The adventure continues......a walk down 2015 memory lane.

Merry Christmas!  This year we are sharing our year photo-style.  As I look through the below photos of fun, travel, and memories, I am reminded that yes we've been busy but there is so much more living that goes on between the posed and candid shots.  There are moments gathered around the dinner table discussing our day.  There are moments of instruction as we try to diligently teach our children to obey God and love others well.  There are discussions on life, people, world tragedy and God's power through it all.  There are Sundays and Wednesdays gathered in our church building with people striving to be Christ followers.  There are drop-in visits with laughter and story telling in our Tennessee room.  There are many moments gathered around out kitchen island where it seems we can talk, listen, and solve most any problem.  There are memories made in the back yard, chores done to maintain a home, hours of homework and school projects.  There are visits on our front porch, sharing, encouraging, and seeking Christ.  So while we are thankful for all the special memories shared below, we also know that life is made of fun, work, challenges, adjustments, learning, and all the moments in between.   Treasure the big moments and the little ones.   

Here's just a few of ours......

Snow is fun for all 3!

Our makeshift east TN sled

Happy Chinese New Year!

Mommy/Brooky date to the ballet

Egg hunt with Brooklyn's class

Swim time

Church egg hunt

Swinging with Great Grandpa

A great family getaway

We have a new ball player in the family!

We enjoyed plenty of family time on the lake.

Field Day 2015

Our kindergarten graduate

Celebrating!

Family Day 2015!

Birthday girl turns 6 with a new desk for crafting.

One of our favorite pastimes: neighbor time on the front porch.

Resting after her broken wrist repair

Everyone's excited, Dad caught a fish!

Family selfie with the waterfall

We love to camp!

Our oldest turns 10!

Independence Day

Boys.

Lots of swim time.

Our little turned 3....and enjoyed the gift of $$!

Camping fun.

Canoeing on our family camping trip.

Lake playtime

Summer trip: Kansas City Royals game

Family Day at the Omaha Zoo

Cousin time. precious.

College World Series game

Summer family trip with a stop at the Arch

Summer ends. School starts.

Our fifth grader, first grader & 3 year old.

An anniversary getaway. Sweet Sixteen.

 

Go Cyclones! Enjoying our new stadium.

Race for Wandell 2015. 

Brilee's TV interview

Brothers for life.

Writer's Celebration in Brooklyn's class: 

she shared a beautiful writing about the day she met her little brother.

We swam a lot!

These kids. We spent a day at a park 

and they were thrilled to discover buckeyes.

So thankful for these 3 we've been entrusted with.

Homecoming week: Favorite Disney character

Our lil pirates

Homecoming parade

Field trip fun!

Milligan's Homecoming.....Go Buffs!

Trunk-or-Treat....to infinity & beyond!

A superhero and a princess :)

Brooklyn's Wizard of Oz musical

Lighting of the town Christmas tree

(Brilee's fifth grade class sang.)

Thanksgiving at Grandpa & Grandma's...

enjoying the new slide!

Cousin fun!

Brooklyn's first UT game....go VOLS!

An annual tradition at the Christmas tree farm

Thankful.

Real life

   As we think back on 2015 it was clearly a great year....so much fun, so much learning.  But also many new challenges.  Most days we find ourselves feeling completely inadequate to meet our responsibilities' needs.  We are not capable to guide three children, to teach a large group of teenagers, to lead an eager group of students and staff, to care for the sick, or to love others but that is when a promise from 2 Corinthians becomes evident in our lives.  

 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 

2 Corinthians 12:9

We are so thankful for God's strength, wisdom, and grace.  We are grateful for new daily mercies.  That is what we are leaning on.  HIM.  And it is because of Him, we celebrate this special season.  It is because of Him, we have joy, peace among turmoil, and hope for the future.  

  My hope for you is that you find those quiet moments to celebrate and welcome the coming King.  As we prepare to celebrate our Savior's birth, so many distractions are surrounding us.  We can often make Christmas about gifts, gatherings, programs, parties, crafts and so much more but really the message of the manger is simple.  Christ has come.  He has come for you and for me.  And he is coming again.  Praise HIM!!!  This simple promise gets me excited and helps to keep the peace and joy in my heart.  May you enjoy resting in His promises.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!!

Finish the race.....but finish it well

He has fought the good fight, he has finished the race, he kept the faith.(II Timothy 4:7). Abraham Thomas has received his crown of righteousness.  I can think of no one that lived his life with such tenacity, joy, faith, commitment, and hard work.  Abraham passed from this life to his eternal home one week ago.  This week many from India to Tennessee and so many places in between gathered to celebrate his life.  As I gathered with others today to reflect on a life well lived, I cried, I laughed, I sang.....but mostly I was inspired.  Inspired to love better. Work harder.  Stay focused.  Complain less. I am so inspired I wish that all I know could also know Abraham and his exciting love for the Lord.  It overflowed from his being.  Can you imagine his joy now that he can see his Maker face to face?!?  I left his memorial service having a strong desire to encourage others and share a bit of the man I knew. 

I met Abraham eleven years ago.  As a nurse for fifteen years I have cared for many through the years, but I can clearly remember the moment I met Abraham.  His smile was wide.  His joy contagious and his faith evident.  He clasped my hands and immediately thanked God for me.  I had not done a thing for Abraham.....and yet he thanked me.  Abraham had a new diagnosis of cancer and we would be assisting him with the treatment.  As we planned the details of his treatment, as always, Abraham's concern was how quickly he could return to his mission work with CEF (Christian Evangelical Fellowship) and would he still be able to teach, preach, and travel to share the Gospel.  His treating physician was also a brother in Christ and found ways to accommodate Abraham's needs.  Even with a diagnosis of cancer, there was no stopping Abraham.  He continued to work intensely.  He encouraged and prayed for us, his caregivers.  He spurred us on to share our faith with others.  

Anyone that knew Abraham, knows that he was a praying man.  In his hour of greatest need, he still prayed for others.  True selfless love.  As I was pregnant with our firstborn, Abraham laid his hands on my belly and prayed for our son, praising God for his life and asking that he might grow to serve the Lord.  Many months later when Abraham first met our oldest son, he snatched him into his arms, raised him to the heavens and thanked God for this new precious life.  Oh that we might live our lives with unstoppable gratitude!

Through the years I came to know Abraham not just as a patient but as a friend and a mentor in Christ.  He always, always encouraged others.  His excitement for the Lord overflowed increasing others' joy.  He worked day and night, without complaints but only with praise on his lips.  He led his family with wisdom and gentleness displaying Christ's love for us.  Abraham loved to teach, loved to sing, loved to laugh.  When he more recently received a second cancer diagnosis, Abraham prayed for his own healing.....not to have more years to walk the earth or love on his grandchild but so that he might continue spreading the precious Good News of Jesus.  

Abraham did receive that healing....made whole by his Father's touch.  And though tomorrow morning,  he may not gather in a small town church building, thousands upon thousands will gather in India and the United States because of their love for the Lord.  A love that was introduced by Abraham.  

Are you running your race? Or walking?  Or limping?  Abraham faced TWO cancer diagnosis and yet I never heard him complain but ONLY give praise to our Father!  Abraham's life shows the pure joy and confidence that comes from running steadfast the race laid before us.  He did not solely finish the race, he finished it well.  I can hear Abraham's joyful "Praise the Lord!!!" as he meets his King and I can hear our Savior's reply, "Well done, good and faithful servant."  

I cried.....but it was a happy cry.

This morning I cried.  It was not my often teary-eyed, quiet, hope-I-don't-get-noticed cry.  Nope. Instead I sobbed and laughed and smiled and cried.  You see our sweet three year old son and I had a conversation.  A real conversation.  It contained details and needs and exclamations.  It was SO great!!! It was SOOOOOOO great!!!! I am tearing up again just thinking about it. There is so much work, practice, money for BAHAs, therapy, prayers, and God's amazing help to get Brody to this very point.  A year ago, communicating was nearly non-existent.  Besides a handful of signs to express his immediate needs, most of his communication came in the form of tears, screaming, hitting, and acting out. There was so much frustration.  For all of us.  Our boy had so much to say, so much to share, but did not know how to get it out.  I remember telling our dear speech therapist, "I don't know how much longer I can handle the grunting and moaning for his needs!"  Now, that sounds so silly and simple-minded but when in the moment, it can be overwhelming!

Within months of the grunting, came the first clear words and we celebrated!  We learned to get by with simple words and were thrilled with some progress.  Then, just two months ago, he said two very simple sentences and I told all who would listen! We walked into a stinky garage and Brody said, "Oh my goodness! Shew. That stinks."  I cheered for him. Yes, Buddy, it does stink!  .......And sometimes so does hard work but boy oh boy, is it worth it!

Brody and Ms Sam happily working at speech therapy!

For the therapy sessions when I cried before, during or after, it is worth it. For the flailing tantrums that occurred publicly, it is worth it. For the long road trips when all we heard was crying, it is worth it. For all the therapy when you were mad, it is worth it.  For the sacrifices, you are always worth it.  Because today we had a conversation.  And I know it is just the beginning of many!  I'm so excited!  I can't wait to hear our boy's likes, dislikes, dreams, thoughts, and concerns.

 Though I can hardly believe it, I know who to thank.

Dear Father, you are so very good to us!  You are Faithful.  You provide strength for the weary and wisdom for the lacking.  Thank you for encouragement in the little things of this life.  In a week where I have been distracted by things, you have reminded me what matters.  Thank you dear Father!!!!  We give you all the glory!  May you continue to work in Brody's life and ours.  Amen.

HE heals!

This post is not like the others.  Then again,maybe it is.  Because for us, one continual thread is being taught to us....through God's great love, HE provides.  Tonight HE provided through HIS great healing power!

We are in the midst of our Vacation Bible School week studying God's power.  Sunday and Monday night we learned that God provides and God comforts as we studied Elijah.  Tonight we looked at the healing story of Naaman (2 Kings 5) and God has the power to heal.  As we taught the lesson, the children listed other ailments that had affected themselves or people around them.  The virus.  A cold.  Cancer.  Heart trouble.  Cystic fibrosis.  ALS.  After studying Naaman's story, we focused on the truth that whether here on Earth or at our eternal home, God will heal us!  What a promise!  For most kiddos, I think it is hard to apply this to themselves.  Then......we had the opportunity!:)

Brooklyn, who absolutely loves to swing, was swinging high on the playground during her class's game time. She took an acrobatic backwards fly off the swing and landed on her wrist.  Of course there were tears, loving pats, ice, and examination of the injury.  She decided to finish out the night with her class and attended the closing praise time. It did not take long to realize her pain was significant and not improving so we decided to make a visit to the children's emergency room for an evaluation.  Before we left for the hospital, our sweet children's director pointed to Brooklyn's VBS necklace and the charm for today's lesson.  It read, "He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds." Psalm 147:3  God has the power to heal!  Yes, what comfort!

(I wish I could say she looks this good today. Poor girl is hurting!)

While waiting in the emergency room, we chatted about Bible school, Brooklyn's favorite memories, of the week,  and what she had learned.  We read that Psalm several times and even shared it with her physician.  What peace He provides!  What timing!  It is of no coincidence.  Our God is in control and He is working together all things good for those who love HIM.

Thank you Lord for providing, for healing, and giving us peace!!! He IS good!