When we first found out about Carmen’s disease, I remember thinking that life was going to be on hold for the next few years, which bothered me tremendously. Recently, I’ve begun to realize that our lives are not on hold; they are simply in focus.

On hold.

In focus.

There seems to be a subtle difference between the two. I choose and prefer “in focus”.

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In honor of Lana’s 33rd birthday (tomorrow, November 7th), I am sharing 33 things about her that I absolutely love and appreciate. Here they are, in no particular order:

1. She has a heart full of compassion
2. She has a smile that lights up a room!
3. She is smart
4. She is caring
5. She is unmaterialistic
6. She is a great cook
7. She is an excellent mother and wife (not just because she is a great cook…although that certainly helps!)
8. She does whatever it takes to get through
9. She is family-oriented
10. She is studious, unrelenting until she finds the answer to her question/challenge
11. She is not afraid to say, “I am sorry”
12. She has great hair
13. She is determined
14. She is empathetic toward others
15. She is sensitive
16. She has beautiful blue eyes
17. She is loyal
18. She is a really great friend (in part, because she is so loyal)
19. She has amazingly soft skin
20. Her growing photography skills
21. She is humble
22. She has some pretty cool nicknames: at-Lana Braves, Lana Banana
23. She loves God
24. She is a great role model
25. She is more interested in others than herself
26. She is a wonderful conversationalist
27. She is a listener…although she can certainly talk your ear off too!
28. She is gentle and makes her southern heritage shine
29. She is grounded (present-focused)
30. She is adaptable
31. She is supportive
32. She has a really cool blog (and occasionally even lets me write on it…just kidding!)!
33. She loves me even though she knows me!

Here is a picture of Lana that Lauren took recently:

I love you Lana! Happy Birthday.

What do you love and appreciate about Lana?

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It’s nearing 3 AM EST. I should be about 3 hours from DC. Instead, I sit…tiredly awaiting my flight home from LAX. One thought has consumed my mind for the past 3 hours, when I found out that my flight would be delayed by at least an hour and a half: “Lauren is going to be SO disappointed if I don’t make it home for her singing at school tomorrow morning. I really hope and pray that I make it. I really hope they don’t cancel my flight.”

What are you hoping for right now?

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I read an interesting article in Relevant Magazine on the flight to LA on Sunday. While it was directed at Christians, I think it applies equally to all. Here are portions of the article:

Many Christians traditionally have voted Republican because of their justifiable conviction to protect the lives of the unborn. Now, many younger Christians are voting Democrat because of their justifiable desire to see our nation, the most prosperous in the world, address issues of poverty, global aid and the environment.

The problem is, many Christians vote these convictions, but that’s largely where their personal involvement in the issues stops… If God has given you a heart for the poor, or to see a reduction in the number of abortions, or to promote peace, or to help the sick…then your personal focus needs to be on that — whether or not the president shares your same values.

Later in the article, author Cameron Strang added:

If you have a passion for an issue, rather than judging someone who doesn’t share that passion or viewpoint, just go do something about it. Give your life to it. Be the change you want to see.

We need to pray for our leaders and our country, but always remember that our leaders and country do not define us. We are the generation that will shape the direction culture, government and social action will take in the next 50 years… I say it’s time we step up and lead the charge.

But that means with our lives, our finances and our actions every day. Not just on Nov. 4.

Again, this article was directed at Christians but I think it probably applies to most Americans. It certainly applies to me and got my attention! Without getting too political here, what do you think?

Article content reprinted with permission from Relevant Magazine, Issue # 35, Page 6, written by Cameron Strang.

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The truth is, I’ve been terribly busy over the past month. Work has demanded far more of my time than there are minutes in the day. This week I have to go to California to help kick-start several projects. I am scheduled to fly out tomorrow so I’ll be there Monday morning. And that triggered a conversation between my boss and me yesterday morning. It went something like this.

Boss (who is also supposed to be going to California): I can’t get a direct flight to San Diego on Sunday so you are going to have to go alone. I’ll fly out Monday night and meet you there Tuesday morning.
Me: That’s fine.
Boss (about five minutes later): I can’t get a direct flight into San Diego at all this week.
Me: Why don’t you have <assistant name> switch my flight (I already had a flight booked) and you take mine. I’ll fly into Los Angeles and drive down to San Diego.
Boss: Oh, well if you are going to fly into LA, I’ll fly with you. I just didn’t want to drive down by myself.
Me: That’s fine but you are going to have to go to church with me on Sunday night.
Boss: What kind of church is it?
Me: Don’t worry. You’ll like it.
Boss: OK. Is it a Bible church?
Me: It’s unlike any church you’ve probably ever been to. Don’t worry. You’ll like it.

                                                                              …

About this same time tomorrow night, I should be leaving the Mayan Theatre in downtown LA. This is where Mosaic, a church “Community of Faith, Hope and Love”, meets every Sunday evening. When I have to travel to California, which thankfully isn’t very often, this is where I go to church.

I do not like travelling without Lana and the girls. But I have to be honest, I am a little bit excited about this trip. My boss thinks I am trying to convert her. I think God is simply trying to get her attention.

Please keep the girls in your prayers this week.

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In the next few weeks, we are going to introduce two new series of posts to help you get to know us a little better and help us get to know you a little better. This is the introduction to the first series, what we’re calling “You Ask, We Answer”. In short, you can ask us any questions you want. We will review your questions and periodically pick one to answer.

You may have seen this type of series if you follow blogs like Whittaker Woman (click here for an example). Our spin on this is that Lana and I will both address the same questions. You’ll get two different responses and occasionally two very different perspectives of the same topic.

Oh, and just in case you are wondering, the second upcoming series will be, “We Ask, You Answer”. More to come in a few weeks or so.

So…what do you want to ask us?

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About two years ago, I was making coffee and Lauren asked if she could have some of it. “Sure,” I said, thinking that one tiny sip would cure her for at least the next ten years. Well, it didn’t quite work out the way I planned.

“Mmmmm! Daddy’s coffee is GOOOD!”

Since then, it’s become a bit of a ritual, mostly on weekends. I start making coffee. Lauren asks if she can help. Of course she can. She loves to stir the creamer swirls until they are gone. When we are finished, she takes a sip or two.

Here are a couple of recent pictures. I tried something a little bit different with the first one, bumping up the contrast quite a bit. Not sure if it works but Lauren approved (in fact, she helped me prepare them to post).

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While looking for an old picture of Lana to respond to her “Best Meal Ever” post, I found the following in our files. As I understand it, Lana’s dad made it as part of her high school graduation invitation.

Here it is in text in case you cannot read the picture:

The Weaver
My life is but a weaving, between my Lord and me.
I cannot choose the colors. He worketh steadily.
Oftimes He weaveth sorrow, and I in foolish pride…
Forget He sees the upper and I the underside.
Not till the loom is silent and the shuttles cease to fly,
Shall God unroll the canvas and explain the reason why.

Anonymous

I really do believe that God uses pain and sorrow as well as joy and good times to shape us and form our character. In a million years, we would have never asked for a child who is terminally ill. Yet, we really do love Carmen and she has opened our eyes to see the beauty of the imperfect (although it’s not like the rest of us are perfect).

Your turn. How has God used sorrow to mold you and shape you?

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We receive a lot of packages in the mail, anything from cases of Nutren Jr. (Carmen’s food), boxes of 1 ml, 5 ml and 10 ml syringes, medicine refills from Hospice and all kinds of other medical supplies.

An interesting package “arrived” the other day. Take a look!

Have you received anything interesting lately?

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I’ve known how great Lana is for quite awhile now. But to see her on the same list as CS Lewis and Esther surprises even me!

Here are writers 3-5 on Nicole’s current reading list:

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