Sunlight Burning at Midnight

Starting out in life as a young wife and mother, you never imagine the ways your hopes and dreams might be completely shattered. For Jessica and her husband Jason, a series of unrelenting heartbreaks struck, beginning with their baby's diagnosis with a life-changing disability. Just a few short years later, thirty-three-year old Jason lay in a hospital bed, battling a Glioblastoma brain tumor. And within the span of six years of marriage, Jessica became a widow left alone to care for their four young children, including one with special needs. But the story doesn't end there. In the midst of storm after storm, Jessica stubbornly clung to God, and she found him to be faithful. Enter Ryan Ronne, a young widower and father of three. Ryan had also lost his spouse to brain cancer-in fact, around the same time Jessica's husband, Jason, had succumbed to the disease. Just as the idea of sunlight burning at midnight sounds impossible, so it seemed unlikely anything beautiful could arise from their devastation. But a new love story emerged, along with a combined family that now numbers eight children. As featured on the Today Show, theirs is an inspiring and encouraging story of faith. Here, Jessica Ronne tells her riveting story of finding hope amid havoc, and of the surprising ways that pain often commingles with joy.

Jessica Ronne (MA in English, Grand Valley State University; BA in Secondary Education, Calvin College) recently completed her master's degree; it only took her nine years. She's married to her best friend, Ryan, who puts up with a lot from her, as do her children who have the unfortunate reality of growing up with the most introverted mother in the world-proof that God does indeed have a sense of humor. Favorites and hobbies include pizza, wine, and goat cheese. Once upon a time she taught school. Now she writes random, irrelevant, humorous, chaotic, and hopefully inspiring musings on life including love, faith, widowhood, remarriage, adoption, handicapped parenting, eight kids, and simple living, all in the hills of Tennessee. Follow her ongoing saga at www.jessplusthemess.com.