Pray

We've been battling some illness in our house lately.  Apparently, there is a stomach bug raging through Lexington and the Noble household was not spared from its assault.  First Annie got it, then David got it, and then right when I was feeling very self-important about the strength of my immune system, it hit me in the middle of the night last night.  Ugh.

This weekend, we all felt well enough to go car seat shopping.  How can she be this big?!?

She kept trying to put her shoes on over her footed pjs and insisted I help her out.

 But even as I sit on the couch eating saltines and drinking Sprite, I am fully aware that what has run its course through our house this last week is nothing compared to what some we know and care about are facing today.  Specifically, we have friends from college, Kendrick and Molly, who are living the unthinkable.  Kendrick was David's roommate in college and stood up for him as a groomsman in our wedding.  Kendrick and Molly have two children.  Their daughter Izzy, who is four, has stage 4 cancer.  Every time I think about their beautiful, spirited little girl, I want to cry.  Because sometimes life isn't fair.  Because no child should have to endure what she is living today.  15 months of treatment - chemotherapy, surgery, sickness.  And no parents should have to watch helplessly as a disease like cancer changes the face of their family.  Becomes so prominent in who they are and how they live their lives.  That just isn't fair. 

And, of course, as a parent, my breath catches every single time I read or hear news about Izzy's condition.  It catches because I fear it could happen to us.  Out of nowhere, a diagnosis that changes everything.   And I look at my girl, hold her tighter, kiss her sweet face, and whisper, "God, please protect her."  Because that's one of the things these types of stories do.  They make you grateful and fearful all at the same time.

I wanted to post about Izzy to ask you to pray.  If you are a praying person, please pray for Izzy.  Ask others you know to pray.  Pray for her healing.  Pray for hope and courage for that sweet little girl and her parents.  Pray for strength for the whole family as they walk a path that has to take a toll.  Pray that somehow, some way, this will get better for them all.  If you would like to follow Izzy's progress and learn more about her and her parents and big brother, please visit www.izzystory.com.