Grief

The last couple weeks have been emotional ones. 2 weeks ago I found myself invited over to the youth pastor's house, along with some other friends, to support him as he was grieving the sudden loss of his father. Then this week one of my best friends miscarried at 10 weeks of pregnancy.

I've brought food, prayed, texted, facebooked and called to support the loved ones in my life during this difficult time. Grieving is such a process and the best thing one can do is just listen and love. Well that and maybe feed them. :-)

I love cooking for people. Just last week I baked an entire lemon bar/tart to satiate my friend's pregnancy cravings.....

and then just days later I found myself bringing her homemade mac & cheese as comfort food.

This weekend I'm hanging out with some friends and have been asked to bring my molasses cookies (obviously I've developed a bit of a reputation and honestly I don't mind one bit!)

Part of our journey in life is dealing with the extreme ups and downs of joy and sorrow. I've been fortunate thus far to not have to grieve in such a personal way through the loss of a close family member or friend. And when I think of possibly experiencing that myself one day, it truly scares me. But then I look at my brave & strong friends and realize that God is always there through those valleys and His supernatural peace will bring comfort no matter the trial.

These last two weeks have been a time of remembering what's most important in life - the relationships we've been blessed with and the love of our Father. I'm grateful that we serve a God who comforts, heals and loves. And that the time we have on this earth is not where life ends, but where it only begins.

Dream the Dream

Some close friends of mine were talking about how they saw Wicked on Broadway in New York a couple weeks back and how they had caught the Broadway bug. It immediately brought to memory all those wonderful times my parents have taken me to the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle (thanks mom & dad!).

Jason has yet to see a Broadway show, and I thought what better show to see first then Les Miserables! I have seen it several times myself and hands down believe its the most amazing Broadway experience out there. So this last week I was perusing around the TPAC website (our local Nashville theatre) and saw that the Broadway tour of Les Miserables is coming to Nashville in May of 2011!! AND not only that, but its the 25th Anniversary Edition, Dream the Dream tour which has been getting rave reviews where its opened in London. Last Friday tickets went on sale and I bought Jason and I tickets!!!!!!

I'm bummed our friends Dana & Julie won't be able to join us now that they are expecting a little one in April, but they are by no means getting the short end of the deal. I'm looking forward to being an auntie once again :-)