10/29/2026
❤️ Praising Him Through the Storms! 🙌
Every time I scroll through my photos and come across this picture of Dude, I can't help but smile. ❤️
This photo was taken on September 21st, during what turned out to be a major gallbladder attack. What you can't see in this picture is just how much pain he was in.
But what you CAN see is a man with his hands lifted, praising God right in the middle of it! 🙌
I actually have a video of this moment, too. He was in severe pain, yet he just kept raising his hands and saying, "Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Jesus!"
Y'all, that will preach! ❤️
It's such a beautiful reminder that we don't just praise God when everything is going our way. We praise Him in the valleys, through the storms, in the uncertainty, and even when we don't understand what He's doing.
Just a few hours after this picture was taken, we received the news that Dude had kidney cancer.
And guess what? HIS PRAISE HASN'T CHANGED! 🙌❤️
Now, let me tell y'all about another little testimony!
A few days ago, we went to the urologist. The billing lady came into the room and informed me that we needed to pay $5,000 upfront for the surgeon alone!
Y'all, I about fell out of my chair! 😳😂
A few weeks earlier, the surgery coordinator had called and given me all the prices, and the surgeon's fee was quoted at $2,500. So for the past several weeks, every extra dollar that has come in, I've been setting aside to pay for this surgery.
I explained all of that to the billing lady, but she insisted they didn't offer cash discounts.
She stepped out of the room, and a little while later, she came back with some news.
The coordinator had indeed given us the wrong price...
HOWEVER... THEY WERE GOING TO HONOR THE ORIGINAL $2,500 QUOTE! 🙌🙌🙌
Can somebody say, THANK YOU, JESUS! ❤️
Now, here's the thing. Even if we'd had to come up with that extra $2,500, I believe with all my heart that God would have made a way. And we STILL would have praised Him!
Because our praise isn't based on our circumstances. Our praise is based on WHO HE IS!
God was good before the diagnosis. He's good in the middle of it. And He'll still be good when we come out on the other side!
We don't know everything this journey holds, but we know WHO holds us. ❤️
So we're going to keep working, keep trusting, keep praying, and most importantly, KEEP PRAISING! 🙌
God is so, so good!
Keep those prayers coming, y'all! We feel every single one of them, and we are so thankful for everyone who has loved on us, encouraged us, and prayed for Dude.
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." — Psalm 34:1 KJV ❤️
