We went out Saturday night, just us girls and we had a great time. We walked along the beach and then had pizza. And I realized again that as women, we have so much to offer each other - so much experience to share. I felt that we were able to really minister to each other and I am so thankful for these godly women.

I watched the images of the destruction in Japan with tears that wouldn't stop falling. Weird for me. I am very good at delegating emotions to where they are easiest to deal with. Big stuff gets put somewhere that's not too close because I can't feel that much or I might break - I have to carry on with my life. But this time I couldn't dismiss it - couldn't stop the pain. Maybe its the child inside of me - maybe I was already emotional because Jonathan was gone, but ultimately I think it was a gift of the Holy Spirit - to share in some of the pain God feels.

It is always short-lived, this grief for tragedy far away, and maybe it has to be in order to go on with life and to deal with all these little tragedies in peoples lives around me.

And now that I am a few days removed from those feelings, now that I am able to talk about it and to put the feelings away as necessary, what I am left with is this: I know that Satan is very serious in his attempts to destroy - shouldn't I be just as serious in my own life - in my own attempts to save and to heal and to minister? There's just not enough time to do what we've always done. And while my husband is across the ocean trying to push home this truth to people in England, God is teaching me here.

I had a brother. He was born in June. He died 19 years ago in March, when I was 8. I can't remember ever crying for him - ever grieving, until this morning when I realized he would be 32 years old if he were still here. 32. He died when he was 13. I guess I didn't realize before what I had lost: and older brother.

It's worth some grieving.

We took a little President's weekend trip down south and decided to take along some friends. We had a great time, as you can see. Jaedon learned he was a talented fisherman (he did indeed catch that fish, not only the biggest one, but he also caught the most), Zari discovered a love affair with trampolines, they both got to feed some baby goats and discovered the joy of porch swings. And I enjoyed all this right along with them - realizing how blessed my little Ellie is to have such a place to visit Mawmaw and Pawpaw. And how very blessed she will be to have such a father. He is absolutely amazing with these children; he is so patient and always willing to play with them, to teach them new things, and to out-stubborn their stubborness if need be :)