My sister

... are there words to describe her?

She is... my sister

She is always there.  Always with an open heart.  Wanting to grow with me.  Showing her love through simple actions.

Working together during this burdensome time has been beautiful to me.  My lovely sister has been... my sister.  In the truest form.  

How can that simple word be so beautiful to me?

Because Jesus placed us in this place.  He is intertwining our hearts.

Every day... in every meal that we prepare...

In ways I never imagined. 

I love you Emma.

[and Happy Birthday you 20-year old today!!!!!]

Blessing

We were baptized last week,

All seven of us,

Beneath the water of a Texas lake,

Rejoicing beneath the wonder of God's grace.

The Lord is filling our lives with blessing.

Yes... with sorrow, and anxiety, and fear for the future.

But also with blessing.

Loved ones have coming from across the country to visit us and help us.  

People call and write, and send their love.  

I cannot begin to express my gratitude 

for all of the thoughts and prayers sent our way. 

 Thank you!  

We are blessed beyond measure.

And every evening we rest, beneath the spell of spirit-led music, 

touched by the warmth God is covering us with,

 folded tightly against his peace, 

finding it is best to be still.

He is leading us.... and he is blessing us.

For more updates on Mom's condition and progress, visit the new blog... Bless Bonny.

I Don't Know What To Say

My fingers rest over the keys, wanting to speak, wanting to share....

But afraid, somehow, of speaking the words.

But I do want to share.  I want to tell you.



My mother has cancer.



There, I said it.  It is a rare form, a form the doctors aren't sure how to treat, and it has spread far and wide.


My world should be falling apart.  Truly it should.

But it is not.  It is not.  I'm am held tight in the hands of God.  As surely as the sun will rise tomorrow, I shall rise tomorrow.  As surely as the sun will set, I will lie down and be at peace.

Listen to our latest song.  It is the song of my heart.

They can't stop me, they can't rob me, of this peace You've overflowed.  They can't drown me out.  They can't stop this sound.  No. No. No.

Pray for us.  Pray for my Mom, that her pain will fade, and she will find rest, that she will not fear.  Pray that we will be given peace, and the courage to trust.

-Emma & Johanna

Thinking of Mother...

and the blessing of her love...

Of her heart, of her tireless efforts

and passionate pursuit...

Of showing us God's heart

And teaching us his way

And making us his.

Our thoughts are on our mother,

and our hearts press prayers toward heaven.

Dear God, in all things, let your will be done.

-Emma and Johanna

Just Because

Because I have been neglecting you, dear friends... and because a picture is worth a thousand words.

Perhaps, when my world has stopped spinning,

Round, and round, and round,

I shall take a moment,

And tell you more.

Twilight

There is a certain magic in twilight

In the hour just before the dark of night 

Lays its hands firmly over the earth,

In the smoky dusk of the falling day,

In the remembrances of what lies behind us

In preparing for what stands ahead.

It takes a certain strength to live this life,

To push aside the hands that scramble to bar our way,

To release the moisture that wells inside our eyes,

To let our hearts go.

Twilight is the place for that,

Just before the darkness falls,

Just before the candle we hold before us

Is snuffed out...

And we are left with our hands held out

To grasp the arms of God

The sunlight, warm against our backs...

The darkness, its whisper against our faces like a gift.

Because we know, that there 

In the darkness,

In the very depths of our solitude,

In the midnight of our fears,

We will find Him.

And we will love Him

More than we ever have before.

To All of Texas

Dear Texans,

Tomorrow is day beyond importance.  Tomorrow, those of us who are old enough, will leave our homes, and enter our polling places, and press down our vote for the future of our state.

The race for governor in the state of Texas has been a unique one, moving from mediocre to exhilarating in the space of a few months.  A David has risen up from out of nowhere, a David to fight two Goliaths.

It isn't often that I voice my political views, but, dear friends, if you are a Texan, and you are a registered voter, stand up, raise your head, and take a stand for freedom.  Please, vote for Debra Medina.

Some may have never heard of her.  Some may have heard too much, due to the recent hype over her interview with Glenn Beck.  For both, please, look again.  Dig a little deeper.  

Debra is a registered nurse who home-schooled her children and is hugely involved in her church and her community.  She understands what it means to be a citizen of Texas.  She will fight for our rights.  She uphold the truth of the constitution, and bring the government of Texas back to what it was meant to be.

Governor Perry has mentioned repeatedly, during the campaign, that Texas is doing better than any other state in the Union, proudly, trying to prove his ability to continue as our Governor.  Debra Medina's response laid the situation out beneath the light.

"No one is proud to be standing 

on the high end of a sinking ship."

So please, before you make your decision, before you are swayed by friends and media, look for yourself. Listen for yourself, and give Texas a chance at freedom.

Click here to view Debra during the Texas Gubernatorial Debate.

In all sincerity,

Emma