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Nine and Counting

Yesterday - September 14th - marked the 9th anniversary of Matt's stroke. It's really hard to fathom...nine years. Of course the years fade some of the memories and it does seem like forever ago (a lifetime, really) and yet...
Can it really be nine YEARS!?! It's so incredible to me that time is marching on and we find ourselves nearing the golden years of our 30's.  It's really crazy to me...and yet...
I feel like our 30's have been amazing - our best years. While they have brought us unimaginable changes and challenges - they have also brought us indescribable blessings. I look back over these past 9 years and I’m amazed at how wonderful they have been – despite all we’ve endured. We have traveled to many fantastic places; we have spent countless evenings laughing through tears with loving friends; we have shared meals and holidays surrounded by the loving warmth of our families; we have exchanged heartfelt hugs with our church family; we’ve seen the birth of special children in our lives; we’ve experienced incredible generosity from people near and far…the list goes on and on. While these past 9 years have had their share of grief and sadness mixed in – we feel overwhelmingly blessed.
I guess, it would be so easy to feel sad on anniversary number 9…and who’s to say how I’ll feel on anniversary number 10 (although I suspect a big ‘ol party may be in order)…or anniversary number 15 for that matter. But for now, I feel…good. Grateful. Full, in general, of good things. Matt and I are lucky, very lucky indeed, to find ourselves where we are on anniversary number 9.  And I thought it warranted a pause to acknowledge that.







Oh my, there are countless sad stories all around me right now…friends and family and strangers who are suffering losses greater than mine. I wish I could bring peace to you all. I wish I had answers to why things are as they are. I wish I had magic words or hands to make things right.  All I can say is what I’ve felt…since September 2005.  Whatever happens, no matter what, I will have what I need to get through it. That is, perhaps, the biggest blessing of all. And we certainly try not to take it for granted!

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