Funeral Music and Video

Maggie's Funeral was a celebration of a Faithful God and faith lived well. Her service can be viewed in its entirety by following the link below. Eulogy and message were provided by Scott Hanberry, Phil Hanberry, and Darryl Craft. Charlie Hardee played piano for...

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Satisfied Life

A Satisfied Life Loved Well This past Monday night (Aug. 6)  I awoke at 12:30 and found myself unable to return to sleep. I went to Maggie's room - a place I find myself drawn to - not shying from - in order to feel closer to her. I looked around at the remains of her...

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Innumerable (05.28.2018)

(Maggie's birthday weekend has been an unforgettably beautiful time. She has had little pain and great energy to enjoy three separate parties at home. We are eternally grateful for all the kindness shown to her and us. Tomorrow morning Maggie and I will go to the...

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One in a Million

We've always known Maggie is one in a million. Now we have confirmation. Maggie has been diagnosed with colorectal cancer (adenocarcinoma). We have been in shock since Monday because we thought we would be battling Crohns's or Ulcerative Colitis. This cancer literally...

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Thanksgiving 2017

Sometimes, the hardest place to go is back. To the setting of our darkest hour and deepest hurt. Mercy calls us back for healing - to complete its job. And with such thoughts ruminating in my heart and mind Monday, Maggie and I loaded the car and traveled east.... to...

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A Race Called Mercy

Homesickness for Batson and Jackson plaguing our early visits to UAB has begun to lift. Frequent trips to Birmingham are allowing me to feel more a part of the city than my occasional shopping trips had allowed. But it takes work to open a heart to new people when you...

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God is Great, God is Good

Is God who is great enough to heal still good when He doesn’t? This question has plagued me since Maggie was first diagnosed. The answer never changes. Acceptance is often like Mississippi snow: here today, gone in an hour. How can I help it stick? As with snow, I am...

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Repurposing

If April 7, 2014 had brought us a different outcome, if my daughter Maggie's colonoscopy had revealed a benign and fixable mass instead of a malignant invasion, then today I would be on a plane to Nepal for a mission trip with a team from church. The work was perfect,...

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I Have Met the Enemy

After Maggie’s second liver resection, we followed her bed as she was wheeled from recovery to 2C. 2C? We were expecting the fifth floor but were told she needed closer monitoring in a step-down unit. The floor was at capacity, so we landed in a smaller-than-typical...

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Seeking Grace in Broken Dreams

Being left behind stinks. That’s about as tastefully as I can say it. To want to be somewhere other than the place you currently cannot leave is frustrating. But when you’re sidelined from a much-celebrated rite of passage, missing the boat feels like utter...

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