a new family

Joel and I have been involved in small groups ever since we were married.

And it seems like it is always the same with every group.

It takes about a year for everyone to feel really comfortable with each other.

It takes that long for people to be open and real and vulnerable.

It takes that long for those people to become more like family.

But it is amazing how this time it was so different.

In one weekend we gained a new family.

In one weekend we were vulnerable with each other, there was no avoiding it.

We shared our deepest hurts and struggles.

We shared our grief.

These are the eleven couples we spent the weekend with.

Eleven amazing couples. Each and every one of them.

Starting the first night together we shared our stories.

We sat in that big living room and told all about our sweet child.

We told about the tragedies and nightmares that we each had lived through.

Each story was different, but equally horrific.

We cried together.

And although listening to all those stories was really heavy,

there was something so neat about it.

We could relate.

We understood each other. And we felt instantly connected.

We loved being able to meet Bob and Lauren.

They too lost their first child, Robbie.

Shortly after Cora went to heaven, they sent us Nancy Guthrie's books.

Lauren has encouraged me so much.

She is so willing to share her story and answer my questions.

She is the one who e-mailed me and told me about the Respite Retreat.

And the best part was they were going to be there too!

Joel and I spent lots of time talking to them.

Their love for the Lord and dependence on Him is so evident.

We are learning so much from them.

We are so thankful for David and Nancy

and their willingness to share their lives.

The Lord is using their story to reach so many, including us.

Joel and I feel blessed to have met and shared our lives

with these eleven couples.

If we were honest, we would do anything to not be a part of this "club".

But this is our life now and these people really get us.

That was refreshing.

We are so thankful to have some new friends to travel this road with us.