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

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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!!!