Correction: It comes in fours.

I took delivery on our new fridge last weekend. You guessed it, the old one was gasping, and rather than lose $100 of food, I struck first. Found a great appliance company in up in Zion, family-owned, Lucy's Appliances. Just fantastic people. And since my other three appliance should be going on the fritz I'll keep their number in speed-dial. Let's hope when the stove dies it doesn't burn down my kitchen...

We got word Monday that friends of ours back in Hamburg are being put through the mill. John, the youth pastor, and Becci have been friends of Matt's since he was a junior high-er. In fact, he was Matt's youth pastor. They have four kids. Ariel, the second born, was in an ATV accident, Mercy-flighted to Children's Hospital where they determined she broke a leg and dislocated her wrist. She was complaining of stomach pain (never good), and they found she tore her aorta. She was in surgery from 1-630 a.m. and it was worse than they initially thought. They had to graft part of the aorta, she lost a lot of blood, but was stable last I heard. Being far away when friends are walking through deep water is really hard. The blessing of just being present is such a gift (to the ones who chose to be present and the ones struggling). If thoughts and prayers count, then they're never truly far away at all.