sick days

I wouldn't have chosen the past days to go as they have, especially having to leave this 

to spend the night throwing up more than I have in the last 12+ years combined... Such has been our week. An unfortunate series of events that included a stomach virus taking us all out. At one point, I was helping Jude while he was vomiting, holding my own trash can to catch mine. At another, Jack tells me "I saw my lunch on the wall!" And, that's all I need to say about that. But, somewhere in the middle of fevers and viruses and CT-scans and gatorade and rice cakes and up all night with sick kids and up all night sick myself, 
I see how very blessed we are.

~For parents who don't wince at the germs and come anyway, to stay and play. For their prayers and calls and texts and care.

~For friends who offer to run to the store for us, drop off a meal, help my hubby find the organic apples, ask to come stay with our kids when a trip to the ER is a possibility (not minding the germs), and keep checking up on us, wanting to help.
~For our family man, and all the ways he serves and loves and serves and loves...
~For a God who hears. When we are at the absolute end of all we can do, listening to the cries of our son in pain and his own prayers: "You calmed the sea and healed men from leprosy. Would you please heal me?" What helplessness, yet such faith are in those words. We can't demand He give the answer we think is best. He is the Almighty God. But He hears, and continues to meet us, shining His light in our darkest moments.

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts.

~ 2 Corinthians 4.6 {NIV}

Our little earth trembling beneath us has been a gentle reminder that we are so very frail. And so, we cling to the Almighty, hold close those we love, try to bless others they way they have us. Continuing to learn to grab hold of the important things in this life. To cherish the imperishable. 

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. 

They must be felt with the heart.

~Helen Keller