Last Night

Last night I sat down to write about meeting Levi. I want to write down our story before I forget any more of the precious little details. Of course I have our story written in various journals as it was happening...but I wanted to have it in one place, all at once.  And as I was writing, I began to sob.

I met Levi on the day I moved to Eugene for college. And for some reason, I was flooded with all of the emotions that came from that move. The heartbreak, the anguish, the excitement, the anticipation.

Maybe it's because I'm pregnant and hormonal.

Maybe it's because my little brother is turning 22 tomorrow, and I was already feeling pretty nostalgic and sentimenal about that.

Maybe it's because we found out yesterday that a man that was very, very influencial in helping Levi turn his life around, clean up, live for Jesus, and who taught him very important life lessons, passed away.

I'm not sure.

But this morning, there's a big lump in my throat that won't go away.

I never got to meet Chuck....but I know how much he meant to Levi. And I'm so grateful to Jesus for using him in Levi's life. I know that a huge part of the man Levi is today is because of Chuck. My heart is broken for Chuck's family...for his wife and eight sweet children. I couldn't imagine losing my daddy or my husband.  I'm so very grateful that Jesus has preserved my family this far. I'm also so very grateful that Chuck is finally healed.  Chuck had been dealing with cancer this past year, and from my understanding these last few months have been very, very rough. Oh sweet Jesus, Holy Spirit the Comforter, please come...



Promise me you'll always remember:
You're braver than you believe,
stronger than  you seem,
and smater than you think.

-A.A. Milne