life... it's a family thing

I don't know the people in this picture, but they've dominated a good part of my thoughts and prayers for a month or more. My first cousin Jeannene is married to a good man named Rusty- the woman in this photo, Tonia, is his daughter, with her husband Steve, one of their boys and dog, in front of their American dream- the home they built for their family.

Tonia's in a coma and has been for weeks. She suffered a cerebral hemmorhage and now fights for her life while her boys: husband and sons, wait... can't begin to imagine their pain. Don't know them... but they're family... sort of... we seem to have family salads these days. It's not all one course- a little more mixed up than when we were kids -but it's all good. Life's a family thing. Plenty of families are hurting and crying out for hope. I just have a connection to this one- and so I pray.

Tonia's husband has been amazing, keeping family and friends current with a running blog- you can read it at: Tonia's Blog.

Each Christmas Jeannene and Rusty send us a Christmas card- last Christmas it was of their dream home, nearly complete. A place big enough for all their family to come together. Most years it's a photo of their kids- more likely their grandkids- more specifically their grandsons: 10 in all if I remember right. Debi and I laugh together looking at their blessings and after the hundreds of other Christmas cards are down, Jeannene's usually remains, all those little boys... what a miracle.

Two of them have a mom who needs prayer. When you read this, say a prayer for Tonia- her family needs her whole and home. Pray for her husband- he needs strength for the days to come. Lift up her sons- can't imagine how they miss their mom. Pray for my cousin Jeannene and Rusty- don't know how you watch a daughter go through this- but they are and they need our prayers as well.

If you've done that- take a minute to pray for your family... maybe it's like mine... a little mixed up, with people in it you've never met. They could probably use your prayers today. Every year... almost every time we talk, Jeannene invites us to come and visit... we always say: someday. Life's fast. Someday quickly slips away. My life would be so much the better had I taken the time to know this part of my family. It would be so much easier to reach out to Tonia, her husband and boys, had I done it while they were well and whole. Now I reach out in prayers for healing, strength, restoration... hope...

join me, it's a family thing,

Eric