It has been a while. I have three or four different posts that are currently being written but I am finding it difficult to finish them. It isn’t really a matter of available time (though my time is pretty full right now). Writing these posts for the last couple of years takes quite a bit of emotional and spiritual reflection. To be honest I am finding it difficult being vulnerable right now. I want to be a bastion of strength for my kids and writing often takes its toll on my emotional state. 

A recent conversation with someone who has walked the road I am currently on reminded me that while strength is important to display, my kids need my emotions in order to understand how to regulate their own. In other words, our children need to know that David can take on Goliath but that he can also flood his bed with tears. So here I am updating you all once again on life for the northern Rigney clan. 

It has been a little over two months since my helpmate finished her race. I cannot express to you fully how much I miss Kayla. Her absence is evident everywhere I look. It was fully on display this past weekend as we celebrated William’s 7th birthday. Kayla had a wonderful way of celebrating birthdays which offset my apathy towards birthdays. This year I found myself doing my best to channel Kayla and what she would do. William, Ellie, and I worked together to decorate cupcakes for the party and to put together party favor bags for the guests. Many parents stayed at the party to chat with me while the kids fought what sounded like an epic Nerf War. My father in law and sister in law came up from Texas with Rex to celebrate with all of us. William had a lot of fun is already making plans for his next birthday. 

My father in law and sister in law left this week and so I find myself in the middle of our new normal as a family of four. I won’t lie and tell you that this is easy because it isn’t but there have been a tremendous amount of blessings that have been provided. So many of you have been helping organize my life, give kids rides to and from school, host kids on off school days, watch kids during William’s baseball games, assist in cleaning, and doing countless other things. The longest post that I have been writing since June is centered around thanking all of you for everything. The list continues to grow as the Lord continues to bless us through more and more people. 

There is more to say but I will save that for a future post. Please continue to pray for us. Continue to pray for me. Pray that William and Ellie continue to do well in this season. God has been so kind to them in upholding their spirit throughout everything. Pray for Rex. As I write this post I am holding him on the couch. He has a 103 fever, can’t keep much food down, and is overall feeling very crummy. I got very little sleep last night as I was up with him. I thought it was teething but I think he picked up some sickness somewhere. Pray that God provides people to watch Rex and Ellie on Monday and Wednesday nights so that I can continue to coach William’s baseball team. Pray that I do not grow weary in this season. Pray for strength, rest, and perseverance. 

If you would like to sign up to help in any way listed please visit the Helping Hands link below. Thank you all for everything you are doing and for your prayers. 

https://my.lotsahelpinghands.com/community/rigneys-helping-hands