A few of you have asked that I share some of my favorite products. I recently acquired a cheese slicer, and I love it. Mr. Handsome and I both really love cheese, and we go through a lot of it. We have a cheese knife, but it doesn’t work as advertised, so for the first three years of marriage, we just used a regular knife….
Texas
Prairie Dogs
A few weeks ago, Mr. Handsome and I ventured down to the massive state of Texas to visit some military friends who are stationed there temporarily. They live three hours west of Dallas in Abilene, and one thing we noticed was that the area is a lot more arid than we had expected. There were some small trees, but nothing the size of what we are accustomed to here. The temperatures were in the high 90s (around 38 degrees Celsius), which I have noticed is a lot more difficult to handle while pregnant. Abilene is a large town that has plenty of amenities, but it is as much in the middle of nowhere as it gets….
Tragedy in Texas
America is reeling from yet another tragedy. On Sunday morning, in the deadliest mass shooting to ever take place in a U.S. house of worship, a gunman opened fire inside First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas. At least 26 are dead and more than 20 injured, which accounts for almost every single person who was inside the sanctuary.
As the gunman left the church, two brave citizens sprung into action. Stephen Willeford ran out of his house with his own gun and began to fire at the gunman, who escaped in an SUV. Johnnie Langendorff, another local hero, who was driving by as the scene was unfolding, went after the gunman in an 11-mile, high-speed chase. Eventually, the gunman lost control, and the police arrived to take over.
Although the gunman has died, he has left a trail of devastation in the town of Sutherland Springs, located 40 minutes outside San Antonio with a population of approximately 600. In a place where everybody knows everybody, the effects of this massacre have been unthinkable.
This morning, I was brought to tears when I came across a Washington Post article about the Holcombe family. Joe and Claryce Holcombe, who attend a different church in the area, lost nine family members in the shooting. I can’t even begin to imagine the anguish they are feeling as they mourn the loss of nine children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. As you keep the people of Sutherland Springs in your thoughts and prayers, remember the Holcombe family.
Even in the midst of his immense pain, Joe Holcombe shared a quote that really encouraged me, and I hope it does the same for you: “We are Christians. We have read the book. We know the ending, and it’s good.”
Hurricane Harvey
This weekend, Nashville was hit with the eye of tropical storm Harvey. Tornado sirens went off at midnight, and a number of people had to be rescued from their homes due to flooding.
But as I lay in bed listening to the wind and rain pelt against our house, I couldn’t help but think of the thousands of folks down in Texas who have been suffering for days. So many people have lost everything but the clothes on their back, and some have even lost friends and family.
Rescues are still ongoing, and I am so encouraged to see our nation, as well as those from across the world, step in to help. We all have our differences, but when tragedy strikes, those with true character are able to throw those differences aside and give aid to whoever needs it.
Even after the waters recede, the folks in Texas, as well as those in surrounding states that have been hit by Harvey or remnants of the storm, will need our prayer and financial support.
If you or someone you know has been affected by Hurricane Harvey, please post a comment so we can encourage you. If you have heard positive stories of people helping people, please share those, as well. And finally, if you have creative ideas of out-of-the-box ways to lend a hand, please tell us. Looking forward to hearing from you. #UnitedWeStand #TexasStrong
Interview with Author Benton Hall
I have another interview to share with you all! If you are familiar with the organization Cru, you will enjoy listening to my conversation with Benton Hall, a long-time Cru team leader from Texas.
In his new book, Tales from the Bike Path, Benton shares a collection of humorous, heartbreaking, and encouraging short stories from his unique, 44-year career as a mentor of students.