July's 10 on 10

10 pictures on the 10th day of the month (Friday). {Document a snapshot 

of your life; find beauty among the ordinary things in your day!}

This month, the 10th was a hard, sad day, celebrating the life of our friend who finally got to be with Jesus. These three years of sickness and treatments and decline have been tough and there are so many more challenges up ahead for his wife and five children. Its been an honor to walk the journey with them and its been beautiful to witness our church community love and support them all these years. God made us for relationships and we need each other.

Knowing it was going to be a difficult day, I wanted be sure to not skip my life-giving morning routines.

God welcomes our doubts and questions and fears.

Amy and I hung out "back stage" with our kids, who were supporting their friends, one Amanda's age, one Aiden's age. So heartbreaking to see them walk through something like this so young.

Pastor Eliezer and Casey did such a beautiful job with the service.

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9 

Without the hope of heaven, this would all feel so final. 

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, 

and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:6 

There is a really great group of 10/11 year old boys at our church. They were all very purposeful in "being there" for their friend.

From the reception, we went to the orthodontist for Amanda's long-awaited day...braces! :)

Wow, was I so thankful to get home to this guy (he and Avery both streamed the service to keep the crowd count down). I was able to download and process some of the day with him, just like we regularly do. We both shoulder some "survivor's guilt", thinking it unfair that we still have each other when that's not the way it ends for so many others. We are intentional about turning the guilt into gratefulness.

I dropped the girls at youth group. They register ahead of time, bring their own chair, wear a mask and sit six feet apart. But they are together.

I went grocery shopping and came home to these boys quite proud of themselves for making THE best smoothies.

Crossword puzzle time.