Brandon is resting and doing well in the PICU. There are updates on his page (my list of links to the right------>)
Hang in There little man...you can do it!!!
I am cleaning my house from top to bottom....no dust bunny or cob web is safe. I have been putting in long hours at my church job. I want to be all caught up before next semester starts in a few weeks.
I have some great pictures of the kids that I will post soon.
Happy Birthday Chelsey!!!! We Love You bunches~
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Brandon is in suregery right now!!!
Brandon got the liver call last night and is currently in surgery in Houston. The liver is a perfect match. The family of the baby boy who earned his wings on Mother's Day gave Brandon his chance for life. Please keep both families in your prayers today that God's Love will wrap around these parents and families and bring everyone through to a place of hope and peace.
BE STRONG Brandon!!! You can do it....We love you, Aiden, Melissa and Brian.
Be back soon for another update.
BE STRONG Brandon!!! You can do it....We love you, Aiden, Melissa and Brian.
Be back soon for another update.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Grabbing a minute to catch up...
Tarah showing off her new glasses.
Johnny on his way to a T-ball game Saturday morning.
On the way to the Faire....the kids had a great time! 
Christoph gets to joust!
As soon as my finals are done this week I will be back to update everyone on things going on and things to come....
Please be thinking about Brandon this week. He went to the top of the list and should be getting the call any day now for a new cancer free liver.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
I made it back in one piece....
I am back from my walk and the very first thing I must say is THANK YOU. The letters I received on my walk were so wonderful and loving and very moving. The fact that you took the time to tell me how much I mean to you was so heartwarming. I have a new appriciation for acts of Agape such as these.
I would love to tell everyone all about my time there but it is so hard to find words that do justice to the joy and the Love that you feel on this walk. It is three days where every aspect of your day is spent being showered with Love. Love from God, friends, family and an army of strangers that provide everything you could ever need.
It wasn't all fun and games, you spend three days sharing one bathroom! But by the end it was like having more sisters and even more friends. I was completely out of my comfort zone and had times when I wanted to go home but I am so thankful that I stayed.
Before I left, I felt pretty comfortable about my relationship with God but there was still a nagging voice in my head that would try to intellectualize aspects of it. On my weekend I met Jesus on a human level, not some far away ideal to pursue. He literally sat down and put his arm around me, looked me in the eye and told me he Loved me. It was a God Moment like I haven't had since the first day I chose to accept his gift of love so many years ago. Another moment that I am very grateful for is a brief vision of Don surrounded by Love. I heard his voice in my ear and saw him tell me that I am Loved. It was so wonderful. I get to hear his voice on their answering machine and I have a strong memory of his face and voice but this was different. It was the first time since his death that I heard his voice in my head.
I have been floating around on a cloud since I arrived home. Kevin says he hopes it lasts and Tarah says we get along a lot better when I am happy. That is what the main thing really is. I still have no answers to the questions of the universe but I have a hope and a faith in what lies ahead and it brings me true joy. I am happy.
I would love to tell everyone all about my time there but it is so hard to find words that do justice to the joy and the Love that you feel on this walk. It is three days where every aspect of your day is spent being showered with Love. Love from God, friends, family and an army of strangers that provide everything you could ever need.
It wasn't all fun and games, you spend three days sharing one bathroom! But by the end it was like having more sisters and even more friends. I was completely out of my comfort zone and had times when I wanted to go home but I am so thankful that I stayed.
Before I left, I felt pretty comfortable about my relationship with God but there was still a nagging voice in my head that would try to intellectualize aspects of it. On my weekend I met Jesus on a human level, not some far away ideal to pursue. He literally sat down and put his arm around me, looked me in the eye and told me he Loved me. It was a God Moment like I haven't had since the first day I chose to accept his gift of love so many years ago. Another moment that I am very grateful for is a brief vision of Don surrounded by Love. I heard his voice in my ear and saw him tell me that I am Loved. It was so wonderful. I get to hear his voice on their answering machine and I have a strong memory of his face and voice but this was different. It was the first time since his death that I heard his voice in my head.
I have been floating around on a cloud since I arrived home. Kevin says he hopes it lasts and Tarah says we get along a lot better when I am happy. That is what the main thing really is. I still have no answers to the questions of the universe but I have a hope and a faith in what lies ahead and it brings me true joy. I am happy.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
I am getting ready to go....
Well, I have all my homework done and all my church work is taken care of until next week. I tried to stock up the fridge and get the house clean but everyone is feeling sickly so we are trying to just take it easy. Kevin is really great at taking care of the house and the kids at the same time so it is all in good hands. I am grateful that I can take this time for myself and have such a solid support system to keep me from worrying about things.
Well our suburban finally died! The air had been out since last summer and little things here and there were going out left and right. The electrical system started to short out and the locks started to lock and unlock at will so we realized that we couldn't wait much longer. We found a decent used van like Mom's. It was a rental but doesn't seem to be beat up too bad. They gave us a good trade in on the suburban without trying to add it on to the sales price. We had been hoping that the truck would last us until I graduated next year but you do what you have to do to keep your kids from getting heat stroke!
I will be back next week......I love you guys!
Well our suburban finally died! The air had been out since last summer and little things here and there were going out left and right. The electrical system started to short out and the locks started to lock and unlock at will so we realized that we couldn't wait much longer. We found a decent used van like Mom's. It was a rental but doesn't seem to be beat up too bad. They gave us a good trade in on the suburban without trying to add it on to the sales price. We had been hoping that the truck would last us until I graduated next year but you do what you have to do to keep your kids from getting heat stroke!
I will be back next week......I love you guys!
Monday, April 16, 2007
Tarah's confirmation....
Well I must say that I didn't realize what an important day it would turn out to be for our family. Tarah's confirmation was one of the most beautiful ceremonies I have ever seen. She was welcomed into the church as a "grown-up" member, given a leather bible and everyone was standing in line to welcome her into the church.
I wasn't able to take any pictures during the ceremony because no one was able to join us Sunday. But karen Johnson took a picture of all of us together for our family books. I am so proud of Tarah that I can't explain it. She is beautiful inside and out. Even though she faces all the doubts and struggles that a teenager can face, she is smart and so much more together than I was at that age. I give her a hard time about being self centered sometimes but she is such an awesome person, I am wrong. I do not give her the credit she deserves. It is so much easier to complain about what doesn't get done than to talk about all the things she is always doing to help out. I wonder if it is a normal mother daughter thing to under-estimate your children. I love her and can't imagine a better daughter.
I wasn't able to take any pictures during the ceremony because no one was able to join us Sunday. But karen Johnson took a picture of all of us together for our family books. I am so proud of Tarah that I can't explain it. She is beautiful inside and out. Even though she faces all the doubts and struggles that a teenager can face, she is smart and so much more together than I was at that age. I give her a hard time about being self centered sometimes but she is such an awesome person, I am wrong. I do not give her the credit she deserves. It is so much easier to complain about what doesn't get done than to talk about all the things she is always doing to help out. I wonder if it is a normal mother daughter thing to under-estimate your children. I love her and can't imagine a better daughter.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Just to clarify about my retreat....
www.upperroom.org/emmaus
Here is a link to the program. It is not really a walk but more of a spiritual walk. It is like going to spend the weekend in a monestery (sp? where monks live) or in a convent. There are no phones, tv's clocks, etc. No cameras allowed. It is much more like a three day sunday school class with a lot of praying.
The intention of the program is to strenghten your personal relationship with God. I think the letters are meant to help encourage the person. Just to let them know how you feel about them. eg: love, respect, good cook- whatever the case may be.
I wish it was more of an outdoor activity but I think it is almost all indoors in small study groups.
Here is a link to the program. It is not really a walk but more of a spiritual walk. It is like going to spend the weekend in a monestery (sp? where monks live) or in a convent. There are no phones, tv's clocks, etc. No cameras allowed. It is much more like a three day sunday school class with a lot of praying.
The intention of the program is to strenghten your personal relationship with God. I think the letters are meant to help encourage the person. Just to let them know how you feel about them. eg: love, respect, good cook- whatever the case may be.
I wish it was more of an outdoor activity but I think it is almost all indoors in small study groups.
My walk to Emmaus......con't
Well I met with my sponser this morning. She is a friend so I am more comfortable about going. I can't take my phone or even my watch. They feed us a lot so that might blow my eating plan for the weekend. I hope I am able to relax not knowing how the kids are doing. Kevin is so awesome when it comes to taking care of everything by himself and he has Tarah to help out. I know they are in good hands and usually have a great time. I do have to take my own pillow, blanket and sheets. It will be like a sleep over with people I don't know. I found out we won't be in a group with anyone we know.
If anyone wants to write a letter that I can read in my solitude, nun-like environment they can email my pastor or my sponser. Linda.Johnson@mkcorp.com Linda my sponser would probably be the best bet. I love you Pastor John, but you are a busy man that forgets things. That is why you have Tracy and I working for you!!! We keep it running smoothly while you are busy doing God's work.
If anyone wants to write a letter that I can read in my solitude, nun-like environment they can email my pastor or my sponser. Linda.Johnson@mkcorp.com Linda my sponser would probably be the best bet. I love you Pastor John, but you are a busy man that forgets things. That is why you have Tracy and I working for you!!! We keep it running smoothly while you are busy doing God's work.
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