As I attempted to say in my last post (though I was clearly not able to find adequate words to capture it), a collection of beautiful people came together in the last month to paint a neighborhood mural. While the mural was partially in honor of our family, it was more accurately done to bless the entire community. The intent, as I am told, was to give something to both the community and to our family–or better said, it was by giving to the community that these people felt they could most effectively give to us. Our friend who headed up the project said that her intent was for it to partially capture an end result of our work, passions, and dreams. It was the action of all the neighbors coming together creatively that was actually the gift to Jess and I while it was the end result art piece (the mural) that was the actual gift to the community. I think she’s right.
One of of the subversive participants in this project put together this video of the murals creation. It makes me jealous that I missed out on the fun of secretively painting together with friends…so I kind of hate this video…but I guess it’s still worth watching (please know I’m joking)…
Ryan –
I just discovered your blog here a couple of hours ago, coming from Mike Cope's blog, the first I ever read some 7 1/2 years ago, now. I've read several of your blog posts, several of your "About Us" and "Cancer Writings" posts, and feel so incredibly blessed that I've come to know you and your family just a bit. I am a 67 (but feel the same as I did as a young adult! smile!) woman, who has been God's child nearly my entire life. I've lived through so very many difficult life experiences, but by the grace of God am still alive and "fairly" well – considering.
I blogged for many years, myself, but have had to slow down the past many months due to family situations (and an unwelcome "stalker"), but know how it is to so need to write, while at the same time understanding that you are opening yourself up to "the masses," so to speak. From the first few words I read of your story, I began to pray for you and yours. I am one who talks with God all of my waking moments and sometimes far into the night. God be with you as you continue your journey through this life, ever heading toward the life God has made for us to fulfill his promises to us, His children, through Christ Jesus.
I lost a little brother, Mark Alan, at 8 years old, many, many years ago to brain cancer, so know what it is like to live in such an environment. Things have not changed much since then as far as a "cure," as we would call it, but I can tell you that his life made a HUGE difference in this world, and does to this day, some 53(?!) years later. Several boys were named in his honor, for one thing, including my own younger son, Mark Austin, who was quite premature and nearly died at birth. But, God answered my prayers for my son and he is one of my greatest blessings, now the daddy to three little girls, and they live near by.
I have bookmarked your blog and shall follow you as our days progress. I invite you to peruse my blog, such as it is (was, mostly), "Finding Direction: The Wind Vane Chronicles," which may have some things that might be helpful to you . . . and Jessica. I hope so, anyway. I've done it for my own family, but found, as I'm sure YOU have, that there are MANY out there searching for a wider Christian community and I have to say that blogging has brought me a most WONDERFUL Christian fellowship from all across our globe.
May God richly bless you and keep you tight in His arms through and in all,
Dee (Andrews)
Wood's Family,
What a tribute to your vision of creating community in this space… This inspires me to bring visability to love around families. What an amazing thing. Thanks to you who thought to make your love big and permanent on a wall in our community.
~Michelle Mallory
What a gift. Thank you so much for sharing. Bless you all.
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