Our church family, like many, spends a few minutes each Sunday worship service in a time of "prayers and praises". The bulletin carries a couple dozen names of people in our minds and hearts for which we are/have been praying. A name or two are added or dropped off from the lists weekly. Others are there for a number of weeks.

Darlene's and Misty's names have been there for multiple weeks.

Verbally we learned from Darlene's sister that she would be 'going home some time this week'. Darlene had a stroke several weeks ago and has been residing in the local care center. Her biggest disability from the stroke:  loss of speaking ability. Therapy is helping Darlene make big strides in recovering the number of words she can speak and for people's ability to understand her words.

What a praise!

Our minister's wife, Kara, took the podium for a couple of minutes, asking our congregation to pray with, and for, Misty White and her family. Her name has been on our list for months. Misty has cancer; not a good kind. Her family includes a husband, five children:  a son just out of high school, two daughters:  one in high school and another in middle school; plus fifth grade twins - a son and daughter.

Kara brought us the news that Misty has been moved to hospice. "It is days now rather than weeks," she said. Mom had told Kara, and she relayed the message to our congregation, "Take care of my babies." We prayed together as a congregation.

What is going to happen next for/with the family? We don't know......

But one thing we do know:  Misty is 'going home'.

What a praise!