And the winner is...

First order of business, before I begin blogging in earnest: the title. Now These Remain, modified slightly from its original submission, received from Daniel Eagan, Director of Student Ministries at Riverside Church. 

Daniel remarked that one line in my intro (“all the pieces of my former life remain save for one…”) made him think of 1 Corinthians 13:13.

 “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.”

I like the duality of it. It hits on not only what we’ve had to reconcile in the weeks and months since Jay’s death but also what’s sustained us in the wake of this unimaginable loss.  

Now these remain.

Where once we were a family of five, now we are four.

Now these remain.

Faith, Hope and Love are the virtues we’ve learned we must cling to if we are going to have any shot at restoring joy in our lives going forward. 

Incorporating other popular suggestions, the complete title will look like this:

Now These Remain

One family’s journey from broken to beautiful through faith, hope and love

Thanks to everyone who offered input. I see already some potential blog posts in many of your ideas. Thanks for the inspiration. And thanks for your support of our family, for the love you've showered on us and, especially, for always remembering Jay.