Donovan and I looked forward to this summer. For him, teaching meant that he would have the summer off. For me, the birth of our newest baby meant that I would have the same months off. We reduced our toddler’s school schedule and were excited to spend this summer as a family.

And the summer was good. Until August.

At the beginning of August, we began to feel the pressure of Donovan’s decision to leave his teaching job and begin his own small carpentry business. With paychecks from his previous year teaching coming to an end and myself still being on unpaid leave, financial stability became a growing concern.

Then on August 3rd, Donovan ran his thumb through a table saw. As I am getting ready to get E from school, take dinner to our friends who just had a baby, and head to the pool for Friday night as a family, I hear “Lauren, you’re going to need to drive me to the doctor. NOW.” And so, August began. We rushed to a local emergency room where we were told he would need immediate hand surgery since he hit the bone. We drove downtown where a surgical team was waiting for us. Fortunately, the process was much quicker than expected, and we were home by midnight.

To a hot, 90-degree house. Our AC unit had gone out while we were at the hospital. I strip the kids and put them to bed in as little as possible, and first thing in the morning, we call an AC tech that gives us an outrageous $17,000 quote to replace the unit. So, we pack up and head to stay with friends who have graciously opened their home to our rowdy family of four.

At this point, I am already feeling like the hits are coming from all sides.

Thankfully, the next day, our friends are able to replace one part on our AC unit for $30 and get it back up and running. So, we move back into our house (bittersweet, because we were enjoying our luxury stay with our friends).

A few days later, we take the newest baby for his 2-month check up. With a previous issue losing weight, we’re relieved to see him gaining weight as expected. But then the pediatrician shows concern about his skull and asks us to see a specialist. Okay, so treatment would be a helmet? No, it would more likely be surgery. Cranial surgery on my 2-month-old baby? Wow. (Spoiler alert: his head is fine.)

The next day, we head down to Donovan’s thumb appointment hoping for good news and are told that he will most likely need a second surgery with skin graft.

This is our August.

It’s not over, but it’s been hard. And while a lot of things have resolved well, there have been dark moments. But Donovan and I have wanted people to know as we’ve walked through it all, that our hope is in God.

When Jesus was leaving this earth, he made us a promise. That he would be with us. Always. To the end of the age. And he has been with us this month. As we’ve taken what feels like hit after hit after hit. We’ve felt his nearness. And while we were never promised that life won’t feel dark sometimes, we have been promised that he is with us through it all.

So we’ll follow wherever He leadeth,
Let the path be dreary or bright;
For we’ve proved that our God can give comfort; 
Our God can give songs in the night.

The truth is that God has provided for us. He has given us songs in the night.