This past weekend felt something like a fairy tale. The house we rented was rather castle-like with its tall windows, spacious views, and curving staircase. Conversations around the table, songs around the piano, and laughter around the pool all seemed to indicate we are living happily-ever-after.

We certainly look the part of a family unscathed by troubles. But, that would not be true. The only reason our life resembles a fairy tale is because we’ve fought some dragons. And we won. That’s what we were celebrating this weekend. Victory over illness, addiction, cancer, grief, strife, and fear. So many battles in just the last five years alone. So many hours of darkness pierced by glorious light. So many prayers and so many tears.

We ended our vacation in the room pictured here (with Dan at the piano) and we sang “Look What the Lord Has Done,” and “Oh, How He Loves Us,” and “Amazing Grace.” We talked and wept and prayed and laughed pretty much all at the same time. And we prayed for some of the battles yet to come – babies to be birthed and surgeries to undergo – knowing the victories come only by God’s grace and always by His help. And, that is a really happily-ever-after kind of ending.