Thursday, February 10th (Evening)

The house has been different for 18 days.  Incomplete feeling.  Our family was hurting from the separation.  Somehow, God knew this would be a blessing.  Somehow, He decided to turn this into a beautiful act that He should be glorified for.  I am not saying I saw this coming or even enjoyed the ride, but the amount of lives touched by Laura and her strength through her God has been such a masterpiece by Him that I am going to have to look at it for awhile to understand only a little of the work.  Yes, Laura is home, and yet that does not at all tell the whole story.  Even when I try to describe the night Laura crawled on the floor from pain, or when the doctors weren't sure how this was going to turn out, or when Laura was told over the phone by a friend that "God has already healed you;" none of those things give even a glimpse of the past 2 and a half weeks.

With the journey ending in hugs and tears on the driveway with the kids around 3 o'clock today, it was clear that God only wanted Laura to serve a role in His work.  He did not need Laura: He chose her.  And that's exactly how she feels.  I am typing this right now sitting next to my wife at home.  It's a good feeling.  I have missed her greatly.  I watch her differently than I used to.  Now, I am trying to read her more and learn more from her personal experience.  She has shared a bit of her story with you guys when she was up to putting in a word doc, only to have me cut and paste it to Facebook.  Her reason was simple..."this has been a spiritual retreat for me and I don't want media to get in the way, but I 'd really like to share what's on my heart, what I think God is encouraging me to say."

Laura wrote in a journal right before Christmas that she "...longs to find peace and depth in [her] faith."  Her past few weeks have done just that and have encouraged her to share more and be more connected with God's requests from her.  I wonder if my faith will look different.  It feels different.  It seems changed, but is it changed into a faith that God asks for?  Not sure.  All I know is He has stretched me in a lot of new ways--ways I did not expect--and that's a very good thing.  I pray that I will chase Him in deeper ways from this point on.  I am grateful for His healing work in Laura's life.  Not just making her stronger physically, but spiritually.

I am not sure if I will continue to write here in Facebook every night, but I value all of you for sharing with me the ways this situation has touched you.  Thank you for helping, really helping, my family out.  You all have shown what real love is and where that love comes from.

My wife is home. Goodnight.