It's been a tough week. I sang--or rather TRIED to sing--in church this morning. "Word of God Speak." An awesome song. I thought I could do it, but in light of the two tragedies we've had this week I barely got through the song.

Scott, Jan, Brandon, Natalie and little Tyler all flew out of MSP to Atlanta (final destination: Hartwell, GA) on Tuesday and just got home this morning. Even though Scott and I shared some hugs and tears together tonight (more on that later), I can't imagine being in their shoes. While in Georgia they helped their daughter in law plan Ryan's funeral, had a visitation, a funeral and buried their son. They visited with some of the people Ryan worked with and are realizing more and more every day what an influence Ryan had on the people around him. The number one thing that keeps coming up: how important Ryan's family was to him. They had a chance to visit the accident site, too. I don't know if I could have done that, but I think it was a good thing for them to do. More closure. So tonight I met Scott and Mark's parent's house and watched the DVD that the funeral home in Georgia put together as a memorial to Ryan. I just bawled. It's just not fair, Lord! I'm sad for Jan and Scott and Jennifer, but my heart breaks when I think of his sons...especially for the one that will be born next month. Joshua (he'll be 2 in December) won't remember his father, but at least he'll have lots of great pictures of himself with his Dad to look back on. Noah won't have any of that. I'm trusting, Lord, that somehow you're in all this.

Mark, Mark's Mom and I continue to help Scott and Jan however we can to put things together for Ryan's memorial service. It will be at Eau Galle Damn site (a beautiful place) in Spring Valley, WI, on July 15th. I think there will be a ton of people there. I'd say about 150. Whatever they need, that's what we'll do.

Mark went to the funeral of his friend Scott Basche on Thursday. He saw lots of people from his former Lutheran Brotherhood days, so it was a time a renewal for him...and for his friends. Although it was tough and continues to be tough to think that Scott is gone, his faith was strong and we know he's with Jesus...healthy (no more cancer), whole (he now has both of his legs back...they had been amputated due to the cancer), and at peace. Yes, those of us who had the pleasure of meeting him have heavy hearts, but we can also have happy hearts because of the legacy he leaves behind. Lori (Scott's wife) told Mark that Scott was SO happy we came to visit last month. He couldn't stop talking about Hope (or, as Scott called her, Miss Brue). He just loved her. That meant a lot to Mark to hear that. Now we ask Hope where Scott is and she says, "With Jesus."

But amidst all this crap this week there have been little glimpses of goodness: Hope went to bed at 8:30 tonight instead of 11, which has become her normal. Mark, Hope and I got in about 10 minutes of tennis this afternoon before it started to storm. Hope starts swimming pool lessons (that's what she calls them) tomorrow night...and at the end of the lessons she'll be 2 (the last lesson is on her birthday). Mark has some potential stuff going on with his job that could be really good down the road. I got to work a wedding with Pastor Dawn on Saturday and have one more with her this coming Saturday (I'm going to miss her so much...I can't believe she'll be leaving in just a couple of weeks. Maybe if I kidnap her she won't go). We replaced both our digital camera and one of our TVs and we're loving them both. And something REALLY special to me is that our friends Ron and Beth, the ones I have mentioned so much in this blog, asked me to sing at Hope's baptism on Aug. 5th. You have NO idea how honored I was to be asked. They know so many people...especially musicians...but they asked ME! Now if I can only get through that song.

So it's been a week. I'm not sure what else to say. Please continue to keep our friends in your prayers. We'll post more pictures of Hope (we've got some great ones with our new camera) soon. For now, it's time for bed. Hopefully I can sleep through the night tonight. That's been an issue for me this week.

Sweet dreams...