past

Pastor made the comment the other night....

"I wonder when Charli will realize she has two brothers that aren't with her?"

Another reminder...

Not to forget what has been left behind...

Past stories of deep mourning...
Tragedies...
Even failures.

Not remembering as a form of punishment...
But to more fully participate in the praise...
Of what He is always doing.

Growing faith in the fragile...
Taking the miraculous....
Making it even more so.

His timing is wild as just yesterday I stumbled across these old files...
Labelled "UT NICU."
My breath was stolen as I stared deep.
Pictures taken when she was "thriving..."
Our spunky Charli...
Just a baby bird...
Needing every prayer offered...
And protection from the mighty hand of God.

The cost of her story...
It still rips...
But it is hers...

And, it is so valuable to all of us.

As far as Lincoln and Tucker go...
I think her heart knows to a degree...
The rest...
We will trust in the unveiling...
Remembering The Father's lavishing love in the retelling.

Though the enemy has tried hard to steal...

Kill...

Destroy...

And fade story...

We choose to remember...

The dark earth we bloomed from...

Celebrating and lamenting our past...
Standing in unashamed awe of how he strengthens...
Offering ALL back to Him...
Our garden of thanksgiving.

Pressing on...

Fully knowing that the beauty that comes...

Is so much more lovely if you remember the ashes.

Thankful.