Living Through the Ordinary Times

It seems as though I haven't posted in forever... life goes by so quickly these days! After a successful post-op visit with Brady's cardiac surgery team, he has been cleared! No more visits with that group of doctors, and pending anything crazy, he should be able to just keep growing! It was such a relief to leave and not have the next thing waiting for us. I drove with Brady on northbound Lake Shore Drive at noon on Thursday, and there was such promise in the air. The sun was so bright, and all of the Chicagoans who have had to trudge through this oh-so-long winter were filling up the lakefront path. I said a prayer of thanks, and was content.

Entering back into the day to day of work, baseball practices, day care and life isn't something I'm dreading. I am aware of however, of how easily that routine breaks down the spiritual life that has been breaking through every crevice as we have walked this extraordinary road for the last 10 months. As I've said before, it's easy to rely on God when there isn't anything else to do. Yet, I find that my mindset, language, intent, my being, is being changed through this too...and I don't want to let that slip away.

I bought a book recently about enacting spiritual practices in my life ("Authentic: Developing the Disciplines of a Sincere Faith", by James MacDonald"), which is something that I don't actually have too much background in. When I was growing up, that wasn't something that was developed in me- at no ones fault, it just wasn't part of what was taught. At dinner with a friend last night, he said that a Catholic had shared with him (regarding the daily practices that may seem rote & without meaning to those outside the church) that they help carry you through the valleys and protect you from crashing on the peaks. I'm excited to have God teach, grow and restructure me to a faith that is steady and true.

We would love to hear your stories about developing your faith in the "normal" times... I've been so encouraged by the ways God's people have mobilized and shared through this whole ordeal, and I'd hate for it to stop now!

And please- if there are ways we can specifically pray for you, let us know.

Until next time!