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• joy

Tears welled to overflowing as my friend gently laid her newborn son into a blanket for swaddling. I had no words, but my meager attempt at capturing the moment came out as a choked, “I am so happy for y’all.” We hugged and both teared up again.
Baby J is here!
For years, we have prayed, waited, wrestled, cried, questioned, and trusted. And now, Baby J is here! He is home. And he is loved more than his newborn self can begin to comprehend. That’s okay, he has a lifetime to soak it up and figure it out.
Adoption. Have you delighted in the depth of love that your adoption entails?
“...but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Rom. 8:15)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. (Eph. 1:3-6)

• joy

Today is my dad’s 64th birthday. And back in October, we weren’t sure if he was going to make it to this day. Meningitis, sepsis, pneumonia, encephalitis and a small stroke. Yes. All of those things (any one of which is serious enough!) wracked his body for three days in which he was unconscious.
To see my dad today, you would never know what happened in his body less than six months ago. His healing has been miraculous. His recovery has been slow and steady (after a forced medical sabbatical which has transitioned to early retirement).
Here’s a list of the many things we are thankful for, all of which allow us to delight in family and the blessing of the Great Physician who gives life and gives it back again.
• Mom was at home when the illness turned into “the worst headache he has ever had.”
• The hospital is only 1 mile from their house.
• The ER attendants got him in a bed and attended to immediately.
• Unity Health (aka White County Hospital) 3rd floor West nurses and doctors stayed on top of dad’s care.
• Mom’s and my health/stamina were sustained long enough to diligently keep dad from tangling himself in the IV tubes, allowing him to receive the much-needed, high-dose antibiotics.
• My sister Kim came in and rotated shifts with us so we could get a shower and a nap.
• My sister Chrys and Harrison drove down from Denver to cook, hug, and advise (with Harrison’s EMT training and personal experience).
• My sister Jenn prayed, called, and worked on her own recover from sinus surgery just a few days before, wishing she could be there physically.
• Dr. David Hatfield, a former classmate of dad’s and excellent ENT, counseled, advised, and treated dad, helping us wrap our heads around the fact that much of this may have started from an aggressive ear infection.
• Other friends and church family cooked meals, washed sheets, walked the dog, prayed, listened, and supported in all manner of ways.
The journey is not over. And we continue to pray for complete healing in dad’s brain. But we delight in the opportunity to celebrate another birthday with him!
Thanks be to God and to the tireless support of many. And thank you for delighting with us!
Happy birthday, dad.