Love. Pure Love.

Jaroll had a special today at church. He played his trumpet, as he so often does. But he dedicated it to us. The college kids. The four people who are leaving throughout this month. He thanked God for the impacts we had in his life. And one by one, he said how we made a difference. He thanked me for helping him find joy in every day. I was already crying. And then he got to his sisters, and it took absolutely everything for me not to let those tears run. Today was the wrong day to wear eye liner. He played three songs. The last was my mother's favorite hymn slash one of my favorites to sing. My heart was already so full.

When we left, Amaris (little girl about 9 years old) said "They want you to go to the classroom". Who is they and which classroom? I asked several people but eventually figured it out. Bryan taught class that day for the kids about six to eight. And they made cards for the four students who were heading to school. And all the itty bitties signed it. Everyone just wants to make me cry today.

We were making plans to decorate our classrooms for VBS in the afternoon and I had been at peace about it all week because KARLA WAS HELPING ME HALLELU! Nothing can go wrong with my sister by my side. All week she had helped me brainstorm how to make the room look awesome and she went shopping with me so we could have all the perfect materials. We were set. Except they told me she wasn't allowed to come. They said, "We told people from church that they couldn't come. It's only those directly involved with VBS. So she probably shouldn't come either". I panicked. My heart sank. I had so much joy and they shot it down with a couple of sentences. I called her and she of course was hurt and confused. But it didn't matter. She rushed over to my house to explain how everything should be done. She made some of the crafts before getting there. And she stayed IN THE CAR OUTSIDE THE CHURCH to help make more and even advise me should I need anything. My mom told her to leave because the situation made her uncomfortable, but Karla was there. Because of her love of God and of me, she wanted to help so badly. I am grateful for that lady every single day.