Hope

And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don’t want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus. -1Thessalonians 4:13-14(The Message)

Worth a Thousand Words

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By the Flowers of Spring

By the Flowers of Spring
(My gift to Quincy on her 21st Birthday.  Her first spent in heaven)

Behold the hours,
In summer’s sun, 
Ephemeral flowers, 
There stained with love. 

The light descends, 
Late afternoon, 
The autumn’s hint,  
Impending ruin. 

Oh winter’s ruse, 
A hammering blow, 
The fatal bruise, 
Has laid us low. 

And dark goes the song.  The flowers are crushed.
And dark goes the song.  The flowers are crushed. 
And dark goes the song.  Our love’s been lost.

Sigh…

But, wait.  Listen...  
A thawing crack.
Snowmelt glistens, 
The sunlight’s back. 

And can it be?
Yes! Sprouting sprouts!
And shooting greens,
Release the SHOUT!

(Ha!) 
Winter’s anthem,
Has lost its sting
Finally vanquished,
By the Flowers of Spring. 

And bright goes the song.  The flowers are raised.
And bright goes the song.  The flowers are raised.
And bright goes the song.  Our love’s been saved!

Next Trips

Our next trips to Haiti have been set.  A Mission Church group will be going Dec 28-Jan 6 alongside a group from M.N.U.  The numbers have to be capped, unfortunately.  There'll be 15 in each group.  (30 Americans total.)  In addition, there's a nursing trip scheduled for March 2016 and a MNU Women Soccer trip scheduled for Summer 2016.  

Meanwhile, recent developments between the Dominican Republic and Haiti may very well affect the work we get to do there.  The poor always wind up being taken advantage of especially when they are on the wrong side of the border.  You can read about it here.  Regardless of your political persuasion this is a crazy humanitarian issue.  Either way, LQVE is heading back.   

Quinc, overlooking a Haitian community.  I like this pic.

Never Letting Go

Are they trying to sell me something?  Yes, but I do love the, "For All the Nevers in Life" State Farm commercial...  It's a good one for Father's Day.  

This is, of course, the first Father's Day without Quincy.  It's a terrible reality.  But, because of our Heavenly Father we'll see Q again.  The scripture says, He (God) never sleeps, He doesn't doze off.  He's constantly watching you.  If you're a parent, you know what it's like to stay awake and watch over your kids.  Maybe the kid's been sick... or maybe your child has had a difficult day... or as they get older, you're awake, waiting for them to come home, concerned about their well-being... All of these and more are pictures of our Heavenly Father.  He's up.  Watching over us.  It's not to smack us over the head.  The reason He forgoes sleep is because of love.  The whole world spins on this love.