story
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The ministry of the lake
Every time we go to the lake Brad brings a book along as if he’s going to have some magical time where he isn’t watching the kids to read. Sometimes I grab a book too, just to play along with this fantasy. Even if I had a half an hour of solitude, I would probably spend it people watching. I’m convinced the lake is full of the most interesting people in the county. There are the moms that dip a toe in the water with their toddler, young adults horsing around in the deep end, teenagers getting in trouble, adolescents twirling off the high dive, grandmas waiting in the shade…
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The fire
The noise first alerted us to a problem. Our old house had been renovated so often that the living room was a windowless cave. We often found solace in the protection from dangers that lurked outside, but tonight it was a hindrance. It was late that is when bad things happen. Orange light filtered through the diamond window of the front door as we crowded together to look. I gasped as tongues of fire consumed the house across the street. That was the nice house on the street, I moaned. When 50% of the street was vacant we learned to appreciate the houses that were nice. Sirens wailed in the…
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Business, not as usual.
Not many know this, but the first business Brad and I ever started was an online hookah retailer. Yes, you heard me right, we sold hookahs in college. I can’t stop laughing while writing this out because it seems so long ago and so foreign, but once upon a time this young married couple at Ohio University went into business with a friend because they thought they could get a corner on the hookah business in Athens. Plus, we enjoyed smoking the fun fruity tobaccos. They were somehow “better” for you because they tasted good, right? This isn’t something you lead with when introducing yourself, or even when sharing your…
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Healing.
This is the story of a miracle many years in the making. Five years ago I sat in our little yellow car with two young boys outside of the minute clinic. Brad’s ear was pained with infection. One prescription later we were on our way home. After a week the infection was not resolving so off to a primary care doctor he went. Another prescription in hand, a little stronger, and he was on his way home. And again he went back, still with pain. “Here, try this one, it’s a little stronger”, they said. Going to bed one night he told me his face looked off as he was brushing…
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Redneck swimming pool.
I remember the day the well witcher came. I was both intrigued by the idea that this man with his crooked stick would find a source of water in the ground and disturbed that my parents actually hired him to do so. We never had enough water. It was clean, pure water but it was not in abundance. I grew up letting yellow mellow not because it was environmentally friendly but because we didn’t want to run out of water for supper or the laundry or a bath. That well witcher worked his magic but the water never ran clean enough to use. On good, hot summer days my dad…
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Melody
My dear friend Melody has a story that’s full of more abuse and trauma than most of ours, but also one of a redeemed heart that bears witness to an unfailing and ever loving God. She let me into her story 4 years ago, and for 4 years these images and words have been stored on my computer. I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to put them together, but I am happy that I can now share it with a desire it that it gives others hope. God has not forgotten us, not even in our darkest darks and our lowest lows. When Melody was four years old…