors lasted a full 3 months and I got to take pictures every single day of it. For now, here are some of my favorite fall (and almost fall) shots. Hope you enjoy!