Book Review: Stronger Than the Storm - Highly Recommend

This riveting debut novel, Stronger Than the Storm, by Deena Adams, had me locked in from the start. With well-drawn characters and intense conflicts, the story demands just another page. It resonated with me because of our journey with a wayward adult son. However, any parent will put themselves in these shoes and learn something about themselves from the journey. We all regret our mistakes. The book is gritty, real, and raw. Life is the same. God grows us the most in the midst of storms. It could be summed up in a simple sentence: The scars of sin run deep, but God's grace soothes and heals.

Beth Holbrook is elated by an offer of publication for her parenting book. As a pastor's wife and parenting coach, things are at a high point. Within the space of one day, those successes begin to crumble, when her 18-year-old daughter runs away. Leesa is on a self-destructive path. Indeed, she digs her hole deeper and deeper as the pages fly by. (Oh, how I could relate!) 

Beth and her husband Kevin, like many couples parenting a prodigal, have differing opinions on the necessary response. These pages articulated the very difficulties I fought in seeking the best course of action with my wayward son. They illustrate the gamut of emotions parents and prodigals experience. Will the ripples from Leesa's sin spill over to fracture Beth and Kevin's marriage? Can God bring good from hopeless, unwanted situations?  

The book has won several awards. It earned first place in the American Fiction Awards for the religious fiction category and Contemporary Novel of the Year in the Christian Market Book Awards. I was grateful to read this story of God's redemption, prior to Trevor's death, because it reminded me of God's presence in the battle. Pain drives prodigals, but their pain spills over into other lives. This book is important! Sin scars the entire family. But God... works with our weaknesses to reveal His strengths, and praise God, He is stronger than any storm we face! We can count on God's providential hand to carry us when wounded and weary, and redeem us when broken and spent.

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I moved this review up in my queue as it is currently on sale in e-book form for a few more days. Snag the savings! You won't regret it!

 

Book Review: Jonathan Edwards

After editing the previous pamphlet reviews, I realized I had failed to write up a book review for another book I own and added to my morning devotional time. Stephen J. Nichols presents a thorough consideration of a great man of God in this book Jonathan Edwards: A Guided Tour of His Life and Thought. I know I greatly enjoyed this book because I tabbed many pages. Sadly, I've read several other books since then and my memory for writing this review will be taxed.

This biography summarizes Jonathan Edwards' major themes against the background of his life. Some call him America's greatest theologian. He was a minister in New England known for the famous sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." His careful consideration of a spider dangling from its web led to the thoughts in that sermon. 

The forward to this book asserts, "We read Edwards because Edwards interprets Scripture so powerfully that he helps us to see God better." Edwards emphasizes the glory, the majesty, and the sovereignty of God. I was blown away by Edwards' productivity. He was always studying, always learning, and always considering new angles of insight. His longsuffering wife cared for the household, allowing him to focus on his studies and his sermon preparation. He was instrumental in propeling the time of revival we call "The Great Awakening."

Even though he's well known for his consideration of God's wrath, Edwards writes extensively about God's grace. At one point, he argues, "All our good is of God, through God, and in God. God is the source, cause, and author of our good. God is the means and mediator of our good. God is the end, object, and essence of our good." In Nichol's explanation, "God's power converts, preserves, and will someday perfect his redeemed."

He was also interested in clarifying that there is a difference between professing Christ and possessing Christ. There are distinguishing signs in the lives of those who possess Christ. He is willing to admit, though, that believers do not always live saintly lives. Edwards writes, "True saints may be guilty of some kinds and degrees of backsliding, may be foiled by particular temptations, and fall into sin, yea, great sins; but they can never fall away so as to grow weary of religion and the service of God, and to habitually dislike and neglect it, either on its own account or on account of the difficulties that attend it." With true believers, the Holy Spirit is evident.

One other tid-bit I recall from the book is that Edwards died from a fatal reaction to a smallpox vaccination. Shortly after this, his daughter died in the same way. How horrific! It makes me sad to think all the world lost with the death of this great man. It was a joy to learn more about him and made me want to spend time reading more of Edwards' writings. 

Gratitude Article

Photo by Ranurte on Unsplash

After struggling for well over a year in a liminal space, unable to work on specific writing projects, I am happily back to writing. Today, my gratitude article, "When the Journey Becomes the Gift," airs in the Just Between Us Magazine on Substack. You can find it here.

Click here to learn about ways to subscribe to Just Between Us. This magazine, founded by Jill Briscoe, provides encouragement for Christian women. It reaches women in more than 150 countries. Here's a blurb from the Encourager's Corner in October:

"It still takes my breath away--how he weaves His voice through each week's collection of stories. Different writers, different seasons, different struggles--and yet, always the same thread of grace running through it all. I think of the woman who told us she read a story about forgiveness and finally picked up the phone to call her sister after years of silence. Or the mom who said she opened a devotion in the middle of her burnout and felt like the words were written just for her. Or the reader across the world who said JBU had become "her church home" when she felt completely alone."

What difficult journey did God gift to you?  

Book Review: The Ragamuffin Gospel

Here's another book that articulates my understanding of the gospel as a free GIFT of God, not something dependent upon what we DO (aligning our will to God's will consistently). If we must do something to earn it, it is not a gift. Grace is a gift! It is not of works, lest any man should boast. Brennan Manning, in The Ragamuffin Gospel, asserts that those who believe their behavior is key to their salvation trust in themselves and turn God into a bookkeeper tallying how often we bend to His will, or a customs officer rifling through our moral suitcase. 

I loved this quote from Donald McCullough:

"Grace means that in the middle of our struggle the referee blows the whistle and announces the end of the game. We are declared winners and sent to the showers. It’s over for all huffing, puffing piety to earn God’s favor; it’s finished for all sweat-soaked straining to get ahead of others in the game. Grace means that God is on our side and thus we are victors regardless of how well we have played the game. We might as well head for the showers and the champagne celebration…. We can’t save ourselves. What Jesus did was sufficient."

Manning emphasizes the importance of honesty. "How difficult it is to be honest, to accept that I am unacceptable, to renounce self-justification, to give up the pretense that my prayers, spiritual insight, tithing, and successes in ministry have made me pleasing to God! No antecedent beauty enamors me in His eyes. I am loveable only because He loves me." His prayer reflects this understanding that we can do nothing to secure or maintain our salvation: "Lord Jesus, we are silly sheep who have dared to stand before You and tried to bribe You with our preposterous portfolios.... We must choose either Christ or the law as author of salvation."

This book hit me between the eyes, too. Manning speaks of our fear of failure. He declares God expects our failure (just as He expected Peter's denial). We are the unfaithful, through whom God continues to work. He says our fear of failure causes us to offer thousands of excuses for doing nothing. (Ouch!) "We put things off, waste the energies of life and love that are within us." (Guilty!)

I pray with Nikos Kazantzakis: “I am a bow in your hands, Lord. Draw me, lest I rot. Do not overdraw me, Lord, I shall break. Overdraw me, Lord, and who cares if I break?” I want to be an authentic disciple. Manning says that authentic disciples "may have stumbled and frequently fallen, endured lapses and relapses, gotten handcuffed to the fleshpots and wandered into a far country. Yet, they kept coming back to Jesus.”

Manning has many critics who view his assertions of the freedom God gives as mere licentiousness. Trusting in God for salvation does not lead a believer to throw mud in God's face and see His atonement as license for running wild. Instead, God's grace blows us away and causes us to bow in humble adoration for His undeserved gift. Manning sums it up well: “Ragamuffins are simple, direct, and honest…. They are slow to claim, ‘God told me….'”

My copy of this book includes bonus material at the end. I wish I had realized this while reading daily during my devotions. The "Guide for Reflection and Prayer" leads you to reflect on each chapter (either in group discussion or individual use). It offers prayers, scriptures, and questions to challenge you to live by the gospel of grace. 

In a final section, written ten years after its publication, Manning quotes a prayer of St. Augustine, who prayed, "Lord Jesus, don't let me lie when I say that I love you... and protect me, for today I could betray you." For ragamuffins, darkness drives us to the heart of God. Without His mercy, we might be tempted to despair. With it, we acknowledge our internal poverty and praise Him for His sufficiency on our behalf.

How Not to Celebrate Milestone Anniversaries

This week, my husband and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary. Well, that's not entirely true because we barely celebrated. To be honest, I cannot remember a single time we've done anything remotely significant to memorialize our milestones. Still, I'm blown away by the fact that we've reached these milestones and I'm grateful to God for getting us through obstacles and challenges that might have foiled other couples. Marriage is hard work, and we've seen our fair share of difficulties. I just wish we exhibited more gumption in celebrating that hard work. It deserves more than we give it. Don't make our mistakes!

At our 10th anniversary, we were fresh on the heels of a year and half long separation. I couldn't find a lick of evidence remaining on how we celebrated our 15th anniversary in 2005, between the births of our second and third sons. I know I was pining for a third child. I wanted to give our middle son a closer sibling, a shorter gap than the 8 years between our first two sons. For our 20th anniversary, I did not mark the occasion with a blog post. It seems we went away to our annual  Wisconsin Bible camp, CBLI. Often, John would drive out to the camp and we would go out for dinner while another camper kept an eye on our sons. It appears he did not drive up that year (a bit farther from IN than it was when we lived in IL - or perhaps that was the year he went to leave, only to find a flat tire on the truck).

I did recognize our 25th annniversary with this blog post, but cannot remember doing anything significant to celebrate it. Our 30th anniversary fell in 2020. Yes, you guessed it! We didn't do anything to celebrate. I made up this list of 30 small ways to observe our anniversary and we ended up not completing more than a handful of those 30 ideas. We have prayed together more in the past five years than ever before! (Praise God! That is more important than a wealth of celebrations!) We had dinner out and a trip to Dairy Queen. We exchanged cards and he filled my gas tank (fairly standard stuff). Finally, we watched one of our favorite romantic movies, Somewhere in Time, set in the location we had hoped to visit to mark our 25th (Mackinac Island).

At the beginning of this year, I sent John an email bursting with ideas for possible celebrations. I am mindful of the fact that he doesn't care for travelling. Indeed, as I age, even I'm finding long trips less and less appealing. I long for the comfort of my own home and dread hours in a car on highways. I outlined ideas for lengthier trips to Michigan and Ohio. I tried to find areas with special bird sanctuaries since that is something that appeals to my husband. There were smaller trips to Illinois or right within our state of Indiana.

Then, on May 1st, our lives turned upside down and complications at home made all efforts at planning a trip impossible. We still hope to get away at some point, but I fear, like the list of 30 small observances, in the end we will be proof to all of "how not to celebrate milestone anniversaries." I guess the key is SETTLE. Assume big outlandish efforts out of the question. Follow the path of least resistance.

A few days before our anniversary, we had an argument. I had visions of no celebration at all, but John made an effort, nonetheless. Thus, for our 35th, we drove to a small town a half hour away, stayed in an average hotel, and visited an expensive restaurant. Apart from the meatloaf (perhaps I should have selected that), I couldn't find anything appealing to me, so I settled for a burger and sweet potato fries. We did splurge on peanut butter pie for dessert and, even though we didn't need it, it was amazing!

I know I sound whiny. The disappointment is palpable. I had longed to take a trip to Barcelona, Spain, to see the La Sagrada Familia because it was expected to be completed in 2025. Alas, our passports have expired. International travel feels out of the question. (Sadly, even interstate travel feels out of the question.) Moreover, due to the pandemic, the deadline for completion of that landmark was pushed back. When I searched for the new completion date, AI gave me this as an answer:

"The Sagrada Familia in Barcelona is scheduled to be structurally completed in 2026. This completion will mark the end of over 140 years of construction, with the final touches being added to the Tower of Jesus Christ and the Chapel of the Assumption. While the main structure is slated for completion in 2026, some decorative elements and the controversial entranceway are expected to continue until 2034, according to Dezeen." 

For now, I'll have to settle for this 15-minute YouTube tour of this magnificent Basilica. Hey, in watching, I can forego the stressful flights, the expensive lodging and food, and the exhausting hassle of travel. Of course, I'm sure this is nothing like what my son exclaimed when I asked him his favorite destination from their European travels. He said the eye could not help but move upward and it had to be experienced in the flesh. 

Perhaps when our family crisis calms to a trickle we will make more of an effort to mark the momentous milestone many couples these days only dream of - 35 years of hard-fought matrimony. In this day and age of disposable relationships, we have much to thank God for! We cling to him with eyes on further milestones together. We just don't do well at celebrating these achievements. If you have any advice to counter our abysmal example, please feel free to share. Maybe we can make a go of it yet!

Book Review: Saving the Saved - Highly Recommend

I grew up in The Salvation Army. They believe a child of God, a Christian, can lose their salvation. One of the primary dangers in this view is an inflated sense of self-preservation. It leads to believing one has the power to negate what God has done on your behalf ("void His promise") because your actions supersede God's act of forgiveness that He has declared as FINISHED. Contrary to what they think, we are not the lynch pin holding our security in place! Praise God, He paid the debt I could not pay. He holds me, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, a seal of promise, assuring my eternal ("eternal," not "temporary," not "probationary") life! He is the author/sustainer/perfecter of our faith.

While Salvationists would agree that we cannot DO anything to gain our salvation, they say we must DO something to keep our salvation. They assert we can "choose to come out from under that seal." In that case, what's the point of a seal? Living with constant fear one has not repented from each infraction (and, yes, we continue to struggle with SIN) leads to a performance-driven faith. I now believe that is an error, and a grievous one. It makes me think of a phrase I once heard stating there are only two religious camps: DO and DONE. I rest in what He has done, not what I do.

Salvation is a gift, an act of grace, "Not of works, lest any man should boast." (Ephesians 2:9) First, He justifies; then, He sanctifies. On the cross, Christ paid the penalty for our sin. Once we are His child, sealed with the Holy Spirit, that Spirit helps us fight against the ongoing presence of sin we will battle until death. We are not out from under the consequence of sin, but we are FREE from the condemnation of sin. Again, I trust in Christ's act, not my actions, for my heart is desperately wicked and the battle against sin continues (Romans 7:14-25).

We are neither co-saviors, nor co-judges. God will decide each individual's spiritual destiny. Indeed, it is not our place to speculate. (We cannot determine someone in scripture ended up in hell because they did not repent of their waywardness.) Praise God, it is not our call. Yet everyone will answer for where they place their faith. Are you trusting in your sufficiency (your ability to remain obedient) or in a deep and abiding trust in Christ's sufficiency (His obedience in taking your sin penalty on the cross)? Are you wearing His robes of righteousness or your own?

I face tension with family members who believe in the Army's 9th doctrine, that "continuance in the state of salvation DEPENDS upon continued, obedient faith in Christ." It rankles all the more because I have a wayward son. I have a child who, despite attesting dependence upon Christ for salvation, makes harmful choices that others perceive as unrepentant rebellion. Indeed, if they pronounce judgment on one in scripture who, despite writing books of the Bible, strayed, they believe my child is in danger of hellfire. Yes, it's personal! Yet, Paul's letter to the Corinthians reveals it is possible to follow Christ and still indulge in seasons of sin. Indeed, those willing to pronounce judgment on my son should examine their own sin indulgences.

Perhaps all of this led me to Bryan Loritts' book, Saving the Saved: How Jesus Saves Us from Try-Harder Christianity Into Performance-Free Love. Loritts is determined to teach the reader how to rest in God's performance-free love. He argues against spiritual meritocracy (using our performance to gain God's approval). I loved this comment, "If anything I ever do of eternal value is because of God's grace, and if anything I ever do that brings shame is covered by God's grace, where is the boasting... the shame?" He urges us to come to Him "with the outfit He supplies. Life in the kingdom means I come out of my old clothes of performance and receive the new ones of abiding in Christ."

I loved his comments on prayer. He likened it to a 3-year-old, with arms outstretched, asking her daddy to carry her. He argues for the humility required to pray fervently. "Every day I spend in prayerlessness is a day wasted in pride--a day in which I say to God, 'I got this.'" And we don't hold the results against God. "He's worthy to be praised when breast cancer is cured--and just as worthy when the disease takes a life. We don't follow God for outcomes or for the benefits package; we follow Him because we love Him."

His discussion on Matthew 11:30 ["my yoke is easy; my burden is light"] brings special encouragement to my weary soul. He explains that, in the Greek, these words mean "custom-made." A carpenter measured the yoke to fit a specific ox's neck. "As the Divine Carpenter, Jesus knows you inside and out.... He customizes the yokes and trials of our lives so there's nothing we go through that we cannot handle.... You and Jesus are yoked together. He's in this with you, and there's nothing... you can't handle... in God's amazing love."

As Loritts speaks of why our failure is never final, he focuses on Peter's denial and subsequent use for the kingdom. He talks about our need for fresh, daily grace, and how that should make us gracious with others. Here is where the message hit me between the eyes. Unforgiveness is an affront, a sign of hypocrisy. I have exhibited this very problem and must repent of it. Loritts writes, "The unforgiving 'Christian' puts on a display of arrogance, assuming in their unforgiveness that they are the only ones truly worthy of being forgiven, of receiving God's performance-free love." Oh, how I need repentance.

Our repentance is not, however, to GAIN his love, but is an expression in RESPONSE to his performance-free love. We must be careful not to confuse salvation with sanctification. First, we repent of our sin and seek His forgiveness and His atonement (eternally expunging our sin debt). Then, our further repentance is a process of sanctification. It expresses our desire to become more like Him out of gratitude for the reconciliation we had no hope of attaining on our own. 

Our salvation makes us a child of God. It is an act of adoption that renders us secure. I would never look at my child and say, "That's it! You've gone too far. I no longer love you or call you my son." He is and will always be my son and nothing he does will negate that status. The truly saved do not need to be saved again, and again, and again. Indeed, believing such renders Christ's atoning work as equivalent to the Old Testament covenant sacrifices. (Here it would be good to look at Hebrews 6:4-6 - do we crucify Christ over and over to reclaim our salvation?) No, the saved rest in God's performance-free love and will greet the bridegroom wearing His robes of righteousness, not their own (filthy rags).

Mid-month Mention: Rabbit Room and Poets

 

Perhaps a year ago, I stumbled upon the Rabbit Room Chinwag Facebook group. What a treat! Like-minded creatives and individuals who seek to honor God.

It was here I discovered a poem by Christopher Owen that I appreciate on many levels. I love the rhythm and sound. I appreciate the description of God's intention for His creation and for the glory He will assume when He returns to reclaim us for His kingdom. The poem is called, "This is Beginning to End." Follow the link to watch him recite it because it has a wonderful "spoken word" feel. I sometimes listen to the Button Poetry offerings when they come up on my Facebook feed. How I wish for a Christian equivalent! If there was one, Christopher Owen's poem would fit perfectly. I am with him in his desire for Christ to come quickly! We are waiting!

Randy Edwards is another poet from the Rabbit Room group. He often shares his poetry on his Backward Mutters blog (see the blog for the title's reference). Or find him on Instagram: @backward.mutters - Randy is the pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Kernersville, North Carolina. I immediately fell in love with the first poem I heard him recite, a poem about luck and grace, full of beautiful images with deep meanings:

When Craig Stapleton jumped

Into 8000 feet of space

He thought himself lucky

To do this thing he loved.

But when his parachute

Tangled and twirled?

He fell like some

Lafayette Escadrille

Shot down by the Red Baron.

If he was able to feel

(Let alone think)

More than terror, he knew

His luck had turned.

But when his backup did the same?

He knew it was for the worst,

That he must be the unluckiest

Skydiver on earth.

He hit the flat ground

Of California’s Central Valley

With a splat, doing around

30 miles an hour—

A field where the farmer

Had just tilled the earth

And thought himself the

Luckiest one around

To be catching the rain

At just the right time.

Where water soaked furrows

Swole the clods up like pillows.

When Craig came to his senses,

When he realized

The sound of that splat

Was just the mud? That

This man who’d fallen

In a death-spiral like a winged duck?

When he realized that

He had not died?

But in fact alive and had survived?

It was not Luck he thanked.

It was personal.

Now this don’t mean

Luck ain’t no thing,

Nor that he didn’t feel lucky.

True luck is like grace,

Is an unlooked for blessing

That breaks as a smile on a face

Breaks a fall of certain death

And gives you back

What you’d thought you’d lost

Or worse, had left.

For further exploration, here's an article about the harrowing 8000 foot skydiving fall that prompted this poem's contemplation.

Here's a link to a recitation of another Randy Edwards poem called "The Dragon's Mouth," based on Revelation 12:15. The focus of this year's Bible Study Fellowship is the book of Revelation. I will have to remember to share this poem during the week we discuss chapter 12.

I'm looking forward to hearing more from Christopher Owen and Randy Edwards!

Mid-month Mention: Hope for my Hurting Heart

In the month of July, my heart was gutted. The love of a parent for a child is a bond like no other. If biological, you have not chosen that child; that child was chosen for you by God. The Lord gives an intensity of love upon birth that cannot be rivaled. Yet, that child, chosen by God for you, can also bring an intensity of pain, betrayal, and heartbreak.

I was searching up something entirely different, when I happened upon the scripture writing videos of The Homespun Wife (Sherry M. Hefner) on You Tube. I thought perhaps I might get back into scripture writing. I had used that practice several years ago, but had revamped my morning quiet time without incorporating the writing of scripture. You Tube highlights other videos along the side bar and I noticed one by The Homespun Wife called The Truth About My Son. This video resonated with me. It is also terrifying to me. Despite five years in this, we are at the beginning of our walk with an addict. I feel overwhelmed when I recognize that this journey will probably stretch on for years. Her son was turning 37 a year ago. Ours is on the cusp of his 20s. When I think about decades more of this trial, my heart wants to give up in defeat. But The Homespun Wife's message is one of encouragement:

"You are never abandoned."

 "God is your only hope."

In the scripture writing video, Sherry mentioned her husband's sermon series, challenging his listeners to analyze what things in the world keep them from their calling from God. I immediately thought of my son's addiction and how it has kept me from God's calling on my life to write. I mentally asserted, "I will not let my son's addiction keep me from God's calling on my life to write!" Another sermon asked listeners to list "Lord, I give this brokenness to you: (my son's addiction)." Another one encouraged listeners to write, "I want to please God through: (my prayer life)."

Next, I followed Sherry's You Tube page to discover a new book she has just published called We Have This Hope. Since she already has a huge following on her You Tube channel and Facebook, she will probably do well in getting her book out to the masses. I may purchase it. Mostly, I'm glad I stumbled upon her You Tube channel because her words ministered to my aching heart and reminded me that God has called me for a purpose and I cannot let the trials of this world stand in the way of that calling. I will continue to pray for my wayward son (and others on this painful journey). I have resumed daily scripture writing. You may wish to watch her video about a new scripture writing Facebook group and join that group (although I just learned yesterday that the group is temporarily not taking new members due to the huge response, but I imagine it will open again at some point). If you follow any of these links to The Homespun Wife, I pray her words encourage your souls, too!

"I will be with you as I was with Moses;

I will not fail you or abandon you.

Be strong and courageous! (NLT)

Prayer Update: Importunate Prayers

One thing I loved in P. T. Forsythe's book, The Soul of Prayer, was his insistence that importunate prayer is vitally important. What does the word "importunate" mean? It means "persistent to the point of annoyance or intrusion." The Bible urges us to petition persistently. God encourages and honors importunate prayers. Of course, our persistence relies upon His will and our acceptance that His will occurs in His perfect timing. But, God begs us to lay those precise and persistent prayers at His feet.

I came across an author/pastor named Scott LaPierre. After subscribing to his newsletter, I also happened upon a video of a sermon on importunate prayer that he preached a year ago. If you don't have time to listen, I'll summarize some points I gleaned. LaPierre emphasized we must be persistent and not give up. We must cry out to God day and night, recognizing that we are helpless to remedy our situation and are at the mercy of God's ruling. He cited Romans 12:12 (be constant in prayer), Ephesians 6:18 (pray at all times), and 1 Thessalonians 5:17 (pray without ceasing). Importunate prayer requires a receptive disposition toward God. We may be tempted to lose heart because it is hard work (a spiritual battle), but what a privilege to labor (Romans 15:30 - strive together, enter the fight in prayer to God on my behalf).

I will admit, my husband and I have not always prayed together. When we encountered our prodigal son's path and then entered the pandemic period, it propelled us to concerted prayer together. We don't pray together every day, but when we do, many of our prayers have been importunate prayers. Those we pray on behalf of our sons are perhaps the most importunate prayers of all. We do, indeed, pray for them day and night. We are, indeed, aware we are helpless to remedy the issues that sometimes plague our children. Thus, we surrender to God's timing and ruling in their lives, while begging for His mercy and His grace.

We can grow discouraged. Many things have not changed that desperately need changing. Yet we experienced recent confirmation of the validity of strenuously importunate prayer. We received an answer that blew us away. Despite full belief in God's ability to do the impossible, when it occurs, we cannot help but marvel and praise Him over and over again. Especially so, because so many elements of the answer lined up with the exact precision of our prayers.

Our oldest son is approaching marriage. He and his fiancée have a September wedding planned. Having grown up in the church, my heart ached for them to be married in Christ and to have a minister officiate the wedding. We earnestly prayed that a coworker would invite them to church, that they would go, and they might enjoy attending. We prayed this church would preach solid Biblical encouragement and guidance. We prayed that they might seek righteousness.

A few weeks ago, our son called and outlined some changes occurring in their lives. He said a coworker invited them to church and they've been going for two months. They took the membership class and even asked a pastor to officiate their wedding. That pastor required pre-marital counseling. In the counseling, the pastor confronted their cohabitation, and they agreed to make changes. Our son is splitting his time between two co-workers' homes until after the wedding.

John and I flew to Dallas this past weekend for a brief visit. The highlight of our time was our attendance with them at Eastside Community Church on Mother's Day morning. As we drove in the parking lot, attendants directed traffic. I'll admit, I was concerned it might be a mega-church where they water down God's Word to appeal to "what itching ears want to hear." (2 Timothy 4:3) Instead, we praised God for a powerful sermon with theological depth and a call to action to combat sin in our lives. 

The pastor addressed two weighty concepts: justification and sanctification. He likened it to the house-flipping shows, explaining that when you accept Christ's act on your behalf cancelling your debt of sin, it is justification and is equivalent to God taking ownership of the house (your heart). You now belong to Him. Yet, there is still much work to be done and often we balk at allowing God into the closets of our lives, where we desire to hold on to sin. Sanctification is like the renovation process. God moves in and cleans things out and beautifies them. He talked about how your inclinations and desires change, following Christ's example. He wants us to be holy, as He is holy, but that requires giving up sin that infests our lives.

I loved, too, that he preached from a passage about Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus dynamically altered his life after exposure to Christ. Greed gave way to giving. The pastor emphasized we are called to follow hard after Jesus, not after the crowd. This world encourages you to follow the crowd and its opinions. If you focus on Jesus and His commands, the crowd may call you "judgmental" or "unloving." It is always best to follow Jesus rather than the crowd.

The final blessing was when they passed around communion. After the pastor emphasized that those who have been justified are welcome to take part in communion, my son and his fiancée joined my husband and me in taking communion. God knows their hearts. May they continue to be drawn into deeper relationship with God. May they hunger and thirst for righteousness. May God continue to renovate and sanctify.

Oh, how I needed that affirmation of His ability to answer our laser-specific prayers! We continue to struggle with our prodigal. We plead for wisdom on how to address issues we cannot ignore. The other day I was reading in the Old Testament, the passage about Saul. In 1 Samuel 10:6 it says, "And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou... shalt be turned into another man." (KJV or in NIV it says "you will be changed into a different person.") Verse 9 says, "And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart." That is my prayer for my son. I pray fervently that God might send the Spirit of the Lord to fall upon him and change him into a different person!! We offer audacious prayers, begging God to make him a soul-winner and a minister for the Kingdom. Do it again, God! "Is any thing too hard for the Lord?" (Genesis 18:14) "With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." (Mark 10:27)

Other prayer needs also persist. My mom entered the hospital with internal bleeding they could not address. They reduced it and sent her home, but told my dad to consider contacting hospice. She has grown difficult (at one point, refused to budge and sat down on the ground - because of my dad's heart surgery recovery, he had to call nurses to assist him in getting her up and into bed). For now, hospice comes in once a week to assess her, but at some point, my dad may need to place her in a facility where she can receive round-the-clock care.

My dad was rushed to the hospital earlier this week because of pressure in his heart that made him feel as if it were about to explode. Fearing clots, they placed him on blood thinners. They ended up doing emergency catheterization and placed two stents. In doing this, the doctor determined that all four bypasses have failed. During this time, my mother was in the apartment alone, with nurses checking on her occasionally. Before my sister could arrange to go down, he returned home from the hospital, but we are still awaiting an update on what further steps will be required down the road. It is so hard to be too far away to get there quickly or assist more fully.

Sean also had an episode of heart racing one night (keeping him awake until 2 a.m.). The doctor ran an EKG, but found nothing. However, blood tests said his kidneys were not functioning well. He stopped the NSAID and all supplements and it was back to functioning normally within two weeks. He is in physical therapy for the knee injury.

John has an upcoming follow-up appointment regarding his persistent bulge. I pray we will finally get some answers to this perplexing problem. 

I'll end this encouragement to importunate prayer with two things. First, I encourage you to invite someone to church. You never know. You might help answer someone's importunate prayer. Second, on a lighter note, I'll leave you with a photo of my youngest and his date for prom (another answer to prayer):

Pressing Prayers Follow-up

The need for prayer continues, but here's a brief follow-up to my recent pressing prayers:

My parents - My dad's quadruple bypass heart surgery on February 22nd went well. He had three 99% blockages and one 70% blockage. His continued vitality is a gift to our whole family. My sister went to stay with my mother during the week of his hospitalization. Thankfully, some gracious church members came over for a few hours each day, allowing Dawn to visit my dad in the hospital. He assumed he would be in the hospital for a week and then return fully capable of providing my mother's care.

As Dawn's departure date approached, we realized he could not manage this on his own while recovering from open heart surgery. Thus, I scrambled to schedule a last-minute flight (the most expensive kind, sadly) and I went to provide their care for the second week after his surgery. As Dawn was preparing to leave, she was greatly distressed to learn that their assisted living facility requires a post-surgery stint in a rehabilitation facility. I was extremely grateful for this development. 

He was transported to a rehab facility that is aligned with their community and is only 1/10th of a mile away. Thus, two days after I arrived, I walked my mother over (in her power wheelchair) to his facility, picked him up and walked them back to their apartment, pushing him in a wheelchair (forming a hilarious wheelchair parade) while carefully avoiding ruts in the sidewalk. He had hoped to pay his March rent while home, but the bill had not yet arrived. So, he ended up coming to visit 2 more times before finally returning home for good on the day of my departure.

Given the stress and strain of caring for my Alzheimer's-afflicted mother, I was grateful that he was receiving excellent care separate from the apartment. Believe me, I had my hands full. Plus, I now have an increased awareness and appreciation for all my father does to meet my mother's care needs. Her schedule of meds, meals, bathroom trips, and eye drops was exhausting. We survived several messy challenges and a few Alzheimer-induced episodes of agitation. Humor helped get us through. I had packed slogan t-shirts exclusively. Every few minutes, she asked to read my shirt again. 😂

While I was grateful for the time spent with my mother in their apartment, I was thrilled to return to my quiet, unharried life at home in Indiana with my boy gang. She was cooperative and thankful for my care, for the most part. She did not remember who I was (apart from a few instances when she answered that question correctly), but seemed to sense that I was someone special to her and someone she could rely on to meet her needs. A few times, she said, "You take such good care of me." Twice during the night, when coughing spells would overtake her, I was able to rub her arm and pray with her. The cough went away after both prayers. Praise God! I was also blessed by her reaction to my book. I brought one along with me and read to her the words of dedication, thanking her for her spiritual, emotional, and literary encouragement. She seemed lucid and genuinely touched. When I read her a few of the poems, she responded with appreciation. How much really got in, I don't know. But I tried to communicate that piece.

I believe my mother is at the point of needing the professional, round-the-clock care of an Alzheimer's ward. My father still seems hesitant to make that change. He doesn't want her over-medicated (although, her current meds are already at a level that I struggled with). He wants to give her the comfort of his continued presence. Yet, I think he would still be able to visit with her for a majority of the day, while knowing her more intense needs are met by nursing professionals. I also gained respect for the nurses who provide tireless care. Those who came in to bathe my mother were patient and loving, even as she fought them. 

For me, the most difficult episode came toward the end of my visit. It was already stressful enough because my ride to the airport was scheduled to arrive at 3 p.m. This hinged on my father's anticipated release at 11 (always in question, because those facilities don't often sign you out when expected) and my brother's arrival (driving from KY) at 1 p.m. Thankfully, as hoped, my dad returned around 11 and my brother arrived shortly after noon. Because of prostate issues, my dad was still using a catheter and the line had ruined his few pairs of pants. Thus, at 1:45, he suddenly remembered he wanted Mark to take him to purchase new pants and pick up one of my mother's prescriptions. Within moments, he went from sitting snuggled right next to my mother on the couch, to shuffling out the door and off to the store and pharmacy.

If you've ever encountered an Alzheimer's patient, you know that abrupt changes can trigger agitation. This was agitation on steroids. She did NOT want me there and let me know it with a barrage of vehement words. She resented my not allowing her to go with her "friend." Even though I understood that her verbal attack was simply her Alzheimer's raging, it is hard not to feel emotional in such situations. Then, she grabbed up her walker and threatened to go find her mother. I followed her at a distance and tried to text my dad to request his return. No response. She was about to enter someone else's apartment. I talked her out of that and eventually she tired enough to sit on the hallway bench. Eager to get her back into her apartment, I suggested we look for her mother in her apartment. She went in, closed the door quickly behind her, and locked me out. 

Thankfully, a nurse at the nurse's station unlocked the door and encouraged my mom to sit on the couch. I scrambled to put on her favorite musical, Meet Me in St. Louis (something that always occupies her thoroughly), and avoided any eye contact until Mark and my dad returned (at 2:50 p.m.). When I gave hasty good-byes, my mother looked up with sad eyes and said, "Oh, you have to go???" She had no memory of her intense railing against me. Such is the disease.

Although my dad sailed through the first two weeks of recovery, he is experiencing more fatigue now. His body is working full-time to repair from the invasive surgery. Thankfully, my brother was able to provide assistance for two weeks. We continue to pray for his recovery and the best possible arrangements for care for both of my parents.

Meanwhile, on the home front:

John - At my husband's doctor appointment, the hernia surgeon said it was NOT a hernia, but rather just a weak area in the abdominal wall. Of course, the bulging didn't occur while in the doctor's office. After a few weeks of further bulging and discomfort, John called again and requested further testing. With his prior hernia, 6 years ago, he didn't experience the pain he is having this time around. It continues to bulge and to cause radiating pain in his lower abdomen. He underwent an ultrasound, but that was not helpful in identifying the source of the pain either. For now, he has been told twice now, "Monitor the pain and take a photo when the bulge appears." It is frustrating to have no answers and face continued pain. He now wears a hernia belt, and that helps somewhat. We will persist in praying for God to give the doctors wisdom to ferret out the source of this issue. Our spring visit to Texas is tentatively scheduled in May. Praying we will not have to alter those flight arrangements.

Trevor - In addition to January's loss of Trevor's car, he was experiencing dissatisfaction with his fast food job. Then, in February, he lost his job. This (in addition to his insistence on repairing his beloved car) added further turmoil. We are praising God that he was able to find another job after a few weeks of looking. Now, if we could get the damaged car off our lawn (next to the driveway), it would be marvelous. He has a friend with some mechanical skills and they attempted to replace the part where the wheel bent away from the axle. If they can get that repaired and replace the tire that took the impact of the hit to the bridge, he's hoping (since the car still starts) they will be able to move it into the garage. These challenges have wrought a change in him and we suspect there may be something going on, of which we are unaware. We continue to pray for his job and car situations, and for the sense of responsibility these issues require. We also pray for parenting wisdom as he remains living in our home.

Sean - While I was gone in Florida (assisting my parents), Sean suffered a knee injury after playing basketball with friends. He has joined male volleyball at school, so instead of resting it, he was jumping on it and causing more stress and strain. We finally scheduled a doctor appointment and he was instructed to take an NSAID, stay off the leg for two weeks, and ice it twice a day for a half hour. We continue to pray for the knee to heal properly so he can participate in the rest of the games in the volleyball season. Thankfully, he has not had another episode of accidental almond ingestion.

We praise God that He remains constant and available in every crisis and challenge. May His love guide us through each trial, and may we give Him all the glory!

Book Review: Please Sorry Thanks

Ever since I encountered In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day, I've been a fan of Mark Batterson's books. He turns a clever phrase. He drives home significant points through story. My goal is to become a better person and follow harder after Christ. His books always bolster that goal.

In Please Sorry Thanks, Batterson highlights three words that, when used honestly, can change people, situations, and relationships. We should all make use of these powerful words. As it states on the back cover, "Nothing opens doors like please. Nothing mends fences like sorry. Nothing builds bridges like thanks."

While please and thanks hold importance, for me the most significant passages fell to the word sorry. I appreciated his explanation for three levels of forgiveness: detached forgiveness, limited forgiveness, and full forgiveness. I know my tendency is to jump just far enough to offer detached forgiveness, but that is insufficient. What we need is full forgiveness, and that is only possible with the help of the Holy Spirit. 

I also appreciated the section on sorry because it articulated a difficulty I encountered with our traumatic event in June. He writes, "If someone is grieving, you don't have to solve the situation for them. In fact, you can't.... offer a sincere sorry. Give the gift of tears... of ears." The ones who ministered most effectively offered tears, ears, and prayers. They did so with no accompanying judgment or instruction. Thankfully, God loves us despite our sin and waywardness. Indeed, as Batterson observes, "The love of God is... not contingent upon our performance." And he further articulated something I learn from that trauma, "What God does for us is never just for us, it's always for others."

It is my prayer that I will build on the lessons learned in this book. I want to seek the kingdom success of a giving spirit that serves others. In that endeavor, I plan to implement these three magic words even more in my life. I will pursue with please and apologize sincerely with sorry. I will express gratitude in recognition of the miraculous in my life. Perhaps my words will help change the world. This civility (of please, sorry, and thanks) brings everyone to the table.

Book Review: Praying for My Life

One of my Facebook friends, whose name I drew early in my 2023 Prayer Project, is battling breast cancer. Following her mass removal and reconstruction surgery, she faced a further battle with depression. In seeking to encourage her, I headed downstairs to find a book I could send. I settled on an older devotional I had on hand: Rhythms of the Heart: Readings That Connect Your Mood to God's Word by Shelley Chapin with Joni Eareckson Tada. While scanning my shelves, I also happened upon this book (knowing my mother-in-law's great love of Guideposts, I think this was probably a book she passed along to me at some point).

Praying for My Life: Holding On to God's Promises, No Matter What was written by Marion Bond West (and published by Guideposts). Marion's husband, Jerry, died of cancer, leaving her to raise their four children. The book walks the reader through countless situations demanding relentless faith in God. Marion is an outstanding storyteller. Each chapter held my attention fast and made me reassess the trials I sometimes find overwhelming. The challenging stories of her twin sons left me exhausted. What whirling dervishes! Their antics made my sons look like angels (if you read my blog from the outset, when mine were small, you would know they tested me sorely).

While the twins were a handful in their early years, they were a hurricane of trouble as they hit their teens. Marion struggled to parent effectively. Her grief often stood in the way. Her desire to be used by God also led her to seek opportunities to speak into the lives of others before speaking into the lives of her own sons. By young adult age, they presented tremendous trials. One battled drug addiction and the other manic depression. Yet Marion continued to cling to God's promise of restoration. I appreciated her honesty and vulnerability. She doesn't gloss over her weaknesses or inadequate responses.  

This book aided my current prayer ministry. It reminded me we must pour out our intercession for others because God holds those prayers in golden bowls in heaven (Revelation 5:8 and 8:3-5). But, even more, it spurred on my prayer for my prodigal son. If I read this book for no other reason, the impact of a question on page 74 was worth every page turned. Marion's daughter posed a question that stopped me in my tracks. She asked, "Mother, how do we know that our continual fear and worry isn't a worse sin than being addicted to drugs or whatever?" Ouch!

Are you facing overwhelming odds in some situation of life? Praying for My Life will lift your eyes to One who holds every circumstance in His hands. It will remind you to intercede with urgency. To believe He will repay the years the locusts eat. It will encourage you to pray as if your life depended on it. You will claim these verses in Habakkuk:

"Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places." - Habakkuk 3:17-19 (ESV) 

Book Review: My Jesus

I struggle with change. My experience with this book highlights an example. I happily added my name to the hold list when my library shared about this recent acquisition. Okay, so I love my library's hold options. I love being able to drive up and, long past the initial pandemic necessity, have someone walk my held books out to my car. Thank you! Thank you! 

What I do not love is my library's new card catalog platform. Why mess with a good thing, I ask? I used to be able to see early on if a book had no option for renewal (meaning the hold list is long and the next person is already waiting for their turn). Now, patrons are told how many times they have renewed a book, rather than how many renewals are still available. Thus, you remain in the dark until a few days prior to the due date, when the library sends a notification explaining that a further renewal is not available. I desperately need more than a few day's notice.

So, there I was, facing down the notification email. I had three days to return this book, My Jesus: From Heartache to Hope by Anne Wilson. Thank goodness it is a short, easy read (194 pages). I suppose the key is simple. Check out fewer books and get around to them the moment you bring them home - ha!😉

My Jesus shares the personal testimony of a new Christian recording artist, Anne Wilson. The tragic loss of Anne's older brother, in a car accident, shifted Anne's career trajectory. Her dreams of becoming an astronaut (something my youngest has expressed a vague interest in) faded when a talent scout found a video of Anne singing her funeral contribution, "What a Wonderful Name." Sadly, I was out of the loop on this. (When I still had my van with its broken CD player, I usually listened to Christian radio. Now that I'm in a car with a functioning CD player, I tend to use that time to listen to audio books.) Apparently, Anne's first song, "My Jesus," went to the top of the charts immediately.

If you are seeking a quick and encouraging Christian testimony, this book fits the bill. While the writing is not noteworthy, the story is sincere and inspirational. Of course, as soon as I closed the book (just in time to return it to the library, shwew), I logged on to YouTube and listened to "My Jesus," "What a Wonderful Name," and one other song called "No Place Like Home." They were a great accompaniment to this personal story.

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Now, I wouldn't be averse to a change like this: A library in Colorado has a self-checkout station where you can select the language for your receipt. One option is "Pirate" language. This is how the receipt prints out:

(Photo from Carole O'Brien on Facebook)

January's Traveling Mercies and Memories

In late December/early January, my sister proposed a joint trip to visit our parents (who live in assisted living in Largo, Florida). I had not been down to see them since my father's January 2020 fall, when he broke his arm while they were still living in their own house in Pinellas Park. Over these past three years, I have been grateful that the Lord has provided protection and care for them in this stellar facility, Cypress Palms. They receive wonderful meals, excellent fellowship and stimulation, and regular assistance for daily needs. My parents love it there, and I am thrilled to know someone is always near if they need help.

I think my reluctance to visit stemmed from a pandemic-induced discomfort with flying. Add in the December breakdown of Southwest (my preferred airline, because they fly non-stop) and I was still very hesitant to make the trip. But I longed to see my parents (and my sister) enough to brave the difficulties associated with travel. Then, I decided, if I'm getting on a plane to visit my folks, I might as well get on one additional plane and stretch the trip out with a visit to my oldest son, Bryce. January isn't the most appealing month to travel, but it was cheaper than waiting for March or April. Facebook friends I was praying for asked if they could return the favor by praying for me, so I mentioned my anxiety over my upcoming trip. Thanks to their intercession and God's gracious hand, the trip went almost without a hitch.

My Southwest flight from Indy to Tampa left bright and early on January 24th and evidence of God's hand surrounded the experience. On the return drive from dropping me at the airport, my husband said he saw a huge bottleneck of traffic on the other side (the one leading to the airport). We just missed this mess, and I made my flight with enough time to fit in my morning prayers (for my FB people). When I arrived in Tampa, I was prepared to wait for my sister's Dallas flight to arrive a few hours later, however her initial Lubbock flight was still on the runway, enduring 5 full hours of de-icing attempts. It was clear she wouldn't arrive soon, and I didn't want to drag my dad out with my mother to the airport twice. I had searched for alternative options just the day before and happened upon an express bus that could get me all the way to the Largo Ulmerton Road Park and Ride. Just as I found the 300x bus stop, the bus pulled up, and I made a snap decision to climb aboard. You can't beat the 300x bus! For $2.25, I was on my way to Largo!

My parents were at lunch, so I walked to the Wendy's next door and purchased my lunch while waiting for them to come for me. During that first day's visit, a routine played out again and again. My mother, seeing me sitting in their living room, would say, "Oh, what's your name?" I'd answer, and she'd reply, "I have a daughter named Wendy." We would point out that I am that daughter and she would smile and say, "Oh, you are? I love you!" Five to ten minutes on, it would repeat. Thankfully, she wasn't all that ruffled by our visit. I had feared we would overwhelm her, especially with two of us interloping into their territory. When Dawn's two flights finally landed her in Tampa, she took the 300x, and I stayed with my mother while my dad ran to pick Dawn up from the park and ride lot.

Dawn had already expressed some concern about my 4-5 a.m. waking time, which is 3-4 a.m. for her body clock. However, we stayed in a lovely hotel, Home 2 Suites, with a perfect room set-up so that my early morning rising didn't bother her. I so appreciated the curtain dividing the room.

On Wednesday, after a brief morning visit, we left to find lunch and to shop for some clothes my dad wanted Dawn to purchase for my mom. We landed at an outstanding Mexican restaurant, Los Magueyes Mexican Grill, in Largo. I highly recommend it if you are ever in Largo! My chicken and spinach quesadilla (with the accompanying salad, sour cream, and guacamole) was packed full and so delicious that we determined to return (Friday) for another meal before our 3-day visit was done.

By the time Friday, our departure date, rolled around, my mother was remembering us a bit more. During her afternoon scheduled bathing time, we drove to Clearwater Beach to see the ocean. Although we didn't have time to do more than snap a few photos, it was lovely.

My parents then took us to the Tampa Airport. My American Airlines Tampa to Dallas-Fort Worth flight went well, and Bryce was there waiting for me in the pickup lanes. He wanted to take me to a Mexican restaurant in Rockwall, TX, on the waterfront, but since I'd already had Mexican twice, he settled on an interesting restaurant/bar with plates adorning the walls and ceiling (Flying Saucer on the Lake).

Saturday we went to Bryce's girlfriend's parents' house in Plano, Texas, for a delicious brunch, where I met Elizabeth's parents, grandparents, and an aunt and uncle. Then Elizabeth and Bryce whisked me off for an intensive walking tour of Dallas - ha! Well, I don't think they intended a walking tour, but it was quite a bit of walking for me. We drove to the Sixth Floor Museum (getting a view of the spot of J.F.K.'s assassination). Then, we walked across Dallas to the Immersive Monet Experience. (On our way, they stopped to show me the giant eye - a landmark:)

I had wondered about the immersive experience when the Van Gogh one came to Indianapolis, but found no one to accompany me. Although I was pretty sure you were supposed to walk through the rooms, we stayed put in the first room for an entire cycle of the experience. My favorite part was a section paired with a shortened version of Ravel's Bolero. As we attempted to depart from the curtained door where we had entered, an attendant explained and then we walked through the other rooms to see various methods of experiencing the show.

Next, they wanted to give me a good view of the city, so we went in search of the Petroleum Club in the Chase Building (Elizabeth's father could get us permitted entrance) but discovered, upon arrival (and after much walking) that the Petroleum Club had recently moved to their new building. We walked to that building, but it was closed (although we saw an interesting pendulum swinging in the entrance area). So, we departed and trekked to our dinner location in the interesting Klyde Warren Park, a park built right over the Woodall Rodgers Freeway. The park looked like a fabulous place to bring children - interesting climbing and play structures. We dined at Mi Cocina (yes, Mexican again, but no complaints from me) and called an Uber to take us back to the Sixth Floor Museum parking lot. I was exhausted, but full of fond memories.

Sunday morning, Bryce and Elizabeth wanted to watch the Purdue basketball game, so we went to The Ice House, intending to sit outdoors and view it on the overhead screens. Alas, it was absolutely arctic that morning, so we retreated indoors. I had a delicious BLT and mostly listened to the conversation between Bryce, Elizabeth, and her parents instead of watching the game. From there, we went back to Elizabeth's parent's house and played several rousing hands of Monopoly Deal while watching a few football games. 

On the drive back to Bryce's apartment, I received a text saying they had cancelled my Monday morning flight and re-booked me on the 8 p.m. flight. This was alarming news since they expected an ice storm to begin sometime on Monday or Tuesday. Thankfully, Bryce's workplace closed down early for the day and he drove me to the airport. Despite cancellation of 2/3rds of all flights out of Dallas Love's Field, my 8 p.m. flight took off as scheduled and I landed in Indianapolis at 11 p.m. that night. If I hadn't been able to catch that flight, Bryce would have been stuck with me until Friday since the ice storm lasted 3 days (thankfully, Bryce could work from home). While it was a good trip, full of excellent visits with loved ones, I so appreciate getting home and back into my routines (especially my prayer routine, disrupted the day we walked all over Dallas and made up the following day with an extra prayer slot).