Hope

"Faith sees the invisible, believes the unbelievable, and receives the impossible."  ~Corrie Ten Boom

Life can be so overwhelming. So many people need prayers. And sometimes I don't even know where to start, or even what to pray for. Life can knock us down... we can feel so overwhelmed, anxious, scared, unloved, unknown... but we have to remember to give it all to Jesus. He is our strength. He is our grace. He is with us, walking with us each step of the way. And if it's too much, He is carrying us. We are never alone. No matter how lonely we may feel some days, He has not forsaken us. When I think of just my small circle of people in my life, within this entire world, that need prayers.. need encouragement, strength, hope, light, trust, courage, serenity, understanding, guidance, healing, patience, peace. The list could go on and on. And many times, it's the nurse in me that feels like I need to fix it all, but I can't. I have to let go. I have to lay it all at the feet of Jesus. Lay it on the altar at Mass. Jesus is the only one who can give us all the grace we need. I need to trust, to put all my faith in HIM! Pray! Have faith! Don't give up hope!! Simple things I need to remind myself each day!!

"For nothing will be impossible with God." ~Luke 1:37

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."  ~Psalm 37:4

Love has no End

I found this book during a really sad and hard season in my life. I was searching for hope, for healing. Anyways, this simple book caught my eye, and I wanted to share it with you. Maybe you are going through a hard time, and it might be able to help you too. The entire book took me only an hour to read, but it has so much truth to it. The book is called, "10 Simple Things to Remember" by Marci. I wanted to share with you the 10 things.

1) Love is why we are here.  ---- I've heard this before: Love is a verb, not just a feeling. It's an action.  It is shown in what we do. There will be times when we will be called to love even when we don't have the feelings of love. Love is a choice.  Love never ends. It's the greatest gift you can give to yourself or to others. It's giving all you have and asking nothing in return. Ask how you can love others more. Love is forgiving. "To love and be loved... that's life's greatest gift! To share joy with those most important in our lives... that's a blessing."

2) The most important day is today.  ---- Life is hard. We are pulled in so many directions. Overwhelmed with how we are ever going to get done with everything. But we have to remember... today is the most important. Not dwelling on the past, not being anxious about the future. Just taking joy in today. To pause and say thank you for the little things each day. Be grateful for each day. Many times its our greatest challenges, greatest losses that bring us our greatest lessons, our greatest joys!

3) If you always do your best, you will not have regrets. ---- We all have dreams, and there are many choices we make to try to achieve our dreams. If we learn something from each of our life's experiences, and realize all, good and bad, were necessary for our understanding, we will be able to view our life without regrets! When we learn what our strengths are, and share them, our best, with others, our path of life becomes a little more clear.

4) In spite of your best efforts, some things are just out of your control. ---- Many times we second guess ourselves when things go wrong, trying to hold on instead of letting go. (I'm guilty of this for sure) Asking ourselves why.  But "bumps in the road are an inevitable part of life that soften us, make us grow, and bestow upon us the virtue of compassion."  Remember... "You are loved.. love will sustain you. You are strong... prayer will get you through anything. You are wise... the greatest gift of all lies within you." These hard times are opportunities to give and receive love. Saying thank you even in trials, we are demonstrating the way we see things. We are in control of our actions. 

5) Things will always look better tomorrow. ---- Hope... it is a gift we can give others through encouragement, comforting. One may never know how much it means to others when we give them the gift of hope. It is transforming. "Faith will light your path... hope will keep you strong... the love you give to others will bring you joy.. and your friendships will remind you of what is important in life." Be thankful for each day. That will give us the strength to get through hard days, giving us the inner strength to succeed!

6) Sometimes a wrong turn will bring you to exactly the right place. ---- Life is a journey, there are many paths, and sometimes we may not know which path to take. But if we are open to guidance everyday, understand change is something that is inevitable, and not forget that angels are all around us.  Whether through a stranger, a friend's phone call, a street sign... no matter which way we turn, wrong or right... we will end up exactly where we need to be.

7) Sometimes when you think the answer is "no," it is just "not yet." ---- There are many times in our life when we don't get the answer that we wanted. We forget there is a greater plan. There is a right time for everything. Many times understanding what we are made of comes from "obstacles we face, challenges we overcome, and the losses we sustain." We need to always look at what is important in our life. And remember happiness and purpose is best found when we share our talents and gifts with others!

8) True friends share your joy, see the best in you, and support you through your challenges. ---- Friendship is a gift of commitment, trust, listening, and encouragement. We all desire to love and to be loved, to understand and to be understood. Our best selves shine through our friends. "Friendship is one of our most valuable gifts. It completes our desire to realize our capacity to love."  When we support each other through every stage of life, we are shown that we have so much love to give.  

9) God and your parents will always love you. ---- There are times when life is tough, when things don't go the way we planned, when we are sad, angry, or think no one will ever understand. We feel lonely. We need to remember God promised He will never forsake us. His love is always. Love is a miracle, it's powerful. Like the lyrics from the song, "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran.

"Loving can hurt. Loving can hurt sometimes. But it's the only thing that I know....  It is the only thing that makes us feel alive.  Loving can heal. Loving can mend your soul.. I swear it will get easier. Remember that with every piece of ya. And it's the only thing we take with us when we die." 

Just remember when life's challenges come our way, when we don't feel like we can make it through... help comes in all different ways. It's the water of grace again, a kind word, a phone call, a hug, all at just the right time. The water of grace that we are able to share with those around us, is God's grace, His love shining and hugging us!

10) For all your accomplishments, nothing will bring you more happiness than the love you find. ---- Many times we think about what is important in life, what will matter most to us. What will bring us happiness in our life. Challenges push us. Relationships show us our strengths and our weaknesses. But the way to happiness... is through love.  "When we share joy, it multiplies. When we share pain, it divides."  Happiness is found inside ourselves. When we share our gifts, when we make others smile, when we share the water of grace. It renews our spirit, brings joy and love. Remember love has no end! 

Never Just a Nurse

I never knew the strength one group could have, the love, the desire, the dedication, the power, the pride for one's profession!! Or the support and sensitivity others could have for one profession. How every single person was or will be affected someway by this one profession. Nursing... it has changed my life forever! And I hope it impacts yours too!!
If you haven't heard about Miss Colorado in the Miss USA pageant, or haven't heard about the View's remarks over these past 48hrs, google it. The amount of pride, respect, strength, integrity that has bombarded the social media sites is unreal. My entire Facebook feed is all about #nursesunite. All about "Show me your Stethoscope" All about the beauty of nursing, the beauty of the medical field, the beauty of a job, that really isn't just a job... it's a way of service in which so many lives are touched, so rewarding and humbling of a profession in which not one nurse would ever be able to tell you, that what they get up each morning or night to do, would ever touch them so much!

I have been a nurse for a little over 10 years. I have wanted to be a nurse ever since I can remember. When I was in Kindergarten, I remember reading a book called "I want to be a Nurse." Don't ask me why, I only had one aunt that was a nurse, so it didn't really run in my family. I just always had that desire in my heart. God planted that seed of compassion and healing in my soul. He put that desire to help others and care for them in me. And I can never thank Him enough for leading me in that direction. Nursing has been more to me than I could ever start to explain. The number of lives I've touched, is only a sliver, from the amount of lives that have touched me as I have cared for patients, and their families. I've worked in a few different areas, some adult medical surgical areas, some newborn/pediatrics, and now my current area of Adult Surgical Intensive Care Unit. I absolutely love what I do! Yes, some days are way harder than others, way more stressful than others. Some days my patience is spread paper thin, or I wonder how I will ever make it through the 13hrs. But then there are those days, those moments, in which I stop and say... "THIS. This right here" is why I do what I do!!  Those patients and families in which you will always remember, always hold close to your heart.  Some you are able to stay connected with, and others you just say a little prayer of blessings for them every once in a while when they come to your mind.   There is no way I can remember every patient I've taken care of... there are days when I wish I would have kept a journal of my patients.. but there are those patients or situations I will never forget.

Like when I was a brand new nurse, very fresh off of orientation, when I would be praying with white knuckles on my steering wheel, driving every morning to work, praying I would make it through the day safely. And then my patient's heart went into atrial fibrillation, being symptomatic, and family was very worried too. But I remember drawing a picture of the heart to explain to them what was going on, explaining the medications and treatment plan, and being the support and answering questions before and after the doctor arrived. That patient and family happened to be from my hometown, and I still see them sometimes when I go back, and they still remember me, and I smile inside when I see them, thinking I helped them be where they are today.
Another patient that was dying of liver failure, Drs gave him less than a week, so confused, and stooling all the time. Family was so kind, and at the bedside constantly. Their hope, their goal, was to get their husband/dad back home where he felt most comfortable, to be able to pass away there surrounded by all those who loved him.  I remember spending so much time with that family, teaching them, comforting them, and helping them get home hospice set up as quickly as possible, so he would be able to get home in time to reach their goal, of all being together in the comfort of their home.  A few months later, I got a letter from them. I still have it in my special box of letters, encouragements, thank yous I've received over the years! And every once in a while, when I have a bad day, I go and read some of those special things, and it helps remind me... I am making a difference! You see, the health care profession isn't always about getting someone better, or healthy again, everytime. It's about caring for them with dignity, respect, honor, and listening to their desires, their wishes, and giving them the quality of life they deserve no matter how long or short that may be.

Then there are those patients and families, who have been in your unit for such a long time, that they become part of your family too! You hope and pray for them, as if they are your own dad, husband, brother, grandpa. Sometimes those patients beat all odds, we were about ready to give up on them, as their ICPs were in the 30s for days, or we were pushing blood products into them as running and pushing them down to OR, and somehow they miraculously turn around, and a few months later come visit the unit to thank us. And the only way you recognize them is by their family members that never left their bedside. We can't believe it---the progress they made! Their amazing recovery. All those assessments, medications, never leaving their bedside made a difference, and now they are walking and talking, and one would never have known they were so sick! But sometimes those patients, despite all your hours of effort, don't make it... and you cry, you cry right along with the family. We are taught in school to try to keep our emotions at a bay, to be strong, but how can we, when so much compassion, love, and empathy is in everything we do. We want your loved one to get better just like you do, but we also understand the pain and suffering that they go through, that you go through watching them, when hope it destroyed day after day. When the best thing to do is to make them comfortable, and say "It's okay to go. We will be okay" When the kindest thing one could do for their loved one, is to let them be comfortable, let them go be with Jesus. This might sound harsh, but it's really not meant to be... but one part of my job that I absolutely love being a part of, is being with the family as they all gather around their loved one and tell them goodbye, with peace in their heart, when they tell stories about them, their favorite memories, when I pray with them, hug them, hold their hand, wipe their tears. It's some of the most beautiful things, hardest things I've done.... explaining to a mom's little girls that their mom is going to go to heaven to be with Jesus, and reminding them that she will always be with them in their heart. Taking that one last picture of them together. It's one of the most humbling and honorable things I do in my job.  Or when minutes after a loved one passes away, a rainbow appears in the sky--- a sign of hope, of trust, of knowing they are okay, thanking us for letting them go be.  Or those times when all you know what to do or say is be silent, as the young husband is on his knees in tears next to his newly-wed bride's body in which we just did CPR for 30 minutes, pushing all sort of meds to try and restart her heart... you hear him say, "we were suppose to write our wedding Thank yous this weekend, and now I have to plan a funeral" Why? How? So unfair! It still brings tears to my eyes when I think about it. But holding them, praying silently for them... it's the only thing we can do. Be that water of grace for them.

I am not just a nurse. I am a nurse. I am the eyes and ears of the doctors. I am a big part in deciding the daily treatment plan for the patient. I am the person that is by the patient 24/7, caring for them no matter if they are saying thank you or if they are swearing and kicking and spitting on me. I don't leave. I am there for the joyful moments, the laughs, the smiles. I am there in the sorrowful moments, the tears, and the anger. I am there for every blood draw, every xray, every medication. I am the one who recognizes something is going wrong, and calling the doctor and family. I am the one the doctors ask, what do we need to do for this patient? What are we missing? Do you need anything else to help care for this patient?  I am the one who cleans them when the smell travels all the way down the hall.I am the one who helps them take their first steps after being in bed for weeks. I am the one who makes popsicles out of Coke, so they can taste their favorite flavor again after months of being NPO!  I am so proud to be a part of this beautiful and amazing career! I couldn't be more blessed to work with such incredible co-workers, doctors, ancillary --- all who have taught me something, and in which I continue to learn things everyday. No matter how long we have been nurse, we continue to be touched by someone new. So next time you hear someone say, "we are wearing a costume", we have a "doctors stethosope", we are telling an "email story", I hope you think... no... nursing is much much much more than that. We are not just a nurse --- We are nurses!!  Full of compassion, integrity, tenderness, dignity, and love!



If you liked this post, you also might enjoy Precious or Heavy Heart

Finding Nemo and Peter Pan

A couple things I want to remember....

This weekend, my brother got married! It was the best day!! One couldn't have ordered a better forecast for the day, and everything was just perfect! So many memories, so much fun, laughter, happy tears, dancing, and singing!! It was great!! I just love the time we are able to be together, as a family, all of us siblings being together at one time. It's hard to have that happen now when everyone is in different places, different schedules.  So when we are all able to be together, celebrate, have fun... it's a beautiful gift from God!  I always pray that we siblings can always be close, and stay best friends as we are now, through the years as we grow. In my profession, I see way too many families torn apart. It breaks my heart, and I pray that God stays with as, helps us stay close, and always be there for each other!
But a couple things.. Nick, my brother, the morning of his wedding, he wrote on his Facebook wall... "Today's the day! The sun is shining! The tank is clean! THE TANK IS CLEAN!!!!!"  We thought it was hilarious!! If you know of Finding Nemo! :)  Totally something Nick would say! His kids will know quotes from Finding Nemo and Cars, that's for sure! Second... Nick's speech at the dinner, was great! But first you have to know a few things... he hates speaking! His wife had to make cinnamon rolls for him to talk at my sister, Angela's wedding! So for him to talk more than 30 seconds was great in itself. But he told the background story of how he first heard about Britny, his wife. And just the way he would pause, smile, look at her... it was beautiful!  Third... I said a little something too, as for many years now, before he even met Britny, I always wanted to say something at his wedding. I talked about when we were little, and we would play farm and house. When we played house, he was the dad, I was the mom, and my dolls were our children. He would say many times that he wanted to marry me, and I would tell him each time that he couldn't. He would then cry and cry! So I am so glad he met Britny, and found a best friend to share the rest of his life with! :) Here are a few pictures from the day! Congratulations Nick & Britny!!

And then today...
I used to take care of a little boy named Peter. I took care of him at home, he had a trach,vent, and feeding tube, and when he got older, I went to preschool with him. He was a joy!! Over the years, I became super close to his family! They are like my second family. This evening, I went to watch his older brother play soccer, little 8 year olds. :)  I haven't been able to see them lately, and so when Peter saw me, the first thing he said was "I haven't seen you in a long time!"  And then sat on my lap the entire game, giving me hugs, and telling me all about Peter Pan, Captain Hook, Cinderella, Wizard of Oz! And discussing what to be for Halloween. He loves the "mean" people in those shows, which is so funny, because he is the kindest little boy you ever knew! And continued to tell me, how I need to come over for dinner at their house, and need to have them over at mine. Just those little hugs from him, at the most random times... it's like he knows exactly what I need. I think even with being so little, he is able to understand someone's heart, from what he all went through, and just knows!  When he was getting in his car, I overheard him tell his mom.... "Stacey is my favorite. I love her!" How does that not melt your heart! I want to remember these little moments.  It's like that saying goes, "Enjoy the little things for someday you will realize they were the Big things!"

So from Finding Nemo to weddings, from Peter Pan to little special boys... it's the little moments that we hold in our hearts! Those are the ones we don't want to forget!

Roses and thorns

I'm currently reading the book, "Crossroads" by Wm. Paul Young. He also wrote the book called "The Shack", another one I strongly recommend if you have never read it. I've been waiting til I'm done with the books before I write about them. However, as I was reading "Crossroads" tonight, a couple sentences stuck out for me, and so I just wanted to share it with you now. :) The characters are talking about knocking walls down, walls that we build up in our heart and mind to protect ourselves. Walls can substitute for trust. Trust of others, trust of God. But these walls, we can also knock them down. But just like the walls are built up over time, it takes time and process for them to come down. If we hurry in taking them down, we can cause them to fall on those we love.

"Freedom (removing the walls in our heart) can become a new justification for disregard and a lack of compassion for the bandages of others. Roses have thorns.... 'Why do roses have thorns?' 'So that you handle them carefully and gently.'"

I loved those last two sentences. Roses have thorns so we handle them carefully. Roses could represent the people in our lives, our family, our friends, our coworkers, strangers we meet. They are the ones we love. We need to "handle" them carefully. We need to be kind to them, respect them, treat them with love. The thorns aren't there to be ugly, they are there to help us show compassion, show gentleness, show love, share grace! The thorns could represent everyone's hardships, disappointments, sorrows. And we as friends, as disciples of Jesus, need to treat those roses with gentleness so the beauty of every person spreads, that the roses grow, not the thorns! I just never thought of roses and thorns like that before. Could kinda be like the water of grace again. It's just with us everyday, isn't it! :) thanks for reading!

Today I am grateful for...

"Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus" 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

I recently started asking myself this question every morning, sometimes I have time to write down my response, other times I only have time to write it in my mind. But I think it's an important thing to do. As throughout the day, especially if trials come arise, or I start to feel down for some reason, I think of what I was thankful for that morning, and things seem to get better. Help me put in perspective that things will be alright, and that God is with me always! It's like in Pete the Cat books, "The birds are singing, the sky is bright, the sun is shining, I'm feeling Alright!" :)


Grateful for... God healing my neck. After a fluke accident, and 14 weeks of wearing an Aspen collar continuously, I was finally able to take it off on this past Wednesday. It was a funny feeling, I wanted to jump for joy, but nervous, as I was dizzy and lightheaded when I first took it off. My neck was stiff and tight, and so I still used my entire body to turn, and do everything. I was most excited for showering!!! And boy can I tell you that first shower felt INCREDIBLE!!! :)  And I can't wait to run again... soon, a few more weeks, and I can be back on the trails! I was able to go back to work yesterday for the first time, and even though it was sore and hurting by the end of the day, even though I still am cautious and don't have all range of motion back,  I was so grateful that I could be back to work, that I had a job, that I could go back to doing what I love! Even though we may complain about work, or want a vacation. I have come to realize that our work is a blessing! We all need to feel wanted, to feel needed, to feel like we are doing good, that we are making a difference. God made us that way, so we can go out to help others. So we can be the water of grace for others. So we can be an instrument of his love and grace!


Grateful for... All I learned. As I look back of what I learned over these past months, I am completely aware that my accident could have been so much worse. I could have been paralyzed, could have chronic nerve pain, or worse, I could have died. I don't like to think about that, I get anxious if I do, so I just thank God for giving me a second chance at life! I've had the privilege of being on the patient side of health care. Everything from coming into the ER, being inpatient, having to wait for doctors, trusting them with the best treatment plan, and wearing the collar. I have a whole new perspective on what that's like. I will be able to use that experience as I care for my patients now, to give them hope and encouragement, and understanding of what it will be like. And to be a better advocated for them! Also, to realize as I meet other people with injuries, difficulties, on the street, in the store, school, hospital, etc. To treat them normal. After being in my brace for so long, I would forget that I even had it on at times. It became a part of me. But then I would remember as soon as someone looked at me with a funny or curious expression on their face...  made me think about how many times I do that to others? To those in wheelchairs, with braces, tracheostomy, chemo... when all they want is just to be normal. I will definitely remember that when I meet others. To treat them more with the water of grace. We have so much to be grateful for!! We take so much for granted!! I just had one inconvenience, and it wasn't forever. Combing hair, buckling belt, driving, eating, drinking, showering are just a few, that were harder for me to do.  But I was still able to do so much, do everything else! Yes, to be grateful...


Grateful for.... My quiet time that I had on many mornings to read, pray, journal, talks, and my walks. I missed running a lot, and I will get to do it again, but during those walks, I went without my headphones, without music. I was able to pay attention to the little things around me more, the people, the environment, the nature, the peace of it all.  For instance, on a couple walks I had with my mom, she taught me about the beauty of the cardinals. How they are a sign of hope from God, of Jesus being present. The beauty in their color, the beauty in their song. If we just listen and look. I read this recently, "Birds don't worry, they Sing!" I think I liked the quiet so much also because it was a great time for me to pray, to talk to Jesus. It was more of like a constant conversation with Him. And able to pray for so many others too... hardships, illnesses, blessings, healing of body and heart, thanksgivings. And offer up my hardships, for those others that are suffering, to help ease their pain. And to listen. Psalm 46:10--- "Be Still and Know."  And I got to meet new friends on the trails too, when you go slower, people sometimes stop to talk. Or even if you just say hi! I liked to think about what was going on in everyone's heads. What problems they are facing, what joys they are experiencing! Makes you want to pray for them all. Like the book, "Praying for Strangers" As the character met someone each day, and asked how she could pray for them that day. Don't let me lead you wrong though, that this season was all happy and joyful. It was far from that. There were many times I was sad, where I just stopped and cried, where I felt down, where I got frustrated, where I felt alone. That's all part of the healing process, all part of being able to trust and depend more on God, and less on myself.


Grateful for.. my family and friends!! I don't know what I would have done without every one of them! Having my first summer off since high school, I was able to do things I don't always get to do, go visit friends, go on trips, go be with my family, go enjoy all the summer activities!  Even though I missed things such as water skiing, running, riding horses, I still got to do so much! I just had to be careful. I am pretty sure I said this before! Family and friends are the Best Blessing God has given us! Don't forget to tell them how much you love them!  I am continuing to be reminded each day how fragile life it.. how in the blink of an eye life can change completely. But we have to remember God makes good out of every situation. He is always at work, and has a greater purpose. Seeing God's blessings in tough situations will help fill us with joy, praise, gratitude! To help be a part of the water of grace.

"I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.  I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High." ~Psalm 9:1-2

God of Every Story

This weekend I took a little trip to visit one of my best friends from college in Western Nebraska. We always have so much fun together, no matter what we do!  She always makes me realize you are only as old as you believe, as we pitched a tent by the lake, made s'mores over our glowing charcoals, went on some walks, had some deep conversations, and just took in every moment of the peacefulness and the presence of each other. Enjoying the lake was great too! I've decided that friendship is one of the most beautiful gifts God gives us! I honestly don't know what I would do without my friends, each one of them, male and female!  They are each special in their own way, and each have been there for me in different parts of my life. Laughed with me, cried with me, listened to me, talked with me, danced with me, sang with me, watched sports with me, etc!  And the thing that amazes me so much, is that no matter how far away you live, no matter how long it's been since the last time you've seen or talked to each other, one's true friends are able to connect as if no time or distance ever kept them apart! What would we all do without our friends? They are such a precious gift!!

On my drive, I listened to lots of different music. Yes, some is to keep me awake, :) but sometimes it's just a beautiful way to talk and listen and glorify God. One of my favorite artists is Laura Story. I am sure most everyone has heard of her song, "Blessings" It is beautiful, and many times brings tears to my eyes. I listened to that album, but I also listened to her newer album.  As I've listened many times before, this time one song hit me as so beautiful and so true. Like I wrote before, sometimes books or certain parts of books mean a lot to you and in certain seasons of your life. I truly believe songs do the same thing. I think I could write an entire book about songs, in which every time I hear them brings a certain memory or feeling. That's the beauty of music. So the song that touched me and had me put it on repeat a time or two, was called "God of Every Story" Here is the YouTube video. Listen to the words, the chorus.

God of Every Story YouTube video

Here is what touched me....

"Some wanna raise a fist up high,

Blame all the hard things on the Father in the sky,

But He hears when we call.

We can trust Him through it all."

It's so hard not to blame things on God. Or feel angry or frustrated or fed up with Him. I know I've been there many times. But I've learned, that is only human, to feel that way. So many of us have those feelings, even His apostles and saints have felt that way. We want to be in control instead of letting God be in control. We want to know what's going to happen in our lives, we want things to happen right now, in our timing!  But we need to TRUST Him and know that He is with us through every joy, every sorrow, every frustration, every excitement! He will answer us, in His time. The waiting process is hard, but draws us closer to Him.

"He's the God of every story,

He sees each tear that falls.

We may not understand but one thing is certain.

He is faithful, He's a faithful God.

When our world is shaking,

He holds us in the palm of His hand."

He is FAITHFUL.  Ingrain that into my head! He understands. He knows. When I think to Jesus' passion... all that He felt on that cross... pain, sorrow, loneliness, forsaken, denial, thirsty for love... He's been through it all. Nothing we feel, or go through will Jesus not understand. He is holding us, as he understands. He is there just waiting for us to let Him Love us! He is Faithful!

"Young Martin is thankful he's alive;

The doctors said he might not survive.

That was seven years ago...

What a miracle.

And now there's this new baby girl

And with one breath she's changed our whole world.

Some say she looks like dad,

But she looks like grace to me.

Your grace to me." 

No matter how many times I listen to this song... this part sends chills through my body. Laura Story's husband Martin, battled cancer, brain tumor... her voice sounds like it's holding back tears in the song. But then when she sings Grace--- it's just beautiful!! God's grace!! Back to the water of grace... There are so many hardships in everyone's life. We all have our own crosses to carry!  But the Grace! The grace of God!! The water of grace we are able to share with everyone around us, is God's grace flowing! It's the way we can be an instrument of God's love, of God's grace!!