Watching the news is like reading the National Enquirer. Britney Spears loses visitation of her sons. Window-washer survives 500 ft. fall and wakes up talking on Christmas Day. Nothing is too big for God. A man here in Indiana robbed four convenience stores in four days but eventually made a little mistake. He wrote his hold-up note on the back of his own ATM receipt. Hello!!

Tomorrow, Jan. 5, at 11:00am CST/12:00am EST is hug JuJu day. JuJu is Julian Avery, a 4-year old boy in Texas who is dying from brain cancer. Go to http://www.carepages.com/ and visit carepage juliansworld to meet Juju and his mother who journals regularly about Julian.
After sending up a Juju hug, turn around and hug your children and thank God for every minute that you have with them. And keep Julian and his family in your prayers.

And please remember Kate in your prayers as she heads into some very aggressive radiation and chemo since her cancer has relapsed. She is a Little Seed (Sean's preschool). www.caringbridge.org/visit/katemadigan.

Reading about Julian, Kate, Ethan.... makes me care much less about how messy the house is or whether laundry is caught up... it makes me want to sit with my kids with a book, or play a game with them or just watch them play or sleep. I have read many words by these parents and they still have their eyes on the Father. They hurt and they know where their help comes from. If you've never heard the song below, it says it all.

"Praise You In This Storm"

I was sure by now

God You would have reached down

And wiped our tears away

Stepped in and saved the day

But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear

Your whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

And I'll praise You in this storm

And I will lift my hands

For You are who You are

No matter where I am

And every tear I've cried

You hold in Your hand

You never left my side

And though my heart is torn

I will praise You in this storm

I remember when

I stumbled in the wind

You heard my cry

You raised me up again

My strength is almost gone

How can I carry on

If I can't find You

As the thunder rolls

I barely hear

You whisper through the rain

"I'm with you"

And as Your mercy falls

I raise my hands and praise the God who gives

And takes away

I lift my eyes unto the hills

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord

The Maker of Heaven and Earth