The last time we spoke, we talked about healing. Healing explicitly implies pain. Some time ago, I spoke about pain and the many forms it comes in.

Sometimes pain is invisible.

Caused by something you didn’t see coming.

Slowly growing and becoming an overwhelming issue which somehow you overlooked.

The process of healing is not one which is short, so that process is ongoing. She still needs to see our doctor and have maintenance done on her foot. He has become a person whom we trust in this process, and we are probably always going to be connected. Healing doesn’t happen overnight and is not a quick process.

When we last spoke, I shared that we had a new plan, and because of the comfort level that the Lord had given me, I was actually comfortable moving forward. As you can probably foresee, this plan proved to be the most successful. Even though my wife would have a long way to go, and even today we still deal with issues, she was going to be on a path to healing.

The glory of that last statement goes to the Lord, but He put so many people in our paths to help us on this journey. Without many of these folks, we would not be where we are today. This week, I want to tell you about these folks who played such a vital role in her healing.

The last time we spoke, I shared a story of how the Lord had intervened earlier in my life to put me on the path that led to that day with Willard and to the women I love. Even though we were suffering through a traumatic event, from that experience on, I felt as though we were going to be okay. If the Lord and His Holy Trinity were "thinking of us," then there was truly nothing we could not come through together.

The last time we spoke, I shared a very private and emotional moment in my life when the Lord spoke to me. Although that was the first and most direct time the Lord spoke to me, it wasn’t the only time in my life that I believe He intervened.

Even before I accepted the Lord into my life and my heart, I have always believed He stepped in to put me back on the path to the life He had always envisioned for me.

I hope each of you has had a wonderful week. I prayed for all of you.

Where were we... Oh yes, I was staring into the eyes of what I know to be the Lord.

As I stood there, it was as if time was standing still. I know it wasn't a long period of time, but it felt like a lifetime. My heart was pounding in my chest, and it was almost as if I was aware of my breathing, my heartbeat, and this overwhelming force that was filling me.

Although I knew it was Him, it was Willard who was staring at me, and then he started to speak.

The first time I heard of an incident like this, I believe it was in 1994. It was then that a woman made a grilled cheese sandwich and saw the face of the Mother Mary. That same grilled cheese was auctioned off in 2004 for $28,000.

In another incident during the 1970s, a woman in France claimed she had multiple visits from Jesus. During these visits, she was given messages about His coming return.

In another very public portrayal of someone meeting with Jesus, the movie Heaven Is for Real recounts the encounter that 4-year-old Colton Burpo had after nearly dying from a ruptured appendix. Side note—I love this movie and the acting in it. It is wonderfully portrayed and makes me cry every time.

There are a bunch of different incidents like this that I was aware of growing up. By nature, I am skeptical when these types of events become public knowledge. I always felt that these people needed those moments and saw what they wanted to see. I struggled to give up the idea of control—the idea that we are not in control of the situation. I know now that there is only God's way, and we have to surrender.

Yesterday was July 4th, our country's Independence Day. The celebrations are nice, and July 4th has always held special importance in my heart, as my hometown has a tradition of big fireworks and celebrations. The 4th is also the first day I woke up in my current hometown and the day that I asked my wife to be my wife.

Because it was a day of celebration, I want to use today’s post to celebrate someone else: caretakers.

After last week's post, I think it's important to pause for a moment.

What we're walking through is a long story—one that isn't always easy to read, and certainly hasn't been easy to live. I've lived every chapter of it, and some of those chapters have been incredibly difficult. Because of that, I want to step away from our story for a week and share something that is happening right now.

Recently, my life has entered a new season. Every new season brings change, and change can be difficult for anyone. For me, this particular season has been especially challenging. The interesting part is that I know this change is ultimately for my good. In fact, I truly believe the Lord has orchestrated it. Even knowing that, however, doesn't make it easy.

Warning!

This week’s post is all about the pain of our situation and how it comes in both physical and mental ways. I have included pictures of our journey. Do not look if you are unable to handle such things.

When we last spoke, we were discussing the emotional roller coaster my wife and I were on and how sad we both were. Another emotion that no one talks about during these traumatic moments is anger.

Before we get started, I want to address a question you may have. The title of this story is "Find me again," but it focuses on the journey my family has been on. It is within that story that I found myself getting lost. As you read, you see our story, you will see the trauma that we have endured, but you will also see how I seem to lose who I am, and then hopefully how I found my way back to someone who resembles me again. I owe all of this to Jesus.

I hope that each of you reading this has had a great week and is as blessed as I am by retelling this story. I will say that going back and really thinking about these important moments has been tough, but therapeutic at the same time. The book of James (1:2-4) speaks to us about considering tough times as pure joy,, as they help us build perseverance. I agree with that, but have you ever been to a point where you think, “Ok, I get it, enough of this lesson.”  I have been there too, but by looking back at the times we have struggled through, I can see the growth we have made and how my relationship with Jesus has grown.

“Everything is different!” This was the starting statement this morning during our service. It struck enough of a chord for me that I wanted to start this post with it. The pastor went on to speak about how when you find the Lord and allow him into your heart, things seem different; everything seems different. Many who have accepted the Lord and really made this step know exactly what I mean here. What kept running through my mind was not that the statement was true, but how it was, and how sometimes that is very hard.

Life often hands us challenges that shape us, much like God gave David Goliath instead of a crown. Giants come in many forms, and we all face them, even if people only show the highlight reel of their lives. I experienced this firsthand when my wife’s surgery revealed unexpected pain and complications, turning a routine recovery into a frightening ordeal. Witnessing her struggle and resilience humbled me, reminding me to face life’s giants with empathy and strength. While the initial medical check suggested all was well, I knew this was just the beginning of a larger challenge, one that would profoundly impact our journey in the days ahead.

First, let me apologize for not having a post up last week. I could tell you that I had something all written and it just didn’t post, or that I did think it was ready, but both of those would be a lie.  The truth is, last week, I let the world gain a foothold in my thoughts, and the devil took advantage. Before I knew it, the day had come and gone, but I hadn’t posted anything for you. I apologize.  I am going to spend a little bit of time talking about what happened and a little more time taking the next step in our journey, but it is important to look at last week, because when we are on this journey, the enemy will put things in our path. He wants us to stop looking back to the Lord and start being of the world.

Anyone who has attended a church service has heard the story of the prodigal son. The story of a returning son and how his Father celebrates while his Brother grows angry. If you haven’t read the story, you can find it in Luke 15:11–32. The story focuses on the son's return and the acceptance and celebration of his father, but it is the other end of the story that has been on my mind.  Let me explain.

Trust is something we all need to feel safe and move through some of the more difficult moments in life. The Lord wants us to trust in him during those times when our first reaction is to pull away from him. That is me. When I have a difficult time, I try to do it myself. Is that you too? Calm on… Join me on this journey.

When we last spoke, I told you about with something I had to deal with as this slow fade started in my life. Today I wanted to take a moment from that story, call it a “one off” this week. I want to take this path because this week I had some folks reach out to me who were a big part of my growing up, and it was so nice to hear from them.

When we last spoke, I shared about two of the most important people in my life as an adult. Being a father was always something I looked forward to and celebrated in my family. I remember older relatives announcing pregnancies, and joy spreading through the family as we gathered together during the holidays in that crowded single-wide trailer.