Thanks for praying for our week, it went much smoother after cancelling the party. I think everyone here is on the mend. Steven as always has been sick longest and is still coughing quite a bit. He starts his new job today, so I'm sending him off armed with cold meds and a hot lunch.



The funeral was just beautiful! We sang some of Micah's favorite songs and his father spoke about what a privelege it has been to care for Micah, and about the fact that exactly what God planned happened, and Micah ran his race accomplishing the will of the Father. Then the brothers and sisters had written what they most loved and will most miss about Micah and it was read by one of the young men at church. Then two of the men at church whose families are especially close to Micah's family shared some thoughts. The Pastor gave a message and Conrad spoke on the sanctity of life. Conrad made it through the whole thing with only getting a little choked up! That is amazing because he is famous for getting choked up during nearly every sermon he has preached and at Baptisms too! At the end, we were invited to come up and share about Micah or to say a blessing to the family. I got up and shared what I had been praying for each of the children during the time I was praying for Micah and his parents. It was a wonderful time of rejoicing in God's goodness and remembering Micah's special smile. There was plenty of food afterward, too.



This is a hymn that our pastor chose for us to sing at the funeral. I thought it was very sweet.:

Children of the Heavenly Father

Children of the heavnly Father

safely in his bosom gather;

nestling bird nor star in heaven

such a refuge e'er was given.



God his own doth tend and nourish,

in his holy courts they flourish;

from all evil things he spares them,

in his mighty arms he bears them.



Neither life nor death shall ever

from the Lord his children sever;

unto them his grace he showeth,

and their sorrows all he knoweth.



Praise the Lord in joyful numbers,

your Protector never slumbers;

at the will of your Defender

ev'ry foeman must surrender.



Though he giveth or he taketh.

God his children ne'er forsaketh;

his the loving purpose solely

to preserve them pure and holy.



More secure is no one ever

than the loved ones of the Savior;

not yon star on high abiding

nor the bird in home-nest hiding.