“Alice, did you know your Daddy loves you?” “Yes!” “Alice, do you know Jesus loves you?” “Yes!” “Alice, pretty soon Jesus is going to send some of his friends to get you so you can go visit him, ok? They’re really nice and you don’t have to be afraid.” “Okay.” Then she looked up at me with a smile and a twinkle in her eye and said, “But you can’t come with!” Not yet. But soon enough. - Alice in the Palace
Today, June 8, marks the second anniversary of Alice’s death. Two years since we’ve gotten to hold her; two less years until we see her again.
To mark the day, I want to make her story available to as many as possible, so this week it’s available on Amazon for $5.99, which is about as low as Amazon will allow. If you buy the print edition, you can get the kindle version free.
It gives me great delight to know Alice’s brief life continues to be used by God for the good of his people. For my part, I read Alice in the Palace again over the course of a couple nights this week, and it was sweetly painful and pleasurable to relive that journey. After all, remembering her always makes me happy, and if her death didn’t still hurt a little bit, that would just suck. I had some memories I’d quite forgotten about jarred loose, and it was fun to hear her voice in my head once again.
I was happy to discover that the things I was thinking and writing about God then are the same things I’d write today. I might be able to say it better, but wouldn’t say it and different. I am happy to offer no regrets or retractions. His promises have not failed us.
To buy Alice in the Palace, click here. If I was good at marketing I’d say leave a rating and a review, but I’m not.
To read an article I wrote for our church newsletter about some of the way Alice’s death has impacted my life, see here
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Common Slaves 
June 8, 2020 at 6:34 am
It’s been 2 years!!! With reading this, I realize how much I’ve been thinking about Alice lately in view of the upcoming wedding. May He abundantly bless you all at this time!
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June 8, 2020 at 4:26 pm
Thank you so much Sue!
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June 8, 2020 at 8:52 am
I remember this day so vividly. I know exactly where I was and what I was doing. We were back in the hospital for round 2 of chemo for Lauren. I can recall how at this point in life reading these posts became harder and harder as I would read of the heart wrenching days you were all faced with. How we prayed so hard for a miracle. How as a mother now walking a similar road begged Jesus not to take Little Alice. And because our great God knows all – at that point I had no idea our precious daughter of 15 was soon to join Alice. The afternoon of the 8th I got the post and as usual I was very hesitant to open it. I even thought, “no I can’t I will read it later”. God brought me to read it right away! I was shocked and couldn’t even begin to know or understand the pain your family was in. I had to tell my daughter… it was the day before her 15th birthday of which she had to spend in the hospital… I did not know the Read family, but I hurt terribly for them. All the while clinging on to hope that God would possibly spare my little girl. Yet, absolutely crushed, hurt, confused by the terrible blow that was given to the Read family. I continued to read those posts as they came pouring in the following weeks. Scott and I were so uplifted and encouraged by Joe’s words. Yet, in awe of how a man could even bring himself to write these words knowing the pain him and his family were experiencing. Joe, I know God has made some things clear for you through the pain and you truly have encouraged and continue to encourage us with your words. I never got to meet Alice, but I am sure looking forward to it! Praying for your family! As now I know and understand the intense pain of losing a child. Thank you, Joe for allowing God to use your pain to continue to minister to a broken world.
Holly Phillipps
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June 8, 2020 at 4:29 pm
Bless you Holly, and thank you for the kind words. Those were dark days and though I wish we never had to walk them, I’m glad that in some sense, we were able to walk through them together, bound by one Spirit in one hope.
Hang in there you guys, you’re almost two years along the path to an eternal reunion with your beloved Lauren, secured by the blood of an everlasting covenant.
Maranatha!
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June 9, 2020 at 2:15 pm
Oh Joe,, I am in tears,, how can it be two years already since this precious little sweet baby girl left us????? Your e mail brings back memories to me as well, of the power of Alice’s story, and how powerfully it impacted, and still does impact my life on a weekly sometimes daily basis.. I am so glad you wrote a book of your journey of Alice and I am going to get the book for sure.. Your family is such a blessing to me even though weve never met in person,, one day we will all be together in glory,, I don’t know about you but I have longed for that day more and more and more with each passing day for the past 10 years, and my longing only grows stronger every day. Much continued prayer for you and your family.. love and prayer Jamie
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June 9, 2020 at 8:30 pm
Thank you so much Jamie! You’ve been a faithful encourager every step of the way, and I’m so thankful.
Looking forward with you to the big supper in the big house, cup running over and the whole nine yards!
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