Checking In

I must confess that I am a bit taken aback that so many of you are still checking this site. I did promise more from Linda's heart and I will get to that, hopefully within a week. I do plan to continue writing - I will talk about that in the not too distant future, but I will tell you that I have thought (with strong encouragement from David Calvert) about writing with an emphasis toward college students. We have a number of students from Campbell University that attend Grace, and I dearly love interacting with students. I love all ages, but I think a blog would be particularly interesting to that group, if one has something worth saying, that is. We will have to see about that! There are a lot of things (and, I certainly hope they would be of interest to all ages) I often think about theologically and philosophically that would be difficult to address thoroughly on Sunday morning. It is not that these topics would be inappropriate on Sunday morning, but a blog would allow for more speculation, more "thinking out loud on paper," more direct interaction with contemporary worldviews. It may be worth checking out, no matter what your age, but I fully understand if you slip away. Well, I need to stop - I am, after all, just "checking in."

As always, I want to thank you so much for praying and encouraging our family (all of us, including Linda's parents and siblings) in the many ways you have. The responses to this blog, the cards, the e-mails, the notes, the hugs and words of encouragement - WOW! Since you have been so great, I would like to make a few specific requests. First, please continue to pray for all of us. I imagine there are many different ways that people grieve. While I have an over-all "sadness" that is always with me, I am able to laugh and engage other people and some ideas, even. On the other hand, certain items that I see, or certain thoughts that hit me out of the blue, create some world class emotional pain. In those moments, the grief is intense. Fortunately, those episodes are usually brief, but there are enough of them to know that I am very much in an early stage of grieving. I am not ready to leave it, though. As painful as it is, it keeps me very much connected to the love of my life! Don't make more out of that than I mean - I am still with you in the real world.

Also, pray for the kids. It is tough for all of them, though I do think they are handling it quite well. One special request - Brian (Autumn's husband) found out on Sunday night or Monday morning that his best friend from high school (though they have not kept in touch these last years) committed suicide. Brian was already grieving for the Dean family (Nancy, you will recall, died in February) and for Linda (he was very close with her) when he got the news. He is, as you would imagine, a bit overwhelmed. I could not have two better sons-in-law and a soon to be daughter-in-law. So, when I ask for prayer for the kids, I mean all six of them!

I took longer checking in than I planned, so I will say good night I love all of you!