My son and His Warrior Wife

I found a lounger in the shade.
It was a quiet day at the community pool with outside temperatures soaring past 108 degrees.
The palm trees surrounding the bougie resort-style pool slapped quietly in the desert breezes. The air was hot and dry—
Just like I like it…

And again-
The thoughts circled me—
That a year ago—
I could have never imagined that “THIS” is where I’d be…

I felt immense peace and gratitude. I can’t even begin to imagine the degree of the details that God had woven through the years of my son and his warrior wife. 
But truly—
They had each been prepared for this journey well before they met. 

When my son, Bry, was two…
I was hosting a church youth group at our home while my husband was away on a business trip. 
The boys (2 and 4) were both in the next room as I led the girls through their evening activity. 
At one point—
Bry came around the corner from the kitchen…
He was soaked in red juice. 
He held up two tiny red stained socks and in toddler tone and slight jibberish said –
“My socks are wet…” 
The group of girls giggled as I excused myself and led Bry back to the kitchen. I rounded the same corner from where he had just come—
The refrigerator doors were wide open. My toddler had somehow secured the pitcher of juice from the top shelf by methods no mom wants to imagine.  It was now sitting on the floor having been partially spilled. 
I asked him if he needed a drink. 
His bright blue eyes lit up as he nodded “yes”. 
He was an independent problem solver from a very young age. I had to learn to let him test the limits of what I thought he should or could do. I learned to get out of his way and watch him explore the world in ways I couldn’t necessarily see it…

His wife, Jodi, has had her own preparations for her own faith-filled journey to get to the threshold of this latest chapter in their story as a family. 
Years of questions, frustrations, and unsolved lists of symptoms have dotted her path. 
Bry tirelessly worked to research the problem and answer the question of whom to find to help Jodi return to better health. Jodi worked to keep fighting…
Lots of prayers…
Lots of details….
Lots of first this— then that’s…
Lots of God making more out of the small things than any of us can on our own…

And then-
A specialist was found—
Medical records were submitted as an application—
An appointment was scheduled with an unfortunate hefty period of wait—
Miracles were prayed for…

Then-
A surgeon reviewed Jodi’s scans—
He acknowledged the severity and degree of complication—
But simply asked her—
“How you’re living—
It’s not sustainable, is it…?
I can help you.”

And so marked the beginning a of a new miraculous chapter—
And I’ve been privileged to tag along for the ride. 
I’ve seen what God can do…
…After more than a decade of seemingly unanswered prayers…

-JC

Signature Fudge Brownies 

1 cup melted butter
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup dark cocoa powder
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup dark brown sugar
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup of flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 ¼ cups chopped chocolate pieces

Mix together melted butter, oil and dark cocoa powder. Stir in sugars and eggs, and vanilla extract. Beat with an electric mixer until smooth and shiny. Stir in flour, salt and chocolate pieces. Stir until combined.
Spray a 9” x 13” pan with baking spray. Spoon brownie batter into pan and spread out evenly. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.
Let cool completely. Frost with Fudge Frosting. Garnish as desired.
Let set. Share!

Fudge Frosting
Melt together in the microwave-
A 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 ½ cups semi-sweet chocolate chips
Dash of salt

Stir until smooth.
Stir in-
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup (Hershey’s) chocolate syrup