Remembering, Treasuring and Praying

Last night I attended a neat event for Lilly Hultberg. I loved seeing the great turnout and community support!

Lilly is a five year old friend of ours who is battling leukemia. Their family is tired and weary, their life is full of appointments, treatments, doctors reports, blood work...

Their family is traveling back and forth from Moses Lake to Seattle to seek treatment. Lilly is fighting, I am praying she will be healed.

There is a lot of heartache in this world. My thoughts and my heart have been brought back to my nephew Case so much over these past few weeks too, when a life is so short I reach to try to understand why. I know I can't understand, but I drive myself crazy at times.

Case was so loved in his almost six months of life.

He had the best family! An adoring big brother, a mom and dad who LOVED him so, so much. I'm so glad God gave Natasha, Reese and Lane to him.

Lilly is so, so loved. I am praying if it is God's will that she will see her 6th birthday, her 10th birthday, her 20th birthday...  I know she is a blessing to so many. To see the community gather together last night to raise money for her medical expenses, to show their care and to band together was special.

I have spent a little time this morning going through pictures of our time with Case. I can get "lost" doing this and soon the sink is heaping with dirty dishes, the kids are hollering for mama and Vance wonders where I have disappeared to... so this morning I gave myself 30 minutes to remember and to take a little time to share my thoughts with you.

Case and Hazel

Case and Natasha

This was a really fun day. It was Thanksgiving weekend.

Lesha hosted us at her home -- something she is so good about doing!

Michele, Natasha, Grandma Alma, Lesha

Willem, Kai, Case, Amara, Merit, Hazel, Lane, Brielle

The picture is very precious to me, but always makes me teary eyed too. Now, we no longer have sweet Case - but since then Estelle has been added to the family. We took turns holding Case and Hazel. That weekend was the weekend that Natasha and I got to introduce our sweet babies to all of our family in Lynden! We were all together again at Christmas!

Looking at these pictures reminds me to take lots of pictures. These memories are so sweet and seem to come more alive through precious pictures.

Case William

 I look at these pictures and get teary, but am also so thankful. Thankful for

memories made, for a family that shares A LOT of love and laughter and for this sweet boy.

I know that I can't understand the depth of Natasha and Reese's sadness in missing Case. And as time goes on sometimes we are less inclined to pray for people who have lost someone. We get on with our lives, but their loss is still very real. What I have loved about their family is the JOY they find in the journey, amidst the sadness.

So, I am headed outside to make some memories with my family! Willem and Hazel are digging in the sand, Vance has a big fire going -- burning tree limbs and stumps. Merit is playing basketball I think.

And as I soak up these people I love, I will whisper prayers for Lilly and prayers for Natasha and family... along with the others who are on my heart this week... Maddie, my siblings, friends going through tough things...

And I will be thankful for today.