Home for Christmas

When we were in Arizona, it was our goal to be home by Christmas. God has been very good to us, and we made it with a couple of weeks to spare. We did miss Joy's all-city choir program at the high school, but we did see her in the church program and at Six Flags. The highlight of our Christmas season was seeing Joy run down the aisle to hug Missy at church.

It doesn't really seem like today is Christmas Eve. We spent the entire month of November in Arizona, so that month was totally different for us. Christmas actually came early for us this year. We feel like we have already been blessed with so much this year, especially recently. Missy has a new liver that is working very well. Her pre-transplant symptoms have almost all disappeared. She has ankles again. The only negative so far is that she doesn't have many clothes that fit due to her weight loss. I'm not sure that she sees it as a negative however.

Missy's liver transplant had dominated our thoughts and plans for so long. It seems strange to have the transplant behind us. Her journey is not over by any means, but we are past one very large obstacle. The recovery has gone well so far, and Missy is trying very hard to be good. She has always had a tendency to try to do more than she should, and that trait hasn't changed. She will slowly make it back to her usual self. She already has much more energy than she had before the transplant.

God has always been very good to us, but we are especially blessed this Christmas. We hope that all who read this experience the true meaning and blessings of CHRISTmas this year. Have a very merry Christmas, everybody!

"For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." Luke 2:11

Thanks

This post has been on my mind for a few weeks now, but I am just now getting around to writing it. At least I picked an appropriate day. Four weeks ago today, Missy had her liver transplant. This month has been a blur, and it doesn't really seem like today is Thanksgiving. We do have so much to be thankful for, and I would like to list some of them here. Missy and I have been completely overwhelmed by the love, support, and encouragement of so many. I'm sure that I will miss something or someone, and for that, I sincerely apologize. Items are listed in no particular order.

I am thankful for an awesome God who loves us and supports us through all circumstances.
I am thankful for an amazing wife who inspires me more each day.
I am thankful for a beautiful daughter who always gives me more reasons to smile.
I am thankful for numerous family and friends who have encouraged us so much over the last several months. It's amazing how much a simple "I'm praying for you" can mean to us.
I am thankful for the outstanding staff at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix. Each doctor, nurse, and staff person has been extremely friendly, courteous, helpful, and encouraging.
I am thankful for the Arizona Transplant House and their atmosphere that promotes healing and recovery.
I am thankful for our neighbors at the Transplant House and the family that they have become.
I am thankful for the Kerr family in inviting us to spend Thanksgiving with them today.
I am thankful for all of those who contributed to our fundraising efforts so that this transplant could be possible.
I am thankful for Bobbie and Dan Diaz in the sacrifice of part of her liver so that Missy might live. Bobbie sure picked a big one for her first surgery.
I am thankful for Tim and Kathy Williams in their sacrifice to be a donor and their willingness to do whatever was needed.
I am thankful for a wonderful pastor who flew out to be with us in July and October. His shepherding heart truly is an inspiration and encouragement to us.
I am thankful for all organ donors who help meet the medical needs of so many people that could not be done in any other way.
I am thankful for Facebook, this blog, and the texting feature of my phone that allows us to stay connected with so many people all over the world. Missy and I have never felt alone through any of this.
I am thankful for the power of prayer and the faithful saints who have prayed so fervently for Missy.
I am thankful for the Pickard family in their care of Joy while we are gone. It is so comforting to know that she is happy and in good hands.
I am thankful for Ani in watching over our house and dog. We especially appreciate her efforts in keeping snakes from coming in the door. That is something you will have to ask her about.
I am thankful for jobs and sick leave that allow us to come to Arizona for treatment.
I am thankful for the beauty of the desert that we have seen in Phoenix.
I am thankful that I learned enough cooking skills somewhere along the way to keep Missy, and sometimes others, well fed.
I am thankful for Netflix in helping keep us entertained through long waits for appointments and infusions.
I am thankful that all the people I neglected to mention will forgive me. You will do that, won't you?

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody!

How Big Is Your God?

We have had an interesting stay at the Arizona Transplant House so far. We were very blessed to be able to stay here after only one night in a hotel. It is much cheaper, and it is an excellent place to heal and recover. Each "casita" can house up to six patients and their caregivers. We have been blessed with an excellent group with which to share our stay.

Bobbie and Dan were able to move in to the same casita on their second day in Arizona. It was good to be able to share a lot of time with them. Phil is a very interesting character. He was released after only three days in the hospital. He was released to go home a few weeks ago, but he hung around the Mayo Clinic to get some other things checked out before he left for New Mexico. Hal and Linda are former pastors and their story will take up a soon-to-be-coming blog. They are an amazing source of support and encouragement. Scott and Denise are a miracle in the making. The details of their story will also be coming shortly to a blog near you. Ed and Jan are the most recent arrivals, but they are already fitting in nicely.

This evening, Hal and Linda invited us to take part in a Bible study along with Denise and a couple staying in another casita. Jim and Tamara are here dealing with some cancer issues. The Bible study is the source of inspiration for this particular blog post.

The study goes along with a book, Torn, by Jud Wilhite. Jud is the senior pastor for Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. The subtitle for the book is "Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces". Hal thought it might be appropriate for what all of us are presently going through. Imagine that. The key thought from the first segment is "the size of your God determines the size of your trust". The key verses are from Isaiah 40:25-31. It was indeed very appropriate for our situation, and for the situation that several of my friends are currently in.

Our God is an awesome God. Hey, that would make a great song, wouldn't it? He has created a universe beyond what we could ever comprehend. We can't even begin to understand the number of stars that He has put into place, yet He knows each one by name. He also knows each tiny detail of our everyday lives. He knows what each of us is going through and struggling with. He knows about the brain tumors in Missy's former youth pastor, my college friend, and a senior at Missy's school. He knows about the teenage daughter of my high school friend who is battling cancer. He knows about another high school friend whose husband has been out of work for several months. He knows about the high school secretary who just lost her young grandson. He knows about Missy's liver transplant. He knows all about many other struggles that are too numerous to mention here. God knows.

It is God who gives strength and power to those who are weary, weak, and struggling. He never grows tired or weary, and those that hope in Him will renew their strength. We often ask God, "Why?" Why did You allow this to happen? Why do good people struggle so much? Why does this young, innocent life have to suffer? Why are You leading us through all of this?

In this study, Pastor Wilhite admits that "Why?" is a good and legitimate question. But it is not the most important question. The more important question is "Who?" Who do you put your trust in? Who is the source of your strength? Who is going to get you through whatever it is you are going through? God often does not answer our "Why?" questions, at least not the way that we think He should. Many times, His answer wouldn't satisfy us anyway.

The important part for us is not to know why life happens the way it does. The important part is to know who our trust and faith and hope are in. Once we know that the God of the universe, the omnipotent Holy One, is on our side, that He knows each anxious thought and concern,  and that He is more than capable of handling anything that comes our way, we can rest assured that He will see us through it. Their may be some pain along the way, but one day, the torn pieces will be put back together.

Missy and I needed to hear that tonight, and I have a feeling that maybe some of you did, too. Oh, and I'm sure the friends I mentioned in this post would appreciate your prayers, too.

Missy Allen, Texas Ranger

For those that didn't already know this, Missy teaches Texas History. She is an excellent teacher especially when you consider that she never even took a Texas History class. Every year, she plans a trip for her students that involves visiting many historical sites including the Alamo, the state capitol, and the Texas Ranger Museum. On a recent trip, one of her adult sponsors became very excited when he heard that they were going to visit that particular site. He was looking forward to seeing exhibits about Nolan Ryan, Fergie Jenkins, Rusty Greer, and many other baseball heroes. Unfortunately, she had to inform him that this Texas Ranger Museum was closer to the Chuck Norris variety. I probably would have waited to let him know when he got to the museum.

Lots of people are excited about and talking about the baseball Texas Rangers now. The team is on the verge of winning their first World Series. We had hoped that it would be done by the time of Missy's surgery on Thursday, but rain in St. Louis postponed that idea.

Missy and the Rangers have several things in common. Both are expecting something very exciting on Thursday. Both expected it to happen already in the recent past. Both are very entertaining. Both have persevered and are better than ever. Both are going to be rewarded soon for their patience and perseverance.

Join in the cheer with me..."Let's go, Missy, let's go! (clap, clap) Let's go, Missy, let's go!"

Once More, With Feeling

Have you ever had a concert or drama rehearsal where you thought you had done your very best only for the director to say, "Once more, with feeling!"? The director wasn't quite satisfied with your effort or lack of expression, and he thought it should all be done again. Well, that has never happened to me, mainly because I have never been talented enough to be a part of a concert or drama. Somehow, the sentiment seems fitting for our current situation with Missy's liver transplant.

This time around has been much different, however. In July, there was a lot of emotion and excitement involved leading up to the surgery date. Everything has been much more subdued this time. Maybe it is because we are guarding our emotions more, not wanting to be disappointed again. Maybe we are being more cautiously optimistic this time. Whatever the reasons, it hardly seems that we are only a couple of days away from the transplant.

Things are going well so far. The Arizona Transplant House had rooms for both Missy and her donor. That has been a huge blessing especially since the local hotel rates have increased due to the season. It seems like we are mostly just along for the ride this time. We thought we had some control last time, but we soon found out that we didn't. Fortunately, the same God is in control every time. I guess that we might be more trusting this time. It wasn't that we didn't trust God earlier. In fact, I don't think we could have trusted more. We probably did take some things for granted though, and we had our own way of how we thought the situation should work out. As it often happens, God had some different ideas in store for us.

I'm sure the anxiety will increase as Thursday gets closer. We know everything is in God's hands, and He can handle anything that happens. None of this has surprised Him. So, I don't really know what the "feeling" is this time around. Part of it is moving to the back seat and trying not to give driving directions. Part of it is a feeling that this time had better work. It would be extremely difficult to endure a letdown again. As always, we appreciate your prayers. We'll let you know more as it happens.

You Just Might Be a Chili Head

Tonight is our church's annual Chili Cookoff. One of our friends, Ann Sanford, heads up the competition each year. She has been involved in the Terlingua International Chili Cookoff for several years. She always brings a fun, festive atmosphere to this event. This year's event (as well as last year's) have been used to raise funds for Missy's liver transplant, so we have an extra level of appreciation.

Last night, Missy, Joy, and I were preparing our entries into the contest. As I was working on my chili, I thought of some of the following indications of "chili headedness".

If your chili sets off smoke alarms...in your neighbor's house, you might be a chili head.
If your spouse has shed a tear from the aroma of your seasonings, you might be a chili head.
If your recipe is different every time you make chili, you might be a chili head.
If you believe that there is no such thing as too many peppers, you might be a chili head.
If you include ingredients just because they have a cool Mexican name and there are flames on the label, you might be a chili head.
If you include any ingredient just because it has "hot" or "extra spicy" on the label, you might be a chili head.
If you have at least three ingredients that you have no clue about, you might be a chili head.
If others have to sign a waiver to test your chili, you might be a chili head.
If your chili wears through the pot you are using, you might be a chili head.
If you can still taste the heat from your chili three hours later, you might be a chili head.
If you know exactly where each bite is in your digestive system, you might be a chili head.

I won't say how many of these apply to this year's version of my chili, but let me put it this way: I just might be a chili head.

Remembering

We all have times and incidents in our lives that we would like to forget, but they are forever etched in our minds. As I get older, I am finding that there are more and more things that I would like to remember but can't.

As we face the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, there are several memories that we would like to forget...the loss of innocent lives, the massive destruction, the sense of helplessness, the decreased sense of security. Memories of that tragic day are not easily forgotten, nor should they be. Some aspects of that day should always be remembered...the sacrifice of firefighters and police who ran into the chaos instead of running away from it, the bravery of ordinary people who found themselves in the midst of extraordinary circumstances, the way that a country of individuals with opposing beliefs and ideologies bonded together for a common cause.

This video was shared in our church service this morning. It does a much better job of providing reasons why we should remember the events of 9/11. Whether we like it or not, the challenges, hardships, and tragedies that we face make us who we are. Actually, our reactions to those events make us who we are.

Although it doesn't compare to the tragedy of 9/11, Missy has indeed experienced more than her share of difficult circumstances. There are many that we would like to forget, but instead, we forget what important message we were supposed to tell each other, what essential item needs to be picked up at the store, and whatever it was that we were just talking about. It is our goal, however, to please God with how we handle these circumstances. Sometimes we do better than others. We do remember His faithfulness through each circumstance and the promise of His continued presence.

We are still waiting in the most recent part of our journey. Donor #3 has been approved, and we are waiting for a surgery date. We have been told that it will be some time in early October. Stay tuned. God bless America.

Choices

For several years, I have subscribed to a daily e-mail humor list called Mikey's Funnies. This service was the source of many of the thoughts of the day that I used to include on tests that I gave to my students. Each daily e-mail consists of a humorous or inspirational (or sometimes both) story. The following story is from a recent e-mail. The author of this particular one is Michael Halleen. 


I CHOOSE
By Michael Halleen

"I will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.'" (Psalm 91:2)

Mrs. S. had lived alone for many years and got out only with the help of a wheelchair. Every Sunday she wheeled herself into the side aisle of our sanctuary (one without handicap access) where she worshiped enthusiastically. She always seemed to be "up." People smiled when they were around her.

One evening Mrs. S. spoke to the youth of the church and was asked how she could always be so alive, so full of joy. She responded, "Because I *choose* to. I had no choice about living the last half of my life as a widow or having one of my sons killed in the Korean War. And I certainly I didn't choose to have to ride around in this chair for the past ten years. But one thing I did choose - to be happy. I decided to make the best of every day and to see the best in every person."

A friend who had been a missionary in South America told me of taking some American visitors through his city. One of them spotted a beautiful, large poinsettia tree in front of a small house as they passed by. The visitor wanted to take a picture and, not realizing that the plant was brittle, reached up to pull down a branch for the camera. A six-foot length of flame-red poinsettia snapped to the ground.

At that moment the woman of the house stepped out of the door and confronted the gringos standing there, poinsettia branch in hand. Humiliated, they offered to pay for her loss. But they could no more fix the personal damage than they could repair the tree. Still, instead of adding to their embarrassment, the woman cheerfully asked them in for tea. She chose to forgive them, to overlook their clumsy behavior. She chose to offer them grace.

Nothing is more crucial to the quality of our lives than the choices we make about how we approach the circumstances and relationships of each day. In the end it is that attitude which largely determines the outcomes we will find. The Lord made today, but it is we who decide how we will live in it. I *choose* God as my refuge . . . I *choose* to believe . . . I *choose* to find a way.

Life is all about choices, isn't it? No matter what happens to us, we get to choose how we react to it. We would not have chosen any of the trials that we have faced recently. We do get to choose to remain faithful. We get to choose to keep trusting. We get to choose not to give up. We do get to choose to hand over these worries to God. You chose to read this post. I hope that you are pleased with that choice.

In transplant journey news, Donor Candidate #3 travels out to Phoenix this week for testing and evaluation. Please pray that she and her husband have a good trip and for good results from the tests.

"Choose for yourselves today whom you will serve... as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." - Joshua 24:15
 

Thank God for Copperheads

I am not a big fan of snakes, but a group of copperheads does hold a special place in my heart. They changed my life. They don't have any idea what they have done, and I don't think they really care. I appreciate them anyway.

These copperheads decided to go to a church camp in south Texas during the summer of 1986. I don't know what they wanted to get out of the experience, but I'm glad they went. I hope they had fun.

They had the camp all to themselves. A group of kids from San Antonio was supposed to go to that camp, but the camp was closed due to the snakes. Those kids had to go to another camp instead. This new camp was Camp Inspiration (also affectionately known as Camp Perspiration) in Eastland, TX. Eastland is known more for horned toads than snakes.

The group of kids from San Antonio were led by two young counselors. The young lady was the pastor's daughter. She had a heavy Tennessee accent. She could sing very well, and the camp director talked her into leading the worship at the camp. Oh yeah, she was very pretty as well.

She met and flirted with a counselor from a church in Dallas. They spent a lot of time together during the week of camp. After the camp was over, they wrote back and forth. He even went to visit her in San Antonio.

A couple of months later, she dumped him. It had happened to him before, so it was okay.

The young lady decided to go to college in Oklahoma City. The guy played on his church's softball team. Every Labor Day, they participated in a national tournament...in Oklahoma City. The tournament was sponsored by a local college...the one that the young lady attended. She decided to watch some of the games. They saw each other and spent some time together over the weekend.

Then, they didn't have any contact with each other...until the next Labor Day tournament...where they spent some time together...then there was no contact...until the next tournament.

This routine was getting a little old for both of them. She had dated just about everybody at the college. He had closure for his other failed relationships, but not for this one. Individually they had both decided that if they were to get together again, it might very well be for good this time.

They wrote letters to each other before the tournament. They wrote to each other after the tournament. She came down to the Dallas area to help celebrate his birthday. He made several weekend trips to Oklahoma. They talked about where the relationship might be headed. They prayed about it and decided that they would spend the rest of their lives together.

He proposed on a very cold December evening...on the bleachers of the softball field where they found each other again. She said yes, as he desperately hoped she would.

After that semester at college, she moved to Phoenix, Arizona. Her parents had moved there during the previous year due to her mom's health. Their wedding took place on a very hot August afternoon in Phoenix, kind of like the weather here in Texas lately.

They didn't realize it until later, but the wedding took place on the same day (August 11) that they met four years earlier.

Happy anniversary, Missy! I love you now more than ever.

Thank you, copperheads.

Myth Bustin'

Has anyone ever told you, "God won't give you more than you can handle"? That statement is often given as a word of encouragement when someone is facing a difficult situation. The intent is to let that person know that they can get through whatever it is that they are facing. The statement is sometimes prefaced with the phrase "as the Bible says" or some other similar statement.

The problem is that the statement is not found in the Bible. In fact, the statement isn't even true.

Part of 1 Corinthians 10:13 states that, "God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear." Two important points can be made here. The first is that God is not the source of the temptation although He does allow it to happen. The second point is that this verse refers to temptations. I think that circumstances are different.

In my experience, God often gives me (or allows me to have) more than I can handle. That frequency may be due in part to the fact that I can't handle much. Paul, the author of the 1 Corinthians verse, was also given more than he could handle.

"We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us again. On Him we have set our hope that He will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many." - 2 Corinthians 1:8-11

The key here is to rely on God's strength, not our own. We are easily overwhelmed on our own. When we rely on God's strength, we can endure much more than we could imagine...like the ups and downs of a liver transplant journey.

Thankfully, God's strength has been with is on each step of our journey. The last part of the 2 Corinthians passage shows the needs for the prayers of others. We have had many, many people praying for Missy during her journey. God has answered many of those prayers, and we have no doubt that He will continue to answer many more. We gave up "handling" our circumstances a long time ago. Now, we "hand them off" to the only One who can do anything about it.

It Ain't Over Till It's Over

It's easy to believe when it's easy to believe.

No, that's not another Yogi Berra quote. I came up with that one. Feel free to use it yourself.

Here is what I mean.

When things are going well for you...
When you love your high paying job...
When your kids grow up to be wonderful people...
When you have no health problems...
When you find $50 in an old wallet...
When a friend tells you that you have made a difference in his/her life...
When you find out you have made a difference in a stranger's life...
When all is right in your world, then it's easy to believe.

When you see God's hand all around you, then it's easy to believe.

What happens when things aren't going well for you?
What happens when your job isn't what you thought it would be?
What happens when your kids choose the wrong path?
What happens when you lose your health?
What happens when you face financial problems?
What happens when friends forsake you?
What happens when strangers attack you?
What happens when all is not right in your world?

When you don't see God's hand anywhere around you? Do you still believe?

It is easy to believe when you see God and His work. It is difficult to believe when you don't see God. It has been said that "seeing is believing", but I don't think that is really true. Believing is seeing. Faith is the "assurance of what we do not see" (Heb. 11:1). Faith is believing even when our eyes don't see. Faith is believing when our feelings tell us otherwise.

In the latest part of our journey, it has not been easy to believe. There have been more times when God has been more difficult to see. It's not that He is hiding from us. It's not that we aren't looking for Him. It's just one of those times when our circumstances rise up and try to block God out. We haven't lost faith. We still believe. Our faith is getting stronger. We know that God is with us even when it takes a little more work to see Him.

A friend posted on Facebook today: "Don't try to please God with your feelings, but with faith. Without faith it is impossible to please God."

I have read that verse, Heb. 11:6, many times, but I had never thought about it that way. Our feelings come and go. I'm not sure that my feelings over the past few days have pleased God. I hope that my faith has. I hope that our faith has been evident in the most recent blogs. Our faith is in the One who always remains faithful, trustworthy, and true. It ain't over.

Transplant Journey FAQ

FAQ = Frequently Anticipated Questions

This post is a public service announcement that will hopefully answer most of your questions.

Q: How is Tim doing?
A: He is recovering well. He should be ready to travel home in a few days.

Q: When are you coming home?
A: We are planning on leaving Phoenix early Thursday morning.

Q: Will Tim still be the donor?
A: We don't know. His viability for being a donor will need to be re-evaluated.

Q: Do you have another donor?
A: Yes, we have some other people who have shown interest in being a donor.

Q: When will the transplant take place?
A: We have no idea. A new donor takes at least six to eight weeks from initial screening. Tim can be re-evaluated in about two months.

Q: How is Missy doing?
A: Physically, she is about the same. She still has issues with her energy level and retaining fluid. She puts up a pretty good front sometimes. Emotionally, she is drained. It was very tough being this close to having the transplant done.

Q: What is next?
A: I wish we knew. After we get back home, we will spend a lot of time with Joy. I will go back to work. Missy will make preparations for the coming school year. She will continue with her weekly infusion treatments. Baylor and Mayo will continue monitoring her progress.

Q: How long can Missy wait until having the transplant?
A: She needs the transplant as soon as possible. The effect on her liver is slow-acting at this point. Her MELD score is 15, a long way from receiving a deceased donor liver. The infusion treatments have slowed down the damage to her lungs. The effectiveness of those treatments could diminish at any time, and any further damage cannot be reversed.

Q: What can be done to help Missy?
A: Pray, pray, pray. Pray that Tim will heal completely from his surgery. Pray that another donor can be found if necessary. Pray that Missy can maintain her strength. Pray that finances can be found to pay for further donor screening and a return trip to Arizona.  Most of our insurance allotment and fundraising balance has been used for this trip. Pray that Missy will be able to work enough to maintain her insurance which is covering the transplant process. Pray for continued encouragement.

Q: How about those Rangers?
A: They are playing well right now, aren't they?

I'm Not Getting the Picture

Warning: yet another honest blog

I am at a loss for words. That's okay. I don't understand. That's okay. I don't like this one bit. That's okay. I am frustrated, disappointed, angry, helpless, discouraged, broken. That's okay.

The "bump in the road" was indeed more than a bump. It was a complete derailment. The transplant has been delayed at least two months. That is just a figure that the surgeon gave to Tim. We truly have no idea when the transplant might actually happen. We're not even sure who the donor will be. That's okay?

Okay or not, that's the way it is. God brought us through the initial disappointment of needing a liver transplant. God brought us through the hurt of my dismissal as a possible donor. God will bring us through the anguish of being so close but yet so far away.

We see only what is immediately visible to us. We don't see the big picture. Most of the time, we really don't want to see the big picture. We can't handle it. I might not know what I am asking for, but this time, I would like to see just a little more than what I currently do. I think it would be nice to have some idea where we are headed. I know that God sees the big picture, and that He has a wonderful plan for Missy. The problem is that in looking at the small glimpse that I have now, I don't see our path heading for that plan.

In case you didn't recognize the picture on the right, it is a closeup of Missy's eye. It was hard not to get her to blink when the camera was just a few inches from her eye. The picture on the left is Missy in all of her glory. My idea was to find a closeup picture of something in so much detail that you couldn't tell what the big picture was. I did a quick Internet search, but I couldn't find what I was looking for. I hope that these pictures demonstrate the point. The picture of Missy is better than anything the Internet has to offer.

I don't know why a better outcome isn't more readily available to us. Maybe as Jack Nicholson told Tom Cruise, I "can't handle the truth." I think I have used this reference before in an earlier blog, but the verse still applies.

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”- Mark 9:24b

God, we really do trust You to work Your will in Missy's life. We believe that you will do a great work in her. Please help us to keep believing when we have doubts. Please keep her in Your hands, but we really would like some positive news, okay?

A Bump in the Road

Warning: what follows is another honest blog...

Several Mayo staff people told us that 70% of organ transplants have a "bump in the road".

Maybe we could be part of the 30%. If not, surely we could handle a "bump".

This wasn't a bump. It was more like a sinkhole...or a bridge that had gone out...or a concrete barricade with barbed wire on the top.

It isn't something that we can't get around or overcome eventually, but it really does seem unnecessary.

Missy was finally scheduled to have her liver transplant on July 15. Everything was set. Our pastor flew in the night before to be with Missy and Tim (and me and Kathy, too). Missy and Tim went through the pre-op procedures. Kathy and I waited. We saw Missy and Tim in their fancy, new hospital gowns. Spirits were high. They wheeled Tim off to the operating room. They wheeled Missy off to another room to wait until Tim's liver sliver (that's not the technical term for it) was ready. They took some more pictures of Tim to make sure everything was in place. He didn't mention anything about randomly moving organs around overnight. They started Tim's surgery. They inserted all types of tubes into Tim's body. They started the incision to access his liver. They moved everything else out of the way. Missy was ready to be wheeled into another operating room. They clamped the veins to Tim's liver.

Then came the bump in the road.

They noticed blood in Tim's catheter. There was not supposed to be blood in Tim's catheter. They stopped the surgery to see what was the matter. The catheter had irritated Tim's prostrate which was enlarged. They had done every imaginable type of test on Tim prior to the surgery. Well, every type except for checking his prostrate. A bleeding prostrate is not a good thing. It is especially not a good thing for someone about to lose part of his liver since the liver determines how blood will clot. They closed up the incision and asked for some specialists to check out the prostrate problem. Nothing unusual was found other than an enlarged and irritated prostrate.

That was the good news. It is also good that they found this problem for Tim. Without the surgery, we don't know when the enlarged prostrate would have been discovered. We are thankful for that and for the fact that Tim is recovering nicely.

The bad news is that the transplant has been delayed. It could be delayed a few weeks or a few months. We don't know until Tim is checked out by a urologist. At that time, Tim, his family, and the doctors will determine the next course of action. Please be praying for Tim and his family during this time.

Missy and I have been very discouraged to say the least. We didn't really expect everything to go perfectly. Okay, maybe we did, but we thought that any problems could be easily handled and overcome. We are in a waiting stage again. We have people praying from all over the country (and even foreign places like Africa and Oklahoma) for this transplant. Many have asked us, "When will the transplant take place?" We have no idea.

We were soooooo close. Friday was a very emotional day. It is difficult getting ready for an operation like this. It wears on your emotions. We don't like to wait. We like to be in control. We thought we were prepared to handle what would come with the transplant. In no way were we prepared to handle what would come with the bump in the road.

Honestly, I don't like that phrase at all. I stated in the beginning that this was going to be an honest blog. Proceed at your own risk. Our emotions are still in a state of flux at this point. I don't like that. We were ready to deal with the way things were working out. We deviated from the original course a long time ago. We saw God's hand in what was happening up until we hit the bump.

Missy reminded me of many of the hurdles that she has faced in her life. Her testimony is a whole other story that we really should publish some time. She has overcome abuse, her own adoption issues, moving from a small Tennessee town to a huge Texas city, marrying me, difficulties in bearing our own children, going through court hearings to be able to adopt Joy, the sickness of her mother causing her father to leave full-time ministry, the early death of her mother and father, and so many other situations, each one being its own full story. Everything seems to be a hurdle in her life. These have been the high hurdles, too.

Pastor Simmons sent us a copy of a devotional this morning. It spoke about Abraham's willingness to sacrifice Isaac out of obedience to God. One of the main points was that out of supreme sacrifice comes supreme blessing. The last statement reads: "There is nothing, indeed, which God will not do for a man who dares to step out upon what seems to be the mist; though as he puts down his foot he finds a rock beneath."

My devotion this morning was titled "The Concept of Divine Control." It talked about trusting in God to completely control every part of our lives, even when we don't understand.

I have no doubt that God has a sense of humor.

Our reactions to this setback are natural and human. We don't like what has happened. We don't like it at all. We don't understand it. Guess what...we don't have to like it...we don't have to understand it. God is working through us on this. It is taking some time. That is okay. Our faith and trust in God are still strong. Really, what else are we going to do?

God is still in control. He wasn't surprised by what happened. He has a great plan in mind for both Missy and Tim. We are still trusting that God's will is going to happen in our lives. We have no idea why He chose to work the way He did, but He sees the big picture. We don't. He is God, and we are not. Some good is going to come out of all this that we will never see this side of heaven. Although, God, a glimpse would be nice (hint, hint). At any rate, we will keep following God, wherever He may lead us. We haven't given up faith and trust in Him. We won't. We can't.

Congratulations if you made it all the way through this very long post. Stay tuned to see where we are headed next. If you find out before we do, please let us know.

Are We There Yet?

It didn't take Missy five minutes to ask this question when we left home on our way to Phoenix. She was kidding of course...at least I think she was.

Actually, we are there. Missy's liver transplant is scheduled for tomorrow morning. We get to report to the hospital at 5:30 in the morning. The hospital staff has some things to do to get everybody ready for the surgery: paperwork, get IVs ready, waking Missy up so they can put her to sleep, etc. The actual surgery for the donor should start around 7:00. Missy's surgery should start around 8:00. In approximately five hours, they will be done and beginning recovery in ICU.

This has been a long journey for us. Missy has been on the transplant list for almost two years. This journey has had its ups and downs, twists and turns, and starts and stops. The last word that I would think of to describe it is boring. But, here we are, just a few hours away from the transplant. To me at least, it doesn't seem like it is really here. There were many times when I thought that this time would never get here. Now, I can't believe that it's really here.

Thanks to our very generous donor, Tim, Missy's life will be forever changed tomorrow. Tim has been more than awesome through this whole process. I will share more of his story a little later. Please pray for him and his wife as well. One irony of the live donor transplant procedure has been shared with us. The donor comes in feeling well and leaves feeling lousy. The recipient comes in feeling lousy and leaves feeling well.

As we have gone through appointments and testing this week, several hospital staff have asked us if we are excited about the transplant. Excited isn't quite the word we would use at this point. Anxious seems to fit. There is a little bit of frightened in the mix. I think that there may be even a little hint of relief. I have a suspicion that many more emotions will reveal themselves during the day tomorrow.

Missy and I would like to thank all of you who have been praying for her during this journey. We couldn't have made it without your love, support, and encouragement. God has done great things throughout this journey, and He has used many of you to accomplish those things. Stay tuned for whatever happens next. The transplant is coming up, but it is not the end of our journey.

Preparing for the Massive Haboob

No, that is not a typo. Missy and I are making final arrangements to get prepared for the massive haboob.  Arizona has some strange weather that only residents can truly appreciate. When we first moved to Tucson several years ago, I always thought it was funny that they were expecting a summer monsoon. To me, a monsoon meant extremely wet, humid weather. It made me think of the tropics and rain forests, not southern Arizona where the average yearly rainfall is only 12 inches. I have seen weeks in Texas with that much rain. We also found it strange that a 1 to 2 inch rain in the Arizona desert can cause widespread flooding.

Many of you know that we will be heading to Phoenix for Missy's liver transplant next week. We may very likely encounter a massive haboob while there. No, we aren't heading to southern California or Las Vegas. A haboob is not some organ or condition involved in Missy's health. I had never heard of the term until seeing it in the news today. It was the term used for a large dust storm in Phoenix. Although it is fun to say, I hope that we can avoid any haboobs.

It is difficult to believe that the transplant is almost here. We would greatly appreciate your prayers that an opening will occur in the transplant housing at the Mayo Clinic. All rooms are currently occupied. As a result, we will be staying in a local hotel until there is an opening. The Mayo housing would be much cheaper for us and more like a home setting.

Missy's transplant is scheduled for Friday, July 15. I will post updates on Facebook during the surgery. I will try to post a summary update on this blog after the surgery is completed.

Winner, Winner, Liver Dinner

The next turn has been made on our roller coaster ride. Donor #2 has been accepted! We received confirmation on Wednesday afternoon. We still do not have a date yet. The person who does the scheduling won't be in until Friday. We are hoping for the transplant to happen as soon as possible. It's hard to believe, but it's only about eight weeks until Missy's students return to school. We hope that she doesn't have to miss too much of the beginning of the school year.

I've been trying to think of a clever way of breaking this news in our blog, but I haven't been able to come up with anything. This news is good enough to stand on its own though.

I can't resist commenting on recent events in Dallas. How 'bout those Mavs? They are the champions! For those not in the immediate DFW area, it is amazing how the Mavericks have taken over around here. We have been cheering for them because they are our team, not just because they were playing the Heat.

Nobody seems to like the way that the Miami Heat attempted to win a championship. Local sports reporter, Dale Hansen, commented about the Mavs winning the "American way". That's interesting considering the fact that the team has a German, a Puerto Rican, a Serb, and some French players. I do like how the Mavs won this championship. They worked extremely hard, and they were very patient. It did take 31 years. Setbacks like the '06 loss to the Heat narrowed the focus and motivated players like Nowitzki and Terry.

Just about every action performed by this team, its staff, and their fans has been done with extreme class. The celebrations around here have been the safest and most arrest-free that I can remember. Everyone around here feels a part of this accomplishment. The Dallas Mavericks, and especially their stars, have appeared decisively humble. That is very refreshing in these times.

I've had some fun with some of these pictures, but there might be some lessons to be learned here. In our transplant journey, we have had to be very patient and humble. There is no quick fix for us. The journey has taken us longer than we would have liked, but we are trusting God that we will indeed get to our destination. For now, we will soon be taking our talents to the desert.

Step By Step...Inch By Inch...

Recent posts have started with a commercial reference. This one is different. I don't know why this Three Stooges skit entered my mind. I really don't. I searched for a video clip, and I found similar ones from Abbott and Costello, and I Love Lucy. They all have basically the same story, and I'm not sure what it really has to do with our latest situation, but I will do my best to make the connection for you.

We did get news this week about Donor #2. His doctor finally sent the proper paperwork to the Mayo Clinic. They sent out the orders for blood tests, and he had those done. He studied more than I did and aced the blood tests. The donor coordinator from Phoenix called and set up his week of testing at the Mayo Clinic. He will be traveling out the week of June 5. There are several tests, examinations, and meetings that will be involved. If all goes well, we will know if he can be a donor on June 15. If he is still willing to go through with all of this, the surgery might be scheduled for late June. We would like to get the surgery done as soon as possible to Missy will be able to return to teaching in the fall.

Have you seen the connection yet? Nope, me either. We are taking this process step by step and inch by inch. Some steps are smaller than others. This latest news is a larger step, and we hope it leads to the final steps. Yes, it's a bit of a stretch for a connection, but it's the best I could come up with. No, we're not planning on punching anybody out any time soon.

Please pray that all goes well with the travel and testing. We will keep you updated as best we can. Oh, I thought of this song, too, when thinking of a step by step process. This analogy is better than the others.

This Is Where It's At

You can go with this...

Or you can go with that...

This post begins with another commercial reference. The inspiration came from our rental car choice in Phoenix.

I'm not sure Missy has spent enough time in the 'hood. Although a ride in the Weinermobile would be kind of cool, I think we'll stick with the Soul for now.

This relates to our transplant journey. We have ideas that we would like to see to get us through this process, but it isn't always what God has in mind. We were hoping that this week would be the time of my screening to be a donor. Instead, we are in Phoenix for some follow-up appointments for Missy. We are still waiting for the screening process to continue for our second donor candidate. This one is going very slowly as one doctor is taking a while to get some necessary records together.

Our delay, though unwanted, will allow for some ease in the future. I will be able to be there for Missy as her caregiver. That wouldn't be the case if I was the donor. Also, the transplant will take place in June at the earliest. This will allow Joy to be done with school and make her care much easier.

We did have a blessing on the way out to Phoenix. Missy has the type of personality where she can strike up a conversation with anybody. She talked with another lady waiting for the plane, and has someone else praying for her as a result. She also talked to the lady sitting next to her on the first part of our flight. That lady got off the plane in San Antonio, and we stayed for the flight to Phoenix. One of the flight attendants came up to Missy between flights. She handed Missy some money and said it was from the lady who sat next to Missy. We had never met this lady before, but she gave Missy $100 because she felt led to do so. While on the flight, she also took Missy's name and said that she would put Missy on her prayer list. We truly appreciated the money, but the prayers are worth much more. Thank you very much, Carolyn. May God bless your generosity.

I haven't posted in a while because there really isn't much else to say. We are still waiting. I will post more information as it becomes available.

Recalculating...

Have you seen the Allstate Mayhem commercials? They are very clever, and we're beginning to think maybe that guy is in Missy's liver somewhere.

Missy and I have GPS navigation apps on our phones. We love them. We would be lost without them...literally. Missy's dad had a GPS unit for his car. He used to go a different direction on purpose just to confuse the system. It was funny to hear him talk to the box and get a sincere pleasure of hearing the word "recalculating...". Sometimes, it seemed like his goal was to get the box to give up. He did succeed a few times. Then he would have to talk nicely to it so we could get to where we were supposed to be.

Guys won't stop and ask for directions. Women know this, and that is why I truly believe that a woman came up with the idea for GPS navigation. Guys will listen to a little box or phone app telling us where to go. Okay, sometimes we think we know a better way, a shortcut, but we promised never to talk about that trip ever again.

The "recalculating" theme has been running through my mind a lot today, especially with all that is going on with Missy's transplant situation. We follow the directions we've been given for a while, and then all of a sudden, we're in the middle of nowhere.

Recalculating...

Then we take off in the new direction until we're lost again.

Recalculating...

It's not like we are going off-road or taking detours. We are following the directions that are given to us. I don't think we are getting ahead of things either. We just start getting comfortable, having a vague idea of what is around the next corner and getting prepared for it. But once we get around the corner, the bridge is out.

Recalculating...

So off we go in another direction God knows where...

But there's the key...God knows where. God, the Creator of the universe, the Designer of the liver is in complete control. He hasn't fallen asleep. He isn't watching the ball game (Have you seen the Rangers play lately?). He knows what is going on, what's around the next corner, where the next corner even is. Where will he lead us? We have an idea where the final destination is, but the route? We don't have a clue...only God knows where...Remember, nobody protects you from mayhem like God.

His Ways Are Not Our Ways

Warning: The following post contains honest thoughts and reflections (just like all the others). The mood may change unexpectedly. And the roller coaster adventure continues...

My blood test results came back earlier than usual. It has been less than a week, and we were expecting up to two weeks. We are learning to expect the unexpected. Think about the ramifications of that for a while if you want a headache. Well, the result is that I will not be the donor for Missy's transplant. I missed the trick question on the blood test. The results show that I have a Factor V Leiden. According to Mayo's web site, it is a common inherited genetic disorder that can increase my chance of developing abnormal blood clots. I had never heard of this problem until this evening.

This condition, affliction (or whatever it is) is problematic on two levels. It could cause problems during the surgery to remove part of my liver. It could also be a problem for Missy since most of clotting factor V is produced in the liver. That means that my liver could produce a clotting problem for Missy if I was the donor.

I am very disappointed that I will not be able to be Missy's donor. I could sense Missy's disappointment as well. I was really hoping to be able to help her out with the transplant. This setback will further delay her transplant. When I had the hope of being her donor, I had a sense of being able to do something about her suffering. Now, I'm back to a feeling of helplessness. Remember the warning at the beginning of this post?

Upon further reflection and conversation with God, we are dealing with this news. We're not really happy about it yet, but we're dealing with it. We do have Donor Candidate #2 beginning the process tonight. We have Missy's caregiver situation worked out. We definitely don't want to endanger Missy's health any more with a possibly defective liver. God is going to work things out. He just isn't going to do it in the way we imagined. That's a good thing because He has a much better imagination than we do. He is okay with my disappointment and frustration. I'm okay with trusting Him to do what is best. At least I keep telling myself that.

He reminded me tonight of the time where Jesus drove an evil spirit out of a man's son. The man told Jesus, "I believe. Help my unbelief." God, we trust You with Missy's health. Just help us when it's more difficult to trust. Another part of that passage spoke to me as well. The disciples couldn't drive out the spirit. Afterward, they approached Jesus, and asked Him why they couldn't do it. His response was that it could only be done through prayer. Sure, I've been praying for Missy every day, several times a day, every time I think of her. But have I really been praying as I should? Have my prayers been as fervent and full of faith as they should be? God worked out circumstances at church tonight where I could have a good conversation with Him. You know...the kind of conversation where I was made quiet, still, and had to listen.

As our roller coaster takes another turn, I am learning how to move from trying to be the best donor I can be to learning how to be the best caregiver I can be. Your prayers are always appreciated. Stay tuned. Our journey is never boring.

May = Mayo?

When I made out tests for my students, I liked to lighten the mood for them a little bit by including a joke. The first part was at the top of the first page. The punch line appeared somewhere else on the test. The point was to give them a release for any stress that might be caused by the students' lack of studying for the test. I know that the difficulty of the test couldn't have caused any stress! Students usually looked for the joke first or for the cartoon at the end of the test. For some reason, I thought of the following joke today.

If April showers bring May flowers, what do May flowers bring?

Wait for it...wait for it...

Well, the answer is pilgrims, of course. Go ahead and groan and shake your head. I'm used to it. You don't even have to give me credit when you tell it to somebody else. It's not an original joke anyway.

It looks like May might be bringing another trip to Phoenix for us. I received a call today from the living donor coordinator at the Mayo Clinic. The insurance company has approved the process (again), and we are ready to proceed. I had called the clinic earlier telling them that I wanted to be tested to be a donor. The coordinator called back this evening. She told me the history of living liver donations at the Mayo Clinic, the possible complications that can occur with the donor, and the rest of the process for becoming a donor. She then asked several questions about my medical history. I think that I aced that quiz even though I didn't study for it.

The good news is that no donors have died at the Mayo Clinic since they began living liver donations in 2001. Of the 110 transplants, only two have had major complications, and both of them are fine now. Even the few minor complications have been resolved. After giving me all of that information, the coordinator proceeded to inquire about my medical history. She then asked if I had any other questions for her. She had already answered everything that I could come up with, and we had already found most of the information in our own research.

So what does all of this mean? Well, the coordinator will meet with the head of the program tomorrow. If he agrees that I am a good possible candidate, they will fax orders for blood work to Baylor Hospital. I will then go by Baylor on Friday to have the blood tests done. If anyone knows of any online study guides for these tests, please let me know because I want to do my best. It should take one to two weeks for the results to be evaluated by the team at Mayo. If I did well enough, I will get invited to travel to Phoenix in May for a week of evaluation. After that week, the Mayo team will make the final determination as to whether or not I will be a good liver donor for Missy. Sooooooo, if the answer is yes, the transplant could happen in late May.

We are making progress, or at least we are doing something. We still have some issues to consider and handle like logistics for Joy, our pets, and our house during the transplant. We also need to secure two caregivers for the recovery process. Thanks for all of your prayers and support through all of this.

Oh, one more pilgrim joke: Why do pilgrims have problems keeping their pants up? Because they wear their belt buckles on their hats!

It's Pizza Time Again

CiCi's Pizza in Waxahachie has graciously agreed to host another round of fundraising for Missy's transplant. Each Monday in April, CiCi's will donate a portion of the day's sales to Missy's transplant fund. If you would like to help out, all you have to do is place your receipt in the box at the counter.

We have really appreciated all of the nights that CiCi's has hosted. This particular location is managed/owned by wonderful Christian men. They are always glad to see us because business always seems to be better on fundraising nights.

We would love to see any of you out there on a Monday night this month. Just be sure to save some cinnamon rolls and spinach pizza for Missy.

Mayo Madness

NCAA basketball isn't the only source of madness this March. It's a good thing we don't make our living picking basketball games. Missy hasn't beaten me...yet. Her bracket is currently tied with mine.

Missy, Joy, and I spent our Spring Break in Phoenix, AZ at the Mayo Clinic. Missy was being tested so that she could be put on Mayo's liver transplant list. She endured lots of poking, prodding, questioning, and needle sticks. She did very well considering all that they put her through. This testing was a little more intense than her initial testing at Baylor a year and a half ago.

The team at the Mayo Clinic in Phoenix communicates very well. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing. That is huge especially considering how many different people are involved with Missy's care. All of them think that Missy would be an excellent candidate for a live donor liver transplant. Her lung function has actually improved some since her last lung test. Her blood work also caused her MELD score to go down one point. That means her liver is doing better as well. We are told that with the alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, the MELD score often plateaus before rising. The bottom line is that she still needs a liver transplant, and she is healthy enough to get through the transplant well. The Mayo Clinic committee will meet on Wednesday to make a decision whether to list Missy or not.

After we get the call that Missy has been listed (yes, we are thinking very positively here), we will start providing donors. I will be the first one to contact the Mayo team. Some preliminary blood work will be done here. After that goes well (more positive thinking), I will travel out to Phoenix for my turn at intensive poking, prodding, etc. They will determine if I am healthy enough to endure the surgery and if I have a good liver for Missy. They will check blood flow, liver size, and other factors. My favorite part (here comes the sarcasm) will most likely be the liver biopsy. If they determine that I am a good match, then they will schedule the surgery. It could happen some time in May.

The transplant process should take around 5 weeks in Phoenix. Missy will spend about a week in the hospital and about 4 weeks recuperating and being observed. If I am the donor, I will spend a little less time in the hospital and about 2 weeks recuperating. We are hoping to get into some hospital housing for the recovery time. It is cheap and on the hospital grounds. It is available for transplant and cancer patients, but there is currently a waiting list.

We were able to relax some (Joy and I more so than Missy) on our trip. We saw "Mars Needs Moms" at an IMAX theater in 3D. The screen was amazing. It was almost a private viewing as we were the only ones in the theater until right as the previews were starting. We went to a Texas Rangers game on Wednesday night. I did learn a little bit about spring training baseball:

1. If you don't have a name on your jersey (and most everybody else does), or your uniform number would work for a tight end, or the announcer doesn't notice that you're in the game for two innings, don't count on making the big league team.
2. The Rangers didn't bring all of their music, sound effects, etc. to Spring Training with them. Spring Training games are very quiet (not necessarily a bad thing).
3. It's a good idea to appease the veteran players (Hamilton, Andrus) by taking their gloves and hats to them if they are left on base at the end of the inning. It's also a good idea to take your own (Deeds) glove with you.
4. Major League concessions are much better than those at Surprise Stadium.
5. Cotton candy has a lot fewer calories than I thought it would.
6. I wouldn't want to face the top of a healthy Rangers lineup. Beltre hits the ball VERY hard.
7. Chuck Morgan, the Ballpark at Arlington announcer, is way underrated.
8. Free parking is a really good thing.

It is nice to be making progress. Missy is looking forward eagerly to getting better. Some of her symptoms should be gone within 12 hours of the transplant. Please stay tuned for additional updates as the madness is just beginning!

We're Off to See the Wizard...

Missy starts her series of tests and appointments tomorrow morning. It's going to be a long week, but we are looking forward to getting some answers. Please stay tuned for those answers as they are given to us.

We have enjoyed our stay in AZ so far. We traveled down to Tucson this afternoon to see some friends from when Missy was a youth pastor there. It's been about 8 years since we have seen many of them. It's amazing how the adults haven't changed that much, but the kids aren't recognizable. They are all growing up way too fast.

The Mayo Clinic in AZ looks very impressive from the outside. We'll see how it is from the inside tomorrow.

In the Beginning...

I'm finally getting around to posting on this blog. It's very easy to procrastinate when you have little free time. We are getting ready for our trip to Phoenix next week. It would be more accurate to say that we are getting ready for our trip to Phoenix to be over. We are eager...eager to get this process going and eventually done. There are honestly a few parts of this trip that I am looking forward to. I enjoyed Arizona when we lived there. We will get to see several Tucson friends on Sunday afternoon. We will also try to catch a Rangers spring training game. Joy is also excited about staying in a hotel again.

It will be good to make some progress and get some questions answered. At least that is our mantra. The week will be full of testing, prodding, scans, needle sticks and such. At the end of the week, we are hoping that Missy will be on the Mayo Clinic liver transplant list. After that, we hope to begin the donor screening process. We have no idea what all will be involved with that process. Hopefully, that will be quick and as painless (physically and emotionally) as possible. Then, soon we can actually get going with the actual transplant, healing, and getting back to "normal".

The more astute readers will notice that I used the word "hope" a lot. That is one of the things that we currently have in abundance along with faith, trust, encouragement and support. Is there any other way that we could get through all of this? God is faithful, and He will see us through this journey. Too often, we are like little kids...fidgeting in the back seat, continually asking, "Are we there yet?" How do people get through life's events without a sustaining faith and trust in God? There is no way that we could do that. We are so thankful for our God who gives us strength for each day and the most amazing friends and family to cheer us on. We could never adequately express our gratitude for all you have done for us.

Stay tuned for more information and insight as it becomes available.