:. four decades .:

Forty years.
One apartment. Four houses. Three cities. Two states.
Two daughters. Two weddings. Two sons. Seven grandchildren.
Laughter, joy, and fun by the bucketfuls.
Tears, sadness, and heartache measured in handfuls.

Forty years.
Memories swirl. My heart is full.
Past joys carefully, lovingly tucked away: there will come a time to immerse myself in them.
For now, reality demands a certain 'distance'.
Otherwise my heart would shatter and I could not go on.

Forty years.
Grieving what we've lost, trying hard to appreciate who we are now.
Thankful for the companionship that comes from a lifetime together.
Incomplete thoughts and great confusion aside, we can still make each other laugh.
Sometimes.

Forty years.

Happy Anniversary, Benny.

:. nutshell .:

So how do you catch up on 2 years of life? Bullet points, I imagine.
In no particular order:

• it's Lewy Body, not Parkinsons. Silly neurologist! You should've listened to me from the beginning!
• if you want to know how selfish you are, try caregiving 24/7. Eye-opening, I tell you.
• Cohen Russell Saldanha. Mmmmm.... that taste of heaven is new since we last spoke.
• 7 (SEVEN!) grands! The most wonderful little people in the universe. And they have become...
• ...cousins who love each other deeply. What a joy to see them enjoying one another.
• hours upon hours spent in my studio. So thankful for that space in which to create.
• dozens and dozens of bags, pillows, hats, scarves and etc.
• my kids. May I just say I am so grateful that God has blessed us with such loving sons and daughters. They refresh my heart in so many ways.
• westwind church continues their great care of us. I have said so many times that I have never seen people be so consistently like Jesus. It's a beautiful thing, indeed.
• my garden has never really recovered from too many seasons of neglect. I think of it as a microcosm of the world God created: intended for great beauty and perfection, but pretty much overrun with weeds and decay and disarray.
• I've learned to let a lot of things slide. A LOT of things. 
• I've also learned how to change a furnace filter and put air in my tires and take down a light fixture (and actually get it wired back up without getting electrocuted!)
• it's really, really hard to be needy. I imagine there's some pride involved, but I think a lot of it is I don't like putting other people out. I know, I know. But YOU try it. It's HARD to ask for help.
• I've never been so exhausted in my life.
• emotional strain is more wearing than lack of sleep. Emotional strain PLUS lack of sleep essentially zombifies a person.
• sweet little Mozart #5 (or 6, I lose track) is such a delightful beauty. He sings like there's no tomorrow. Hmmm.... perhaps he knows something I don't know??
• I repainted my living room and my bathrooms (gorgeous!) as well as my bedroom furniture (also gorgeous!)
• our bedroom is next on my list, but so far I haven't been in the mood to paint. And trust me, you MUST be in the mood to paint.
• after years of heavy-duty sewing, I FINALLY purchased a heavy-duty sewing machine. Wow. Just wow. A dream machine!
• and of course, most importantly, my God has never left my side. He has walked right beside me through it all. Oh, who am I kidding? He has CARRIED me - a loving Father tenderly carrying His weary daughter.

Surely there's been more, so much more in the last 2 years.

But this is a good start 'for the record'.

:. hello 2016 .:

Wow. It's been over 2 years since I've posted. I'd pretty much given up blogging; it's so 2010.
And then a funny thing happened: I went back to the beginning. The other night I logged on to this old blog and read some of the very first posts. That's when I realized why I blog. It is history, my history. It is a record of how things are at a particular moment in time. Of course... so obvious, right? What I didn't count on was how much I'd forgotten; how many little snippets of the past had been wiped from the old memory banks. Joy and pain, good and bad, it's all important in shaping who we're becoming. And it's nice to have a written record.

So..... I may or may not start posting semi-regularly. But it is my best shot at remembering who I am and where I've been.

:. the babe, the awesome king .:

As you celebrate the birth of that tiny babe in Bethlehem, don't misunderstand who Jesus really is. Many of His day didn't recognize their King; many failed to respond to His offer of mercy. Most didn't understand that He was the Eternal God incarnate.

The apostle John knew Jesus well. He walked with Him on this earth, saw Him transfigured on the mount, and ate dinner with the resurrected Jesus. He saw Him ascend into heaven with his own eyes.
Yet towards the end of his life, John records a vision he saw of his beloved Savior and friend. When he beheld Jesus, he "fell at His feet as though dead." He was now seeing the glorified King of heaven and earth - awesome, indeed. Jesus placed His hand on John and told him he needn't be afraid.

That babe in the manger is now the glorified Christ who sits at the right hand of God in heaven. And He has said He will return to the earth one day. On that day, there will be no mistaking Him. He is coming the second time as "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS", with power and great glory. At the sight of Him, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord.
What kind of people ought we to be?

Yes, rejoice that the baby was born.
But recognize that He deserves your all.

:. a beautiful chaos .:

For various reasons (laziness being high on the list) it's been awhile since I've hosted family dinner. Last night we finally all came together.
There are twelve of us in the immediate family: six adults and six children. We grown-ups are all friends; we love each other dearly. And the cousins, well, they are absolutely ecstatic whenever they get together. My home is on the small side, so all of us together makes for a very cozy gathering. Very cozy. Some might call it chaotic.

Coming from the kitchen after seeing to the final dinner prep, I stood in the doorway drinking in the scene in the living room:

• my wonderful sons, engaged in conversation, deepening their brother-bond
• my two beautiful girls, sharing an armchair, talking and giggling madly
• all six of my littles, their toys strewn EVERYwhere, laughing, running, hugging, sharing

I thought my heart might burst.
It continued through dinner - the stories, the laughter, the happy chatter.
The highlights?

• the lovely prayers lifted up by the little ones before we began our meal
• Josh telling his crazy fat raccoon story, every child in rapt attention 
• Eisley guffawing that wonderful belly-laugh of sheer delight at the conclusion of said fat raccoon story
• Liam explaining how he planned (with my help) to make a brain out of yarn
• the way my kids love their nieces and nephews as if they were their own
• the deep love that showed itself as we sat around the table enjoying lasagna and family

I found myself offering up a prayer to my wonderful Savior, thanking Him for such beautiful chaos.

:. today .:

Today was a good day.
I spent some time with Gavie -
we invented a new game involving bubbles, squirt guns and Han Solo.
We also spoke in cursive...
and worked on our multiplication tables.
We sang...and laughed...
and enjoyed the glorious spring day.
Today was a good day.

Today was a good day.
I saw a girl crossing University on a unicycle.
A unicycle!
I walked out of the fabric store having spent only 66 cents...
and I overheard friends sharing a laugh.
The sky was blue, birds were singing...
And I had a good book to read.
Yes, today was a good day.

Today was a good day.
I had food, I was clothed, I had shelter.
I had people who love me...
and those I can love in return.
I had enough trial to help me grow...
and failure enough to keep me humble.
I had everything I need...
and more.
Yes, today was a good day.

"This is the day The Lord has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it."

:. all glory to God .:

When one has a progressive brain disorder simple, everyday tasks become increasingly difficult. Getting dressed, getting in and out of bed, walking - movement in general - all becomes more challenging. Combine that with loss of strength and balance and a decline in cognitive ability and you have an idea of what life is like with Parkinson's disease.

It's no secret that the past few years have been hard for Benny. Putting in 14-hour days just trying to keep up at work; slowly realizing Parkinson's was making it impossible to do his job; and finally having no choice but to take early retirement - all that is quite dispiriting.
Hardest of all, perhaps, has been my life-long DIY-er watching his DIY-ing skills gradually slipping away. Benny has always been a master: refinishing, refurbishing, remodeling; you name it, and he did it. And did it perfectly. He still tackles many home improvement projects, but at a much slower, unsteadier pace.

A dozen years ago we added the pièce de résistance to our backyard garden: a lovely little pond complete with waterfall. It was a labor of love and it was beautiful.

** [Historical side-note: In 12 years, and with 6 grandchildren running around, only two people have ever fallen in said pond. Their names? Katie and Eisley . . . go figure.]

Fast-forward 10 years: our pond had become more trouble than we could handle. The past 2 years we've had broken pumps, out-of-control silt and algae, filters that refused to filter. It was a 300-gallon nightmare. Last month Benny decided the pond had to go. A huge job, but we knew we could enlist the help of our two super-strong boys.

Before we could even ask for their help, the cavalry arrived.

We have been a part of Westwind Church since last year. Like many churches, Westwind has a number of smaller groups (called "Connection Groups") you can join in order to connect on a more intimate level. These groups meet weekly in homes, fleshing out the message from the previous Sunday, getting to know one another better, praying for each other. When our little group got wind of this pond-filling project looming large before us, they did not hesitate. They signed on, signed up, and set a date.

Last Saturday, 20 people showed up at our house at 8am. Twenty people. They gave up one of the first perfect Saturdays of the spring to help us. And truth be told, Benny and I haven't exactly been stellar in attending our connection group the past 6 months. Some of those who came we hardly knew. But they came and they worked. They moved sand and pavers, they raked and tilled and mulched and swept. They replaced a rotten pillar. They even brought lunch.

It was a wonderful day, laboring together, and not only did we get a fresh start on our home, but 20 people are now tied more closely with an unbreakable bond.

And lest you say, "Well, of course they would do that for one of their own", let me be clear that this group, and Westwind as a whole, very actively serves many in the metro who are not a part of the church. They have helped the poor, the hungry, the homeless. They have tried to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

They can love like this because they are fully loved by God. They have chosen to align themselves with God's will, giving themselves over to the leadership of Jesus Christ in their lives. Jesus said, "I did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give My life as a ransom for many."

Christians have been known to get a bad rap, sometimes deservedly so. But when you find people who are being obedient to God and led by the Spirit of God, you see the Church as it was meant to be.

Need a church home? Want to be surrounded by people who will love you unconditionally? If you're anywhere near the Des Moines metro area, I suggest you visit Westwind. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

And our deepest, heart-felt thanks to our wonderful connection group. It is a pleasure doing life with you guys!!

:. talk about indolence .:

Gavie and I were hanging out the other day, playing a game of 'ways we are different, ways we are alike'. I threw out the fact that he likes to run, and I don't. Without missing a beat (and with absolutely no malice) he said, "Granny, you are indolent."
[For all of you people too indolent to look it up in the dictionary, it means 'lazy'.]

This from the boy who a year ago could hardly read. This from the boy who had pretty much been given up on by his teacher last year. This from my dear, sweet 2nd-grade Gavie, who is now reading at a sixth grade level, thanks mainly to the wonderful people at Educational Resource Associates.

What a wonderful thing, to be able to read! It broadens not only your vocabulary, but your whole world.
And you know what? Gavie's right: I do trend towards being indolent.

:. Orange ya glad it's not the 70's? .:

I was given this rescue chair a few months back. It was headed for the curb, but since it was in pretty good shape (other than the hideous out-dated orange velvet) I decided to give it a home. It remained stashed away in my garage until recently, when I finally found THE PERFECT FABRIC.

First off: EVERYTHING. There wasn't enough 'cush' for my tastes, and besides, I couldn't bear the thought of putting my beautiful new fabric on the old, worn-out foam and batting. So I took it down to the bare wood and springs.

You find such interesting things when tearing apart something that old (said the medical examiner as he finished up the autopsy. Just kidding.) I found a pair of tweezers, a pair of scissors, and THIS guy:

Such a McMillanish super stud. Oh, the 70's.

I didn't take a lot of step-by-step, but here I am midway through. New foam, new batting . . . and that gorgeous birdie fabric!! I used 4" thick foam for the back and seat cushion, and wrapped everything with a generous double layer of batting. CUSH-EE!!

And the finished chair:

And here it is in it's natural habitat:

A perfect addition to my little corner of the universe.

I am NOT by any means an expert upholsterer. This is only my second attempt, but with the limitless  information highway known as the internet, you can learn to do ANYthing. (I've often said if there was a tutorial online for brain surgery, I'd probably give it a whirl. IF I could find someone willing to let me try it out on them.)

And finally, I leave you with the CarLingHa family motto:

"Don't look too closely!"

:. balance .:

A faithful reader of this blog (perhaps the only reader of this blog) gently reminded me the other day that it has been nearly a year since I've posted anything. [Thanks, mom.] I decided to log on just to have a look around. Imagine my chagrin when I realized how outdated the pics were on my sidebar, not to mention the fact that I had yet to post a snap of my littlest Thatcher love.
Yes, I've been negligent, lazy, uninspired, busy, careless . . . call it whatever you will.

I decided a few weeks ago that 'balance' would be my goal for 2013. Doing what needs to be done, making time for people I love, taking time to relax, a little of this, a little of that.
And in that vein, attempting to blog when and if I actually have something blog-worthy to share.

We'll see how it goes.

For now, please enjoy the updated pics of the wonderful little people in my life.

:. things I know, things I love .:

A list (because that's the easiest post of all):
* daylight savings wreaks havoc on your circadian rhythms
* BUT, it's absolutely delightful to have sunshine into the evening hours
* this week, the forecast calls for sandal weather. Ladies, go get a fresh pedi and dig out those flips!
   (Sorry, Paige.)
* the Saldanhas living in Des Moines makes me over-the-top HAPPY
* little brother coming any moment also makes me ecstatic
* having SIX little people in my life is one of God's hugest blessings

Picture this:

* Liam demonstrating Irish step-dancing (my new favorite mental picture)

* Sloanie's rosebud lips (the stuff of dreams)

* Tate in full battle gear, sword drawn (bad guys tremble)

* Gavie, the sweetest, hardest-working first grader I know (he says Grandma Jean is lucky, because she's almost 100 - his favorite number!)

* Miss Eisley, the funniest, cutest almost-two year old in history (tutu included)

* everything God does in His kids' lives has its root in love. Perfect, unconditional, agape love
* because of the above, WE NEED NOT FEAR. EVER
* hearing those first birds of spring singing their lovely songs is unsurpassedly glorious
* we should all get off faceBOOK, and spend some face TIME with those we call friends
* because really, social media will probably be the death of real social interaction
* we are thankful for our new church family; such a wonderful group of like-minded people
* if you're in the vicinity, you really should check out westwindchurch.org
* and speaking of westwind, so great to see Chris and Kate helping to lead worship on Sunday mornings. Does a mom's heart good. (besides the fact they sound awesome together.)
 * and on that subject, just how DOES a mom get so blessed? Every one of my kids is an amazing adult:

my boys are hard-working, godly men, lovers of their families and obedient to the call of God on their lives.

my girls are hard-working, godly women, lovers of their families and also obedient to their God.

Aahh, I am so, so very blessed.

:. my grands, my loves .:

We had the distinct pleasure of hosting these three wonderful gentlemen overnight last Friday. I snapped this pic just before bedtime . . . and don't worry, it wasn't ALL sitting quietly on the sofa, reading. We had plenty of  F.U.N. (Cuz that's just the way it is at granny's house!)
Please look closely at this picture: notice Gavie is reading The Bible. Tate is perusing a book filled with pictures from The National Gallery of Art. And Liam, dear Liam, is reading a comic book. I kinda LOVE this picture!
We had a great time together, and the only problem occurred when I loaded Liam's toothbrush with A&D ointment, rather than toothpaste. Mmmmmm.
[Trust me, no A&D was ingested.]
Then there's this:

This pic was taken on the morning of November 30, 2011. (Yeah, that's how far behind I am in blogging.) In case you're not aware, that was the morning Miss Sloane Cadèt was born. My guys got their boy-band rockin' while they patiently waited to head down to the hospital to meet their new baby sister. Awesome.
And speaking of Sloanie B, take a look at this sweetness:

This wouldn't be a complete post without a couple of cousin pics:

Oh, how they love each other!
And finally. Here's Miss Eisley on Christmas morning, complete with tutu and toenail polish:

Like the title says, my grands, my loves.

:. 2011: a short history .:

So very hard to believe we are wrapping up another 365-day span. Don't want to sound too ancient here, but my, oh my, how the days/weeks/months fly by!
I know I've been a most pathetic blogger this year; my thoughts have been scattered and my heart has been elsewhere.
Oh, and I've been a bit busy as well.
But I would like to at least mention for posterity some of the highlights of the past year.

* biggest and BEST news: Sloanie B. decided to join our family. Josh, Em and boys are blessed and delighted to finally have occasion to pull out the ruffles and tutus. Thanks, guys, for adding such a sweet princess to the Hulling mix.

* and along those lines, the news that Chris and Katie will be adding a BOY in March to their already tutufied household. There's nothing better than waiting for a baby to be born!

* to add to the beauty of a new Saldanha baby was the announcement that C, K and fam would be moving to Des Moines in 2012! Woo-hoo on that one! They are coming to be part of a church plant, so I'm expecting God to use them and bless them. (and naturally, we, their family, will be blessed to have them here.)

* Benny has adjusted pretty well to life on disability. I've never seen his workshop look cleaner! He's on the verge of turning out some amazing projects.

* I decided to give up cooking. THAT'S a relief!

* my business has boomed. What started out as an infinitesimally small venture is now what I'd consider a micro business. I have about as much work as I can handle and still enjoy it.

* my garden spent yet another season in overgrown disarray. I'm wondering if I'll ever have the energy to tend it as if it were my Eden?

* all my grands continue to delight and amaze. I seriously have the most beautiful, sweetest, funniest grandchildren in the world. [Just glance to your right if you don't believe me!]

* my God continues to uphold me with His tender right hand. He remains faithful even when I am not. He blesses, He provides, He strengthens. All because I am His. Abba, Father. How lovely to say those words.

I truly hope you have seen God at work in your life this past year. If you somehow missed it, I'd suggest you take a closer look. I'm pretty sure you've not really been left alone.

May 2012 bring you joy and peace!

:. for unto us .:

Why Christmas?

Because the King of the Earth threw off His royal robes and humbly, willingly, stepped into the skin of man. And the world rejoices at the sound of a newborn's cry: God has come to save His people.

Emmanuel.

God is with us.

Right here.

Right now.

For you.

:. moms .:

"Like all mothers, mine was beautiful."

That is a very memorable quote from a very forgettable memoir I read years ago. It has stuck with me all this time, nicely capturing the feeling most of us have for our moms.

[I realize we live in a sin-cursed world. I realize there are some BAD moms out there - neglectful, abusive, mean, or apathetic. But for the most part, moms are pretty wonderful creatures.]

Moms are generally patient, nurturing and loving. A mom has eyes in the back of her head, knows all, sees all . . . and quickly forgives all. A mom is understanding, sympathetic, a good listener, and has the coziest lap in the world. There is nothing like her. And yes, moms make mistakes, and get tired, and lose their patience, and sometimes even (heaven forbid!) get a little cranky. So what? They're human.

But this blog isn't about moms in general. It's about my mom.

I truly do have a beautiful mom. She is generous, kind and loving. She is funny, warm and an absolute blast to be around. She has had more than her share of heartache, but has always maintained a positive attitude. She finds humor in the everyday things of life. She raised ten children (did you catch that?? TEN!) without a whole lot of help. (And if I do say so myself, we are all pretty awesome adults.) She instilled in us a reverence for God - her source of strength. She is the original SuperWoman.

Today is her 80th birthday, and she is as beautiful and awesome as ever. She works part-time, she drives a sweet little car, she likes to kick back with a beer. She loves a good laugh, and is hilarious herself. She is still the selfless, loving, encouraging mom of my childhood.

Mom, you are AMAZING, and I love you very much. I hope I can be just like you when I'm 80.

:. oh, look, it's a blog post .:

I make no excuses for not blogging more. If you've been paying attention, I've already made my excuses.

For today, simply an observation:

Never give up on anything with roots.

It's true in gardening, true in life.

:. happily ever after .:

monterrey, mexico • july, 1996

Happy Anniversary, Josh and Emily! 14 years . . . wowza! May God grant you the unconditional love that bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things. May you always be aware of the precious gift you've been given, never taking each other for granted. May you stay strong in your devotion to one another, and in your devotion to your Savior. May God give you strength in the hard times, a thankful spirit in the good times, and joy always. May you continue to raise your children in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, giving them a secure foundation for their futures. Thank you for the example you have been to so many, modeling the extreme love of Christ for His Church. Wishing you many, many blessings in the years to come!

:. s words for $500 .:

Oh, yikes. It started out as just another Special Day With Grandma. But then poor Liam caught the business end of a sword, and, well, like I said: yikes.
And no, of course it wasn't a real sword. And yes, that is a fat lip. A fat lip and three stitches.
Yikes.

Anyone else care to spend a Special Day With me??

:. phew! .:

My goodness, does life never slow down?!? So much has happened in my little corner of the world lately. Here's the run-down in paragraph form:

my eye surgery went well [no dangling sutures needed!] • so now I no longer see two of everything, and that's wonderful, indeed • but shortly after that, benny and I spent 7 hours in the ER • which ended with him having an appendectomy at 4 a.m. • he then spent 3 days in the hospital trying to bounce back • which unceremoniously began his life on disability • because his Parkinsons just wasn't allowing him to be able to continue working • so now he's trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life • and I remember that displaced feeling when I was faced with an empty nest all those long years ago • so I know just what he's going through • it's definitely going to be an adjustment after spending the last 40 years of his life going off to work every day, being a 'productive member of society' • but something I learned long ago is that being a 'productive member of society' doesn't always involve receiving a paycheck • so I'm certain he'll soon realize what a treasure it is to be able to spend his time doing things he wants to do • he mentioned, for instance, that he's always wanted to volunteer somewhere • and that would be awesome • and hopefully he'll also get himself back down to his workshop and create some beauty, now that he has the time to work at his own 'park-pace' [I just made that term up. pretty dang good, I'd say] • and speaking of creating, I have recently branched out with my purse business • I am repurposing burlap coffee bean bags into some pretty sweet items • so look for purses, book covers, wallets and etc at Tandem Brick Gallery or your nearest Grounds for Celebration • (did I mention they're pretty sweet?) • and somewhere in the midst of all that, Miss Eisley turned ONE • her mommy and daddy hosted a wonderful garden party in her honor on Mother's Day • and can I just say I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate? (Mother's Day and her birthday?) • And Gavin is finishing up his first year of school • and as always, I'm so very proud of how hard he works at everything • Liam and Taterbug continue to amaze at how stinking funny they are • funny and sweet and thoughtful (yes, I love my boys!) • my garden is a mess, and so far I've planted absolutely nothing • and I probably won't because, well, have you not just read this far and seen how crazy life is right now? • and here's just a sample of my new bags . . . fun, funky and I realized how much I love the smell of jute!

so, thanks for reading.

:. stop crowding Jesus .:

The woman awoke with the same sense of despair she'd known for the past dozen years. She could hardly find the strength to drag herself out of bed every morning. Her medical condition had only grown worse with the passage of time, in spite of seeing every specialist she could find. She'd spent every last penny on doctor after doctor, trying all the latest advances in medicine as well as every quack cure, only to be told, "There's nothing I can do for you."

After twelve years of suffering, she was out of money, and out of hope.

On this morning, she managed to get up and get dressed; the pantry was bare and she had no choice but to go to the market. Oh, how she dreaded being out in crowds! Her malady wasn't usually obvious to outsiders, but there had been those embarrassing times when the blood had gushed out, staining her clothes for all to see. It was painful; it was humiliating.

The market was busier than usual that day; something or someone was drawing a massive crowd at the end of the street. Curious, the woman carefully made her way to the edge of the crowd. She inched her way in until she could see what was causing all the commotion.

Standing in the middle was Jesus.

The woman had heard about him. Some said he was the One Who Was to Come, the Messiah. Others said he was Beelzebub himself. She'd heard stories of how he had healed with a word or a simple touch. One story going around was that this Jesus had actually brought a dead man back to life.

Whatever the truth was about him, here he was now, right in front of her. If she wanted to, she could reach out and touch him, he was that close.

Reach out and touch him . . .
If the stories were true . . . if he is the Messiah, the Son of God . . .
If he really could heal with just a touch . . .

There was certainty in her movement as she reached for him. She somehow knew that all she needed was a single touch to his cloak and her suffering would be over.

Her finger lightly brushed the back of his garment. She was instantly aware of healing surging through her ravaged body; she knew that at last she had been freed from her affliction. She felt like her old self, the one she'd long forgotten.

Jesus stopped short, looked around the crowd and asked, "Who touched me?" His followers thought he was joking. "Everyone is crowding in on you, and you ask who touched you? Seriously?"
But Jesus continued to search the crowd until his eyes met those of the woman. Trembling, she fell at his feet and admitted that it was she. With tenderness in his voice, Jesus said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." *

It is possible to stand right next to Jesus, but never touch Him in faith. It is possible to crowd around the Savior, but never be freed from our sin. It is possible to follow Him, but never allow Him to change us.
Don't make the same mistake the crowd made. Go ahead and touch Him . . . really touch Him in faith. You'll be amazed at the results.

*the original story can be found in Mark 5