A day for celebration

Today our hearts and minds are elsewhere. We are celebrating two big occasions in spirit. Jack Thomas Hufty turns one today and we are so happy to be a part of it, at least in thought. The Hufty's helped pull us through the most difficult time in our lives. They were with us for the day-to-day NICU life. Our older boys became friends and playmates and we were able to trade-off watching the older boys and spending time in the module. We were even able to share Grandparents and Aunts a time or two. The Hufty's welcomed us into their home and gave us a much needed reprieve from the hospital. When I was alone on the Fourth of July, they invited me to celebrate with them. We have celebrated each other's small and large victories and prayed for each other's heartaches and struggles. We even share a wedding anniversary and alma mater (ISU). Life is funny isn't it. Such trying times and such struggles that in particularly difficut moments can seem full of helpless anguish and frustration...they can still yield unbreakable bonds of hope and faith and friendship.

To quote a song recorded by Gary Allen, "...But the struggle makes you stronger And the changes make you wise And happiness has it's own way of takin' it sweet time[chorus]No, life aint always beautiful Tears will fall sometimes Life aint always beautiful But it's a beautiful ride..."

We are also with Big Justin and Abbi and the families as they celebrate their graduations. What a beautiful day for it...at least I think it is as pretty up there as it is here. It's as if God is smiling too, on such a happy day as this.

It turns out that it is a day to count blessings, to feel the beauty of life and put away the feelings of doubt and despair and worry. We rejoice with them and look forward to the day we can share their joy in person.