…but it sure feels like it should be later in the week.  Yesterday seemed to take at least 2 days, and I wasn’t even at the hospital!  Thank you all again for the support, encouragement and prayers. 

For an update on Deb, check out Deb’s blog where Chris updated last night and this morning already.  You can also see pictures she’s recently posted a couple of blogs down.

Also, since Deb had only recently gotten into Xanga, I thought I might introduce you all to her a little bit.

• Deb is originally from Michigan, and she and my brother met their freshman year of college at Cedarville University.  They dated most of college and got married after graduation in 1997, so they just celebrated their 11th wedding anniversary.
• Deb’s birthday is next week, September 25, and she’ll be 33 years old this year.  She’s a great mom to their two girls, Holly (3) and Kelly (almost-6), and she quit her job as an elementary school teacher to stay home with them.  She does work part-time for CU, teaching a basic math class a couple of times a week.  Other than that, though, she spends a lot of time taking care of Chris and the girls and helping out with the moms group at their church.
• It’s already been a hard year for Deb.  Her mom has a kidney disease that required a transplant a few years back, but this year has seen a number of complications arise.  Deb’s been phenomenal, even long-distance, as they dealt with her mom having a stroke earlier this year and then, very unexpectedly, losing her leg because of complications of her diabetes and an aggressive infection.  I know that Deb’s really struggled to know how to help her mom, but she’s done a great job trying to balance her family’s needs with her parents’ needs 5 hours away. 
• Debbie is incredibly crafty and uses watermelons as her kitchen theme.  She’s decorated most of their house herself, doing faux wall finishes and such.  And she’s one of those people who never, ever takes a bad picture, even with no make up or after hours of labor.  She’s got a great sense of humor and loves my brother immensely.  She’s been a fantastic addition to our family for the last (more than) 11 years!

So that’s a very brief introduction.  Feel free to leave comments on my brother’s updates even though he doesn’t know any of you.  I’m sure it will encourage him!

Lastly, this was the passage from the daily devotional email I got today.  It just seemed to fit really well, and I hope it encourages you, this morning, too.

The LORD always keeps his promises;
    he is gracious in all he does.
The LORD helps the fallen
    and lifts those bent beneath their loads. …
The LORD is righteous in everything he does;
    he is filled with kindness.
The LORD is close to all who call on him,
    yes, to all who call on him in truth.
He grants the desires of those who fear him;
    he hears their cries for help and rescues them.

Psalm 145:13–14, 17–19