Blackberries, Prayers, and Vacations

Blackberry season is here! We celebrated the rich ripe sweetness with plenty of picking, followed by a hot date night with my husband and I making jam, and canning it. (while our kids were at a friends' house)

In the midst of the fun of the weekend, which included a get together with friends, a wedding, blackberry fun, and a going away blessing party, we also had many prayers on our hearts.

Dear, sweet friends of ours are undergoing a major storm in their lives. Their sweet seven-year-old daughter (who also has a rascally sense of humor) underwent surgery today to be fitted with a halo. She'll be in traction for six weeks, and then undergo a more major surgery - one that has only been performed 5 times in the world, and she'll have three surgeons working on her during that time. Our friends need marjor support in prayer, in presence, and in just dealing with the every day mess, and bills. The mom in the family will live with her daughter at the hospital, while the Dad works, and the older brother goes to school. Grandparents are marshalling their support, along with friends.

You may remember that our church sent a family to Disneyland . . . this is that family.

So we have been praying a lot for them, and we know they need more ongoing prayers.

In addition to that, we have friends who are moving away, accepting a Pastoral call and a family call to a ministry in Post Falls, Idaho. We have known them, and considered them sweet, good friends for 10 years, and it is really hard to say Godspeed. We'll keep in touch, but it won't be the same. Our lives have been inter-connected for so long that although we are excited for the blessings they are receiving, we are also saddened by the fact that we won't see them at least once a week.

Today, we transition in one more way . . . we are going on a mini-vacation tonight, with my parents in charge of the house, dogs, and cat. We are excited to have one last splash of summer before school starts. However, intermixed with all of the joy is the ongoing concern and prayer for our friends.

So, it's blackberry season. Sweet fruit, big thorns . . . all mixed together like life.