Easter at the McNeills!


We hope you all had a wonderful Easter! Typically, I am one homesick girl on holidays of any sort but thankfully, we spent our day with so many wonderful people that I didn't have time to feel sad. Bobby and Debbie were kind enough to open up their home to a whole group of us...lots of strays in need of family. It was wonderful! So, I'm attaching some photos--good times!

Luke, Kathy, and Malorie


Bobby and Debbie


Pepper


Debbie and JoAnne


Luke, Kyle and I

Beauty from the Ashes


Imagine Tamar: grief-stricken, sobbing, ashes on her head. Her body in a heap on the cold floor. Soot covers her beautiful face and smears the rich colors of her torn robe. Her outward appearance echoes the cavernous darkness in her soul. Hopelessness and death well up in her. She is nothing but a tomb.

The door of her room slowly creaks open. A stream of cloudy sunlight pours through the door. A figure of a man takes form within it. Not Absalom. No, she would recognize Absalom anywhere.

She glances down at the hands that seem paralyzed on her lap, her palms covered with ash. She suddenly becomes shamefully aware of her appearance. Wretchedness sears her heart. She is certain her violated estate is obvious. She despises herself...

...He approaches and takes her face in his hands. No one has ever done that before. The overwhelming intimacy turns her face crimson, not with shame but with vulnerability. His thumbs sweep over her cheeks and wipe the tears from her face. As He takes His hands from her face and places them on her head, her throat aches with fresh cries as she sees the filth on His hands. Her filth. He draws back His hands and she senses something on her head. Perhaps in His mercy He has hooded her disgrace.

The man offers her His hands, still covered with soot, and she takes them. Suddenly she is standing. Trembling. He leads her to the brass mirror hung on the wall. She turns her face away. He lifts her chin. She gives the mirror only a glance. Her heart is startled. She begins to stare. Her face is no longer streaked with dirt. Her cheeks are blushed with beauty; her eyes are clear and bright. A crown sits on her head, and a veil flows from its jewels to her shoulders. Her torn coat is gone. A garment of fine white linen graces her neck and adorns her frame. The Kings daughter, pure and undefiled. Beauty from the Ashes. --Beth Moore

The fragmented story above is taken from a Bible study I am currently doing, entitled Breaking Free. It's in reference to 2 Samuel 13:1-22 where Tamar is betrayed/violated by her brother. I take the time to write it out because it speaks to my heart...and maybe it does to your's as well. Life is a gift-to be cherished and enjoyed but life is also hard. Our stories may or may not be like Tamar's but if we're honest, I think we've all felt a portion of that shame, defeat, and brokeness.

But the beauty of Good Friday and of Easter/Resurrection Sunday is that it's personal. He loves us that much. He restores beauty and life to our souls. He did not come and die on our behalf so that we would continue to live lives of defeat. He wants us to be free. May we have hearts that are receptive to His unfailing love. May it be personal this Easter weekend for you and for yours.
Beauty from the ashes. Daughter of the King.

Blowing Rock, NC and pictures of the smokeys

our friend Kari, taking in the view



This past weekend I had the opportunity to go and stay with a couple of friends at a cabin in the heart of blowing rock, NC. It’s a beautiful place to visit if you ever get the chance. The skiing is supposed to be wonderful (I wouldn’t know b/c I have yet to brave the slopes) but I can testify to the quaint, cozy shops and restaurants—they never disappoint. The scenery is beautiful if you like the sleepy mountains of the Smokeys. I know some of you fortunate people out there get to take in the views of the mountains in the west- breathtaking, but so different!! It seems to us that the mountain ranges of the west invigorate and energize, while our mountains in the east make you want to curl up with a good book and rest.

We had little on our agenda this past weekend. A fire in the fireplace, tasty home cooked meals, and lots of tireless conversation. Ever notice that when you’re with people you’re close to, laughter and tears come just as easily? How refreshing.

For those of you who like to harass us about where we live, I’m enclosing a couple pics. All things considered, one can understand why my husband who loves the great outdoors, might be reluctant to leave. Some photos were taken by Kyle before his switch to digital so they may be fuzzy. A couple pics were not taken by us. Love to all.

View from Milligan







Kyle on the Appalachian Trail


Good News...


The drug induced haze has ended! My apologies to those of you who I called after surgery leaving indecipherable messages on your machines! Rumor has it, I did and said a lot of interesting things in the first 24 hours post op. Fortunately, my surgery went well and although we are still awaiting the path report, my doctor believes there will be good news all around.

It feels good to be home. Those of you who know us well, know that Kyle gets a little weak in the knees with anything related to blood or sickness. I was a little concerned about how he would be during the recovery phase but he’s been amazing. He’s done it all…even the things he once told me he would hire someone else to do. :)

We are having typical spring weather in TN! Last night I awoke to cracks of lightening and the rumble of thunder. From our bed, we peer straight out the window and into the sky. Our central air has been grumbling and protesting for the past couple weeks and we are unable to keep the house cool. Because of this, our bedroom window was wide open during the intense storm last night. No, nobody got wet but in addition to the spectacular sights of the fierce storm, we were also blanketed with the sweet smell of rain.

Earlier in the evening the power went out for a few short minutes. As I snuggled deeper into the couch I said to Kyle, “ooh, I love it when this happens!”. There’s something so warm and inviting about a storm raging outside as we’re tucked away safe and sound in our home. It’s wonderful to have all possible distractions eliminated and to have no other agenda other then each other; even better-- each other by the canopy of candlelight. It makes me wonder why we don’t ‘turn it all off’ every now and then. Why wait for the thunder and lightening to render us ‘powerless’ when we could have candlelight at our finger tips? Apathy? Maybe. But maybe somewhere inside, we crave the storm just a little knowing that good things await.

I mention the weather because it aptly describes where we’re at right now. There’s a newness and a freshness of life lingering in the air. It seems the winter months became stagnant and somewhat monotonous as they slowly drifted by. Gradually, without our awareness, the stagnant way of life seeped into our beings. We've been living in that place where we seem to drag our feet, we keep our eyes fixed on the ground ahead of us, and each day comes and goes as expected. We forget that to simply wake and greet the day is a gift in and of itself. We pay little attention to the details of living. The wonder of life (and of the precious people in it) loses it's sparkle.

Then comes the crack of lightening and the rumble of thunder. The power goes out. We stare into the sky and marvel at the power of the elements--and more importantly, the power of God. We see the glow of one another beheld in a soft cloak of candlelight, we listen, and we inhale the sweet, fresh scent of the rain.
New life after the storm.

Keep the windows open.
Good things await.