reality

i am just re-entering reality after a 3 day hunger games extravaganza during which i read book one starting on Saturday afternoon at 3pm, and finished the third book last night at 9pm. that's three books in three days, while still functioning somewhat normally. like there was food on the table for every meal, church, and even some coffee dates. whew. excellent series.

whilst i was overcome with the hunger games world, i was plagued by the injustice of their lives. because it is not fair. and its frustrating when something is so obviously not fair.

now that i am back in reality, i am overwhelmed with the injustices of this world. for there are many. i know not one of you is surprised at these words. each person deals with some major injustices. and it can be overwhelming to live in this fallen and broken world.

it is not fair that brad didnt get to grow up with his daddy. that he had to endure his hero dying. that brad now does not get to show his dad what an awesome father he has become. that his dad cannot tell brad how proud of him he is for his hard work on the farm, his beautiful family and his consistent faith.

it is not fair that i dont get the same from my mom. that she still uses everything in her power to hurt me instead of love, support and do life with me. that the longing of my heart is to have a healthy relationship with her and though she is here on earth with us, it is simply not possible while she is struggling with her demons.

it is not fair that some of the best people i know cannot have babies. that people lose their precious, wanted, and loved for children before they even get to meet them. that marriages crumble and families fall apart. it is not fair.

there is very little we can do about many of the devastating and frustrating circumstances that living in a sinful world brings. but do not be downhearted, for jesus christ has overcome this world! aligning ourselves with this power provides us with a beautiful alternative to the despair the injustice of this world brings, hope.

so when our friend's bouncing baby boy was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis soon after he was born, though we are devestated by the injustice, we have hope.

here are elliot and my little cupcake on their second date. i mean playdate ;)

having baby ayla jo was one of the best days of my life. though the labor and delivery is not always good time, laboring in the room next door to your friends makes the experience much more enjoyable. while i sat there hooked up to a heartbeat monitor for my baby, i got to meet theirs, baby elliot, the son of our good friends, who was born just next door to us the day before. elliot's daddy monitored my contractions for me on the tvs in the hallway and elliots mommy provided me with my daughter's first gift.

once my baby girl finally joined the party, elliot and aylaroo had their first playdate only hours old. let me tell you, there is a special place in my heart for baby and now big boy elliot leegwater. not only as the son of some super friends, and the first friend/pledged husband for my daughter, but as the cutest little face of cystic fybrosis.

the whole leegwater clan at an easter egg hunt last year.


check out this link to see a sweet video of this precious boy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BxnIEe3JfM

every day, elliot fights cystic fybrosis, a life-shortening genetic disorder that creates a thick mucus in his lungs and pancreas. he takes five medications, gets nebulizer treatments and chest percussions daily just to stay healthy. so not fair. this darling dude and his fam are not without hope, for their god is mighty and their lives carefully formed by the creator of the universe.

camping together last summer, elliot and ayla jo shared the one and only baby swing at this park.

lets put some action to our hope. GREAT STRIDES is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's largest and most successful national fundraising event. This year, I'm walking in the GREAT STRIDES walk at the 2012 Grand Haven - Lakeshore Middle School walk on 05/20/2012. Please help me meet my fundraising goal of $150.00 by sponsoring me. Your generous gift will be used efficiently and effectively, as nearly 90 cents of every dollar of revenue raised is available for investment in vital CF programs to support research, care and education.

you can donate right online by going to www.cff.org/great_strides/lyndseymeiste

financially is not the only way to support elliot and all those with cystic fibrosis. lets pray for healing, miraculous medical breakthroughs, and health and comfort for elliot. lets pray that one day CF stands for CURE FOUND.