Known. Seen. Loved.
Good morning... "I was just thinking,” yesterday I texted our Fab Five friend group, a group that has supported the cancer journey of the DeShetler family for the last fifteen years. “Jesus was on earth for 33 years, and, Jennifer, I wonder if our Father missed his son’s presence in heaven, like you are missing Audrey on earth.” I continued, “In my heart, heaven and earth are so intertwined. We are never really [...]
Note To Audrey’s Mom
Good morning... As we stood in the hallway of the funeral home yesterday, waiting to join the family for a private viewing of Audrey in her open casket, my friend showed me the new screen saver on her phone. I snapped the precious photo above. A fun memory from an earlier day. Pink. Smiling. Relaxing. Together. What a wonderful way to celebrate friendship with Audrey. The morning had begun with a text from [...]
Memories Of Audrey
Good morning... This week, I have communicated with so many of you about Audrey and the DeShelter family, through text, email, zoom, and face to face. Your messages of love have been so precious. I find it an honor to collect our written words in a single post. May you enjoy reading about the strong web of love enveloping this inspiring child of God. Just saw the FB post about Audrey. So many [...]
Still As A Stone
Good morning... In yesterday's summertime Zoom book study, our conversation was rich and enlivening. The word "stone" stood out as a symbol to remember. In The Practice of the Presence of God, Brother Lawrence writes on page 37: "As for my set hours of prayer... Sometimes I consider myself there as a stone before a carver, whereof he is to make a statue; presenting myself thus before God, I desire Him to form [...]
My Parents’ 65th
Good morning... The full moon peeks through our window pane, piercing through the trees, partnering with the dark of night. I catch a glimpse and am drawn outside. Wet grass. Bare feet. A perfect pairing on my parents' 65th wedding anniversary. I have returned to Atlanta, Georgia, with special memories lingering from my nine day visit with my family in Ohio. A creative cake. A four-inch binder full of fun photos from over [...]
My Mom And Audrey
Good morning... I woke yesterday in Ohio on my mom's 87th birthday. Her part-time helper snapped a few pictures of us before we shared her birthday breakfast in their villa and opened her birthday cards and gifts. After the simple celebration, I opened my computer and up popped a reminder: "Audrey DeShetler's birthday." Sure enough my mom and Audrey share the same June 9th [...]
Audrey’s In Heaven
Good morning... Around 3:00 pm yesterday, from Jennifer DeShetler our small group of friends received a text. "Audrey just passed." Then privately she wrote me. "Who is the pastor on duty?" "I will ask," I replied. "Will get back to you." "Please asap." I connected her to Dr. Bill, our head pastor at Northside Church. Soon after, I read the Facebook post written by Audrey's big brother, Scott (seen smiling a week ago [...]
Audrey’s Prayer Walk
Good morning... Last night, on the grounds of my parents' senior living community in Ohio, I went on a walk at dusk, around 7:30 pm. At 7:56 pm, I received this update from the DeShetler family. I gave my full focus to our God, the Maker of heaven and earth, asking for divine healing power to saturate [...]
Prayers For Audrey
Good morning... This morning, my soul possesses the Spirit of the living God. So does yours. So does Audrey's. So do the souls of her family and all her many loved ones. Our souls all possess the Spirit of the One and Only, the everlasting God. The eternal power of God is not contained by heaven and earth. This morning our souls are greater than the painful struggles of this world. Because we [...]
Audrey’s In The ICU
Good morning... At 10:00 am at University Hospital near Cleveland, Ohio, my dad had surgery scheduled to remove a cancer spot on his leg yesterday. I stayed at their villa, caring for my mom. At 9:30 am yesterday at CHOA in Atlanta, Georgia, Audrey DeShetler was scheduled to have surgery to put in a stent to open up her bile duct that was pressed in by new tumors. Both surgeries began late. My [...]
Dad Asked For Help
Good morning... "I'm having surgery on my leg to remove a cancer spot on June 5th. Is there any way you could come in town to be with your mom during my procedure?" my dad asked in April, as I visited my parents in Ohio for my dad's 88th birthday. I felt honored my dad asked. To be trusted with my mom's care. To be vulnerable enough to ask for what he needed. [...]
Shift Your Focus
Good morning... There are lots of quirky artists. Grant Snider's work, as creator of Incidental Comics, feels absolutely fabulous to me. As a person who examines myself incessantly, I love the shift Grant captures on a moonless night. The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power. You [...]