$100 to see today....

kate advisory: get a tissue and a diet coke.

Every summer childhood memory I have includes a visit to my maternal grandparents' English Tudor home (Grandma and Grandpa) in Chicago. In the summers, we'd stay weeks at a time. Naturally over the "I forgot we had rules" stay it would rain. Buckets that is. Of course it would rain on a day filled with a forecast of fun for outside play. (pop up reminder: early 80s here....kids could be outside playing w/o a cell phone or fear of getting taken).

One day in particular stands out of all the summers. Little 'ole me stood at the Traditional Home magazine worthy door, and whined "it is such an ugly day," to the beat of the rain drops pelting the stone walkway. From his green chair with a newspaper held over his face, Grandpa stated, "a blind man would pay $100 to see today." Even before the sun came out, the day wasn't so ugly anymore.

I use that 80's line in my world a lot. From raining days in Oklahoma City to ridiculous complaining amongst young people, I use Grandpa's reality check statement more than he probably did.


Over a week ago, I came across (per Kelly's Korner) the story of Leslie Joy (Bond) Evans: 28 year old fighting for her life after giving birth to 21 week old twins who both made an immediate trip to Heaven. Leslie became a wife and a mother the day she married Mark Evans in June 2009 to his children: Marli (9), Marcus (6), and Manning (3). Mark lost his first wife, Melinda, to breast cancer in August 2007, leaving three kids longing for maternal love. After complications from an embolism, Leslie died on October 7, 2010 as a mother, a wife, a daughter, and a legacy.


For some reason (I really can't explain), I attended Leslie's funeral (down the street from my house) today. I wanted to sing (I hum) with her family, pray with and for them, and thank them for sharing this beautiful soul with the world. I have thought SO much about these families: Melinda's parents who have to watch their grandchildren lose another mother; Leslie's parents who mourn their daughter and grandchildren; Mark who buried his second wife and two babies today; and Leslie's brother who buried his bride in June to a brain tumor and now his only sister 3.5 months later. And for those three kids...who loved Leslie from day one, I just hurt for them. All of them.

You'll need a few more tissues to watch this video tribute from today's service. And, yes the sweet voice you'll hear in the second song is Leslie's.



I walked out of the church to a beautiful, October sunny day. No rain drops or Grandpa quotes needed to remind me... everyday is a beautiful gift. Every moment. Each breath. We are not promised a darn thing other than He will give us refuge from the storm. Boy, it is raining in so many hearts tonight. Even in this stranger's heart.

Pray for the Evans, Bond, and Watters families to find God's umbrellas of strength, rest, and peace as I know they would pay so much for Leslie to see today.

disclaimer: I didn't take any one's seat today. I made sure there were plenty of seats for those who needed one.