Cheers to 5 Years

Hear my cry, O God,
    listen to my prayer;
² from the end of the earth I call to you
    when my heart is overwhelmed.
Lead me to the rock
    that is higher than I

Psalm 61:1-2

As I sit here, I can't really fathom that it has been 5 years since a successful kidney was found for Melanie. The verse above was my encouragement on many a loooong night.

That time in our lives seems so fragile, when I look back on it. And I know that God brought us all of the family and friends that we needed. It was a time of  hurt and a time of healing.

As I type this, I hope someone who is feeling completely overwhelmed. Someone who has been worrying so much, that they can't even remember a time when they were not concerned about something. I hope these people will hear me clearly.

It will get better.

And your brain and heart are going to disagree with me. They are tired of being stuck in that pit. But, be watchful. Don't give up. Because one day, out of the blue. The help that you need will come. One day, the answer will be delivered and you will be breathless with amazement. If you have faith, then one day God will show up in his faithfulness, just like he has promised. I believe that with all of my heart.

Melanie walked a difficult path, and she allowed me to share some of it with her. She was an angel, who very rarely complained. And she made me grow up. During those years she flipped the switch on me. And I had to learn to deal, because she could not be expected to deal for me.

5 years ago, man oh man, those people back then. That family of 4. They could not have looked ahead to now and seen this. They were so thankful for each day. My parents came down the road so often. Hospital visits were a necessary evil. We lived in survival mode.

Now we are thriving. And I give all the praise and glory to God! My heart is often just overfull of sheer thankfulness. Melanie is getting married to a wonderful man, who understands this journey. My parents have not taken their marriage for granted. I have completed a Masters degree.

Congratulations Melanie on another milestone. I love you dearly and sincerely!! This quote made me think of you, and the fictional (maybe??) Pretty, Pretty Princess club of the past.

Believe me, if I looked good,

It's not an accident

Nora Ephron