Several friends have told me lately that I just have to take time to listen to the testimony of a woman named Rachel Barkey. I now know why.

If you just passed Rachel on the street, you would have no idea the turmoil and suffering she is facing. Rachel is a beautiful woman who is a wife and a mother of two children. After fighting with cancer for over 4 years, she has now been diagnosed with terminal cancer and is not expected to live to see her 38th birthday.

Several weeks ago, Rachel shared a message with a group of women entitled “Death is Not Dying: A Faith that Saves.”
As quoted on the Girl Talk Blog...Many people have asked Rachel, “Why? Why is this happening to you? To Neil? To Kate and Quinn? To your family and friends?”

“I don’t ask ‘why?’” says Rachel. “Because I know.”

Please watch or listen and learn what Rachel knows.

I have been deeply impacted by Rachel's hope and joy in the Lord through Jesus Christ, her Savior. Although I have not personally suffered with cancer, I have lost a brother I love and I have walked with others through painful trials and I am confident that there is no other way to explain such peace in the midst of suffering other than the power of God, imparting eternal hope and genuine joy through the gospel. What amazing grace is ours through Jesus Christ! We don't have to minimize our sufferings in order to make him great. In the face of real, deep, intense suffering, He is our peace, our joy, our hope, our salvation.

If you do not yet have peace with God through Jesus Christ, or, if you don't even think you need a personal relationship with Jesus Christ in order to have peace with God, please take a moment to visit Two Ways To Live to learn more about the most crucial decision you will ever make.

My Sweet Pappy

This picture was taken back in August 08 as we were able to stop by for a short visit on our way to Maryland.

My sweet Pappy (my mom's dad) has been in the hospital for 3 weeks now. To not go into too much detail ... he has been having heart trouble, has been in and out of consciousness and has lost oxygen to his brain which has resulted in having much difficulty even being able to talk or to swallow on his own. It has been very sad for me as I would so love to be able to be there with them during this time ... but they’re in South Carolina and I'm in Maryland … I am resting in the Lord’s wisdom and in the boundary lines He has set for me. (Psalm 16) I’ve written him and was just able to talk over the speaker phone to him today for the first time. I broke down crying towards the end because it is hard to hear him struggling like he is. Gratefully, he knows our Savior and so there is comfort and peace even in this time of trial.

I've heard, which I'm not surprised about, :) my Pappy has been very joyful and sweet during this whole time of trial. Even though he's been unable to talk well, he's been making everyone laugh by doing his silly forehead trick and just by being his sweet self.

We would be so grateful for your prayers...for healing for my Pappy and for comfort and rest in our Savior during this trial.

One of the main scriptures that has been precious to me through this time is Psalm 23:
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever."

Joshua

He's learning and growing so fast!


I can't remember what we had going on this day but Joshua missed his nap and was so sleepy, he started falling asleep at the dinner table. What a precious little boy we have! We just had to take a video of him and laugh a bit before putting him straight to bed. :)

Happy 1st Birthday Caleb & Tyler!

Yesterday was Tyler & Caleb's 1 year Birthday! Here are several short clips from their party. We celebrated early so that my mom could watch them smash their cakes in their faces while she was still in town visiting. (on the video's Tyler is on the left and Caleb is on the right) We thought Caleb would be the one to down the cupcake first but it turns out that Tyler is the carrot cake lover. :)

What is Joshua up to these days?

Still loving music!

He loves playing the piano!

And a new favorite...chasing down the ice cream truck with Daddy. :) If you can't hear it in the video, Aaron says, "Ahh, just like I remember it."