I probably deserve blog-o-sphere timeout or some sort of punishment. I’ve been a blogging consumer lately, not a contributor. I’ve been reading and not even commenting. (GASP!) I somehow believe this is ok if you don’t have a blog but if you do have a blog (I fall into this category), I somehow feel like I am committing a virtual crime by not updating my blog for over a month. “I’ve been busy” is my lame excuse but aren’t we all? Earlier this week, my friend Emily M unknowingly put me in my place when she updated her blog with a very long post about her very busy past week the day after she returned from her trip. My month finally slowed down last week, but I didn’t take the time to update my blog. Shame on me. Forgive me?

Ok, so on to the last couple of months and what I could have been updating you on as it was happening. We’ll start with June. We took a trip to Lubbock, TX in mid-June to celebrate Kasey Jo & Evan’s wedding! It was so fun to be with everyone and get to be apart of such an awesome celebration. Evan is Daniel’s brother and Kasey is the daughter of his Mom’s best friend so there was lots of in-law bonding and excitement too. The sad thing is, I ended up without any good pictures of them or of Daniel and me at the wedding. So I’ll show you the only pic I have of the two of them at the rehearsal dinner so you can see how adorably cute they are. We love you Ev & Kase!

After a few nights at home, I left and spent the next 12 days with Emily M along with her husband and daughter in Birmingham as Emily continued recovery from her lung transplant surgery. It was good, hard, significant, encouraging and scary all at the same time. Emily has had a lot of ups and downs and we did the whole 911/ambulance thing twice while I was there. The doctor says that it is some of the best looking lungs post-transplant that he has ever seen. Most of her complications are related to how her body is dealing with all of the medications she is on. She is currently struggling with some rejection which is discouraging but I know she’s a fighter. I just wish for rest for my friend as she has climbed more mountains in her life than I think most people do in their entire span of life. The best way to keep up with her progress is to visit her blog.

Because she was in the hospital, I took care of her 21 month old daughter every day which I know was a huge help to them. It is amazing what God taught me about pure service and sacrifice. I was there because God called my heart there and because of the commitment in our friendship but was able to be there for her best by caring for her family and not her. Being away from home and Daniel for those 12 days after being out of town so much in May and the beginning of June was a lot harder than I thought it would be. I knew it would be hard but was stretched emotionally, mentally and spiritually in a whole other way. Thanks for your prayers and support. And a special shout out to Crystal, Paige & Zack who brought Daniel down for a surprise visit one Saturday that had me bawling my eyes out in the middle of Subway because I was so happy to see him…and them…and him. You know what I mean. I’ve told you guys already, but seriously, Thank You! I’m blessed to have such awesome friends.

Today could very well be the very first day that you are able to breathe a deep breath with you new lungs!  I am so excited, humbled and grateful that your lung transplant surgery went so well yesterday.  I know you’re a fighter and although it is hard to prepare for the exact day of such a major life changing event, you have been courageously patient and I know God has been and will continue to work in you and through you in this next change of life.  I can’t wait to see you and will try my best to hold back my tears of joy so I don’t drown you.    I’m so glad I get to be your friend, to have such a firsthand look at your heart and life through this process, and to get to relive the intricacies of life and the simplest of joys with you of being able to breathe deeply, walk without getting winded and to focus all your strength on carrying Faith and not your oxygen tank.  Oh what a beautiful day!  I love you, I am praying for you, and I can’t wait to listen to you share your new experiences in life.  And no matter how hard this rehab and recovery process gets, remember that you are worth it…that all the pain and struggle is worth it!  I love you!