3/365

What our kitchen table looks like after unpacking and going through mail.

Thanks, friends, for our Christmas cards.

They are beautiful. 

2/365

Driving home.

Illinois to Florida.

We hit a deer that had been hit just a moment before.

Our prayer for safety was answered, and we were grateful.

Apart from a horrible smell of venison, we and our car were all fine.

Thank You, Lord.

1/365

It was a new kind of New Year's Eve for us.

Spent with family instead of a conference.

The kids made it up til midnight.

We celebrated with Wii bowling, ginger ale punch, and confetti strewn on freshly fallen snow.

So. Much. Fun.

**This is the first of my Project 365.

One photo.  Every day.  For a year.

God draws near...

Barbara Francis, a staff member with Cru, shared this quote by Henri Nouwen in a devotional she sent out this week.  I saved it and thought I would share it tonight...as we all mourn the heart wrenching reality of what happened in Connecticut today. 

Pain suffered alone feels very different from pain suffered alongside another.

Even when pain stays, we know how great the difference is if another draws close,

if another shares with us in it.

This kind of comfort comes most fully and powerfully visible in the Incarnation,

wherein God comes into our midst—into our lives—to remind us,

“I am with you at all times and in all places.”

In Christ, God draws near us amid our sufferings—

the pain of infants or adolescents,

the hurts of young people or the aged,

the grief of the unemployed

or the suddenly single person.

There is not human suffering that has not in some way been a part of God’s experience.

That is the great and wonderful mystery of God becoming flesh to live among us.

God becomes a part of our mourning.

-Henri Nouwen

Christmas: absolute proof that God fulfills his promises

My heart feels so heavy tonight.

Too many people I love are walking through pain...
or are grappling with loss...
or waiting on test results...
or are simply struggling.

I underlined this quote last year, and I read it again recently.  I appreciated it and wanted to share it with you.  I hope it encourages you. 

What God did when he sent his Son into the world is an absolute guarantee that he will do everything he has ever promised to do.  Look at it in personal sense:  "All things work together for good to them that love God" - that is a promise "to them who are the called according to his purpose (Rom 8:28, KJV)."  "But how can I know that is true for me?" asks someone.  The answer is the incarnation.  God has given the final proof that all his promises are sure, that he is faithful to everything he has ever said.  So that promise is sure for you.  Whatever your state or condition may be, whatever may happen to you, he has said, "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Heb 13:5, KJV)" - and he will not.  He has said so, and we have absolute proof that he fulfills his promises.  He does not always do it immediately in the way that we think.  No, no!  But he does it!  And he will never fail to do it.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones

December Traditions

Though short sleeves and flip flops make it more difficult, we've been getting into the Christmas spirit down here.

In August, we showed up at our furnished Florida apartment with only the stuff that would fit into our cars.  Our boxes of Christmas decorations are still safe and securely stored away in storage in New Mexico.  I did, however, manage to make room for our twenty five Christmas books and the little set of Jesse Tree ornaments I made last year.

You can read a little more about both traditions in my other posts here, here, and here.

I love this season.

This year's new addition

If you're looking for ways to keep your Christmas

centered on Christ this year,

I love this book...

am intrigued by this...

and am looking forward to checking out this.

What I am up to...

This is a screenshot of my computer tonight.

I am finally attempting to make a book of Jude's life...

using the daily posts I wrote here during his 67 days.

While I am so thankful for this blog and its daily recordings of his life,

I want to hold something tangible in my hands when I feel like remembering.

It is something I have been wanting to do since last fall...

but it's a project I haven't had the motivation to tackle until now.

It's a process that is difficult on so many levels,

and I would thoroughly appreciate your prayers.

Please pray that the Lord would lead me as I work on it...

that I would finish it in His timing...

and that the Lord would continue to work in our hearts as we miss our baby boy.

Thanks so much!

The Thanksgiving Tree

This year, we did a Thanksgiving Tree...

similar to this one that is commonly found on Pinterest. 

Finding sticks in the land of palm trees was rather difficult,

but we eventually found some.

Instead of buying scrapbook paper, we used what we already had. 

Watercolors.

We painted the leaves using a technique that I think is really fun...and dries really pretty.

I found it years ago in this wonderful book. 

Give thanks to the Lord, 

for He is good; 

His love endures forever. 

1 Chronicles 16:34

Happy Thanksgiving

60 Years

One of my very favorite people in the world turned sixty recently.

My dad.

Caleb and Grandpa before the party

This weekend, Caleb and I flew briefly to Indiana for his birthday party.

To celebrate, my mom booked an old favorite of his, Henry Lee Summer,

and the local Civic Theater was filled with friends and family.

My mom and dad danced all night.

I am so blessed to be the daughter of such wonderful people...

who love each other so much...

and who know so well how to enjoy life. 

I love you, guys!

Election Day in Florida

Good thoughts: 

Christians, Let's Honor the President

by Russell Moore

Goodbye, Christian America; Hello, True Christianity

by Richard Stearns

In a Weird Way, Son, I'm Excited

by Matt Pearson

Resting in God's Sovereignty Over Events, Including Election Day

by Randy Alcorn

Cute kid: 

How Caleb would have voted...based on a coin toss.  :) 

The Season of "This time last year..."

Today marks one year since Jude's burial service in that small Indiana cemetery.  It was a day that changed my world forever...a day of grief and pain and loss...yet saturated in hope.

For the past several months, we have been walking through a new season of grieving...a season of "This time last year."  For example...

This time last year, the most traumatic experience of our lives began.
This time last year, I saw my precious child's eyes for the first time.  
This time last year, Jude was being transferred between hospitals.
This time last year, Caleb met his brother.
This time last year, our sweet baby was in the operating room.
This time last year, we had to decide to place our whole hope in Jesus...not in a number or test result.
This time last year, we were celebrating Caleb's birthday via video.
This time last year, God loved us through this person.  Or that person.  
This time last year, we saw His faithfulness in this way.  Or that way.
This time last year, we were completely dependent on God to get through each day.
This time last year, we witnessed our baby leaving our arms to be held by the everlasting arms.
This time last year, we flew across the country to let Caleb know his brother had gone to be with Jesus.
This time last year, we were grappling with our loss, looking at tombstones, and trying to figure out where to go from here.

On Jude's birthday (August 15), we went to the beach.  It was Caleb's idea, and it was a perfect way to spend the day (being so far from his hospital and the cemetery).  It was beautiful, and the Lord met each one of us as only He can.

On the anniversary of Jude's death (October 21), we were in the mountains.  Last year, after his burial, we took a few days in the Smokies to be together as a family.  So, it seemed like a good way to mark the date this year.  It was sad and difficult, but we experienced the Lord's love in sweet ways once again.

As an example of one of His sweet gifts, Caleb and I found this while hiking:
Written on the tombstone of a baby who lived just about as long as Jude was the phrase:

budded on earth to bloom in Heaven 

I couldn't have said it better myself.

One year...

It's a day that has loomed large on our calendar for quite some time now:

August 15th, 2012

Our baby Jude's first birthday.

It's hard to believe how fast it has come, and yet here we are.  Already.

So much has happened in a year.

We are entering into a new season of grieving.  These last few months, I have often found myself thinking about what I was doing this time last year.  Moving here and settling into life in Florida has felt strange...a little like our temporary move to Albuquerque...one year ago.  And now, so many dates in the months to come have so much connected to them now...his birth, his milestones, his surgeries, his death.  And each day brings with it so many memories.

We have been unsure as to how best to mark Jude's birthday tomorrow... being so far away from all people and places connected to him.  Our current plan is to go to the beach together.  It was Caleb's idea, and we thought it was a good one.

Please pray for us tomorrow.  We need the Lord to walk us through this...just as He has walked us through this past year. He has been so good to us.  

*  t  *  h  *  a  *  n  *  k  *         *  y  *  o  *  u  *

Happy Fourth!

The Fourth of July is not my favorite holiday.

Don't get me wrong.

I love my country, and I love the idea of celebrating it.

But, I just cannot get into it. 

I think it has to do with the fact that our summers are always so random.

We are often in a different place...on summer project with Cru...

and often in some sort of transition.

For example...each year of our marriage... 

Year 1 - Ottawa, Kansas

Year 2 - Fort Collins, Colorado

Year 3 - Bar Harbor, Maine

Year 4 - Las Cruces, New Mexico

Year 5 - Las Cruces, New Mexico

Year 6 - Vail, Colorado

Year 7 - Wichita, Kansas

This year, Year 8, we happened to be home.

(I can still call it home for a few more weeks)

And, I was sick and unmotivated.

We wavered back and forth over whether to go out and do anything, 

and I am so glad we did.

Each year gets more fun as Caleb is less scared.

Last year, he just stayed in the house we were visiting and played with Legos.

This year, he was fascinated by the fireworks and even held sparklers.

It was a notable event.

**Check out how Caleb's sitting in the photo of him and Daddy watching fireworks.**

He is super flexible and always sits like that. 

It's crazy.

Sarah and Robert are getting married!

A few weeks ago, I got to spend some time running around town with some really fun people, Robert and Sarah.  I have known Sarah since she was a freshman involved with Cru almost eight years ago, and she has become such a good friend!  I still remember one of our first good conversations as we sat on the hallway floor outside her classroom.  I am amazed when I think about all that God has done in and through her life since then.  She has traveled the world serving him, and she interned with us last year.  She is currently in Alaska on a summer project with Cru in a small, remote village.  Please pray for her and the rest of the staff and students who are serving the people of Kake and sharing and demonstrating the good news of the gospel.

You can read more of their cute story here.

You can learn more about Sarah's ministry here. 

Sarah and Robert, thanks for letting me do this.  I love you guys!

Our Cozumel Vacation

Our time in Mexico was so good...

and so very much needed.

We thoroughly enjoyed the days spent by the sea.
We snorkeled every day...
observing french angel fish, yellow sting rays, spotted eels, cowfish,
black sea urchins, sea anemones, jellyfish, and countless other underwater creatures.
We read. We slept. We rested.

Because we loved our condo's location so very much,
we didn't leave it often during the day.

A few times, we left and had some fun experiences.
I swam with dolphins...which I was obsessed with as a child.

We got off the island to explore the Mayan ruins of Tulum,

enjoying memorable experiences on the Mexican transportation system.
We later rented a scooter and explored Cozumel's beaches.

We explored Mexico at night.

We ate tacos al pastor, pozole, and churros.

We had fajitas, fish tacos, pizza, and pasta.

We drank limonadas and rusas.

We watched Mexican soccer and listened to Mexican music.

We even watched a little of a Mexican wedding.

We were even able to speak so much Spanish

that I began to start thinking in that beloved language again.

We LOVE that country...and the people in it.

I was too busy playing during the day to get my camera out much.

When I did get it out, it fogged up due to the humidity.

But, I did play with some nighttime long-exposure photography that mostly failed.

But, it was a learning experience. 

Brandon decided to shave his facial hair for the week...

partly because it was better for suction on his snorkeling mask

and partly because he wouldn't be seeing anyone for a while.

It is almost grown back.

 

This vacation was so very good for our marriage.

We had so much fun together,

and we will forever thank God for this unbelievable gift!

Back from Mexico

Our vacation was 

Amazing.

Unforgettable. Wonderful.

Beautiful.

It was such a sweet blessing...

so good for our hearts and our marriage.

More photos to come.

:-)

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

Help the Ronald McDonald House!

 Our life with Jude in Albuquerque last fall would have been significantly

more challenging without the Ronald McDonald House,

and we will forever thank God for that place.

While there, we were so grateful to have our car to allow us to travel

back and forth from the hospital whenever we wanted.

We didn't have to plan our visits around shuttle times.

Many families don't have that luxury. 

Some parents have to leave their cars back at home with the rest of the family.

Others had to fly to the hospital with their child in an emergency situation.

We would often see people waiting outside the house for the shuttle,

and sometimes we had the opportunity to give rides.

The RMH has the opportunity to win a car to help shuttle families!
Please take a minute and vote for them today.

And, would you please consider sharing the website on Facebook as well?

 From Melissa, the director at the Ronald McDonald House in Albuquerque:

The Ronald McDonald House has an opportunity to win

a new Sienna Toyota this Sunday in the 100 Cars for Good Contest!

We are going up against four other charities (all from out of state),

the charity with the most votes on Sunday on Facebook wins a car.

Please vote on Sunday at www.100carsforgood.com

and share with your friends, family, co-workers or post on your Facebook.

A new vehicle would allow us to ensure that families are where they are needed most:

at their child’s bedside in the hospital.

Thanks for your help!

From Kristen, the director of the Ronald McDonald House in Albuquerque:

 Everyone at Ronald McDonald House Charities of New Mexico is thrilled
to have been selected as a finalist for the 2012 100 Cars for Good program.
We’re grateful for this incredible opportunity to showcase our mission
of providing a home away from home for families whose children are in medical treatment
and hopefully win a car to help us increase our impact in New Mexico.
We hope everyone will help us spread the word now and
will make time to visit www.100carsforgood.com on Sunday, June 10 to vote for us. 

A new vehicle would really be a game changer for our program,

allowing us to ensure that families are where they are needed most:

at their child’s bedside in the hospital.

Click here to vote!

In Cozumel...

 #ourfriendsareamazing    

More adventures...

Our car stopped working when we were twenty miles from our destination.

Not long after, we realized that there was something strange about the fact

that we had to look at receipts to remember when we had lost gotten gas.

So, a newly broken gas gauge added just one more point of interest to a very eventful trip.

       In just a few short days, Brandon and I will be in the Caribbean.      

  Crazy. 

Until then, we are loving being with family.

Almost there...

We are at the half way point of a two-day drive.

Day 1 involved:

our usual start-of-the-trip tension,

horrific thunderstorms,

a "check engine" light scare,

a sweet visit with a loved friend and her family,

lots of nuts and Legos spilled all over the car,

spectacular sunsets,

singing worship songs in the dark,

and a very sleepy little guy giving his daddy a kiss on his head

as he carried him into our hotel room.

Day 2 will hopefully involve:

lots more time spent with two people I love so much,

checking out parts of Route 66 I have never seen,

lots of hugs when we see family,

and even meeting this precious little one

for the very first time.