BE Photography: Carter Family, etc.

Today, family friends celebrated their last Sunday for a while with their dad. Todd has been called away to Afghanistan, for work, for a while and Jeff and I, along with the rest of my family, were blessed to join their church for a commissioning service. After, several sweet ladies hosted a lunch party.

My face is really tired. I know that sounds stupid, but it just really is. It's been a really crazy weekend. Yesterday we (My "four core" + Jeff + me) made a day trip to OKC for my cousin's funeral. It was a blessing and it was horrible. It was definitely the most thoughtful and personal and wonderful funeral service I've ever been to, yet I really didn't see it coming. Lisa had been sick for two years, and we all just knew that she would get better. I mean, I could picture her autobiography in my head. The Story of Survival. Some great title like that. My New Heart. Maybe that one. Anyways, it's been a long and complicated journey and one I'll never know or understand all the details of. So yesterday was a rough day. (I feel kinda stupid writing that, in light of what the last few years were like for Lisa and her family, and what the coming years will mean for her family, but the truth is, it just really was a rough day.) It was so hard to see her friends mourning, but really, watching my family (her grandmother/my great-grandmother had seven children reach adulthood, each of whom have several children, many of whom have children...it's a large clan) was the worst. It hurt; it was hard. But it was beautiful. There was so much to celebrate about Lisa and who she was and who she will be, through her two daughters. For what it had to be, it was exactly right. (Side note, please be praying for this family)

Aaanyways, then today was Todd's commissioning service, etc. And again, it was exactly right. So much worship and prayer and Truth, and it was good. I know his wife and four kids and grandson and gobs of other blood-family and friend-family are going to miss hum very much, but the confidence to which they witness is inspiring. The Desert Song was the last song sung at church (by Todd's youngest, Eden, who is a-mazing, btw) put this weekend into great perspective for me. You should try to listen to it--it's complex and almost a little dark-sounding at times, and very open-ended, which, for many of us, is more appropriate than we'd like to admit. Here's it is:

The Desert Song Lyrics

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in the hunger in me
My God is a God who provides

And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon forged against me shall remain

I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
And triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow Great song. Anyhow, here are some photos of the fabulous Carter family before Todd heads to Afghanistan next week: