June 28, 2010

Garrett had a good Sunday and a good checkup on Monday. There's no significant changes either way with his heart function,but one valve seems to be working a little better today, which makes this post very difficult to write. I want to sound excited that the weekend didn't cause any lasting issues but Garrett, and the whole family, took another kick in the guts this morning. Garrett’s cousin Noah was found dead this morning by his father. Noah, in his mid 20’s, was like a big brother to Garrett and the brother of Levi, Garrett’s cousin who is in stage 4 cancer. We don’t know a lot right now, we’re just trying to wrap our arms around this latest fork in the trail. It's hard to comprehend. Kathy basically helped raise these boys and they are as close with us and any family we have. She is absolutely devastated.

As could be expected, the entire family is ripped to the core right now. Kathy and Garrett came down and we spent the day with the family trying to make sense out of a senseless loss. To lose Noah so suddenly for no apparent reason, in the midst of Levi and Garrett’s battles has truly rocked us back on our heels. Many are asking what more we have to endure. I’m seeking the words to try and explain to Garrett and Jessi. The words are hard to find. They love their Noah deeply. We all do.

Please keep Noah, his folks and his brothers in your prayers. We hold firmly to the belief that God’s plan is a perfect plan. There has to be a reason. I will wake tomorrow and ask my Lord how I can serve him this day. I will not secede from my mission, but I honestly have more questions than answers right now. We will do everything we can to completely give this to the Lord and pray for some sense of peace in this chapter of the journey. We can never forget Christ's words to us when he said to "deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow Me." By the Grace of God, we're trying. The void left by this loss will be palpable.

JD