I wasn't much for roller coasters as a kid--i had a hard time breathing through all the ups, downs, twists, and turns. Then I met and married Keli and she was not prepared to marry a guy who wouldn't do roller coasters with her--so I learned to ride roller coasters--by singing. Yes, one little known fact about me is that when I ride roller coasters, I sing and in singing i breathe a little more regularly. So, if you're ever in an amusement park and you hear some off-key, screaming, rendition of "swing low sweet chariot" with an entire train of laughing participants, then i may be the idiot "singing"...
All that to say, the week has been a nonstop roller coaster for us:
the big climb: Christmas with our families was a wonderful time that we could spend together. I've written and talked a lot about the importance of this time together.
the big drop, Remembering Clayton: one of the youth in our church was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer about 1.5 years ago. Clayton had been in Children's Hospital in Birmingham throughout his senior year in high school battling this disease. He had made real progress and had come home for a time in the summer--he and his family even came to church in October. In mid December, he went back for what appeared to be a stomach virus--in such weakened condition, any illness is a serious threat--but then breathing problems began and little nodes were discovered in his lungs. He was placed on a ventilator as a part of surgery to discover the cause of the nodes, with the resulting grim report of the cancer spreading into his lungs. He did not come to after the surgery and entered into a coma while remaining on the ventilator; his mom, Donna, was given the report and told that not only would he not live much longer, but that she would likely have to make the decision to remove him from the ventilator. James, our youth pastor, was in Florida and asked me to go see the family--i went to encourage Donna, not only for the short term, but for the next difficult steps in her life. Sunday, we joined the 6th Avenue Church in simultaneously praying for a miracle and acknowledging our faith in the Lord's will to be done. AT THE EXACT HOUR OF OUR PRAYING, Clayton came out of his coma and had 12 hours of positive, though weakened interaction with his family and friends who drove down after church. As 11 pm approached, he grew weaker and more tired, slipping back into a coma--by 3:07 am, Clayton had gone on to his inheritance through Christ. The simultaneous sorrow and joy and peace has been amazing...
the loopty loops: we have had our "second" daughter Alexis with us nonstop since Christmas--she provides loads of laughter and help to us as we go through the packing process, but also a bit of sadness as we consider leaving her behind. Keli has had lots of coffee trips with her sister and mom, and we are juggling last minute dinners and plans with friends from the church as well. All of these provide moments of highs and lows in rapid succession.
the breakneck speed: up early, to bed late, and a million questions, and emails, and phone calls, and packing, and unpacking, and errands, and details, details, details fill every moment.
the singing: trying to listen to music as we pack has been helpful, and comical as we watched a bit of the 100 top videos of the 2000's on VH1 (though much was unwatchable as the exponential increase of raunchy from 80's to 90's to 2000's is astronomical); i've wanted the radio to be on while driving on errands so i can sing; and i get an occasional song from others that makes me smile, like this one from one of our leaders at 6th Avenue (several of us went down a couple years ago to see Andy McKee perform in Birmingham--if you're not familiar with his talent, just type his name into youtube and be amazed!).
The quick stop: Friday is coming quickly. We will have a come-and-go farewell here at the in-laws home Thursday night, while my parents drive up that evening for a few remaining hours as well. We'll load up Friday morning and head to the airport shortly after noon.
Thank you for your continuing prayers on our behalf...
All that to say, the week has been a nonstop roller coaster for us:
the big climb: Christmas with our families was a wonderful time that we could spend together. I've written and talked a lot about the importance of this time together.
the big drop, Remembering Clayton: one of the youth in our church was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive cancer about 1.5 years ago. Clayton had been in Children's Hospital in Birmingham throughout his senior year in high school battling this disease. He had made real progress and had come home for a time in the summer--he and his family even came to church in October. In mid December, he went back for what appeared to be a stomach virus--in such weakened condition, any illness is a serious threat--but then breathing problems began and little nodes were discovered in his lungs. He was placed on a ventilator as a part of surgery to discover the cause of the nodes, with the resulting grim report of the cancer spreading into his lungs. He did not come to after the surgery and entered into a coma while remaining on the ventilator; his mom, Donna, was given the report and told that not only would he not live much longer, but that she would likely have to make the decision to remove him from the ventilator. James, our youth pastor, was in Florida and asked me to go see the family--i went to encourage Donna, not only for the short term, but for the next difficult steps in her life. Sunday, we joined the 6th Avenue Church in simultaneously praying for a miracle and acknowledging our faith in the Lord's will to be done. AT THE EXACT HOUR OF OUR PRAYING, Clayton came out of his coma and had 12 hours of positive, though weakened interaction with his family and friends who drove down after church. As 11 pm approached, he grew weaker and more tired, slipping back into a coma--by 3:07 am, Clayton had gone on to his inheritance through Christ. The simultaneous sorrow and joy and peace has been amazing...
the loopty loops: we have had our "second" daughter Alexis with us nonstop since Christmas--she provides loads of laughter and help to us as we go through the packing process, but also a bit of sadness as we consider leaving her behind. Keli has had lots of coffee trips with her sister and mom, and we are juggling last minute dinners and plans with friends from the church as well. All of these provide moments of highs and lows in rapid succession.
the breakneck speed: up early, to bed late, and a million questions, and emails, and phone calls, and packing, and unpacking, and errands, and details, details, details fill every moment.
the singing: trying to listen to music as we pack has been helpful, and comical as we watched a bit of the 100 top videos of the 2000's on VH1 (though much was unwatchable as the exponential increase of raunchy from 80's to 90's to 2000's is astronomical); i've wanted the radio to be on while driving on errands so i can sing; and i get an occasional song from others that makes me smile, like this one from one of our leaders at 6th Avenue (several of us went down a couple years ago to see Andy McKee perform in Birmingham--if you're not familiar with his talent, just type his name into youtube and be amazed!).
The quick stop: Friday is coming quickly. We will have a come-and-go farewell here at the in-laws home Thursday night, while my parents drive up that evening for a few remaining hours as well. We'll load up Friday morning and head to the airport shortly after noon.
Thank you for your continuing prayers on our behalf...
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