It’s easy to pray for what you want and envision a specific outcome, not unlike a preschooler asking for a snack and expecting said snack in exactly .3 seconds. But offering up those same hopes and desires and then trusting God completely with whatever his response may be? Well, that’s the opposite of easy.

Resting in those mountains, in the silence and refreshing separation from the world we were able to feel the joy of the life set before us. It was there that we agreed that it was time to dive into life with Lora and close our family building chapter. We wanted to focus on the path we had been placed on, one where we get to enjoy life with our miraculous, wild little girl.

God’s response? A knowing smile. And maybe a little laughter.

We’re in no way more equipped to handle this ridiculous life than anyone else; I promise our day-to-day is just as uniquely chaotic as yours. But at this point we have a cabin in the valley of the shadow of death. Maybe you’ve found yourself here too. So stop by. Let me pour you some coffee while rest your feet a minute. Our stories might have more in common than you think.

Our leader's experience allowed him to see those brutally imposing formations as a welcoming, familiar pattern of peaks and valleys. By trusting his guidance, we spent days adventurously exploring the craggy landscape, landing in places with views that took our breath away almost as much as the altitude did.

Living amidst the brokenness we find ourselves in this side of heaven inspired this year’s Ronald McDonald House Fundraiser design, but the concept of surviving personal wildfires turned out to be far more poignant than I ever anticipated; our wildfire season wasn’t over yet.

Standing in the shadow of mountains sets you firmly in your place in the presence of our creator. The still embrace of nature communicating with the design of every cell in your body lights a fire, causing you to feel at once intricately connected to everything and yet miraculously, tenderly and uniquely created. Powerfully protected in one sense yet entirely at the mercy of the wilderness that surrounds you.