Monthly Archive: January 2017

January 2, 2017

We have certainly enjoyed and welcomed a few days of rest from school, work, and the craziness that we all tend to add to Christmas in general. New Years seems to be a little more low key and even restful and real rest is what we all have needed since November. ‘Carrow has been able to take a leave from work since May and chose not to return until now being after the year. I returned to work after Thanksgiving but knew that she wanted and needed more time than I did. God’s timing was perfect and made a way for ‘Carrow to stay home as long as she needed. In that time at home my wife has been able to transform our home. She has redecorated two rooms that we entertain friends and family in and have plenty of space to sit and talk and space to occasionally send the kids to their own area . She has created beautiful reminders all over our house of Kayleigh from family pics to large Kayleigh prints over the fireplace. Not to make us sad but to always remember our wonderful memories and special time with our girl. So tonight when I was asked by a family member at dinner ” what was your favorite Christmas gift this year?” My answer was came to me quickly. My favorite gift was it the hard work that my wife spent countless hours on to make our home a special place for all of us. So as we continue to figure out this “new normal” please pray for ‘Carrow’s transition back to work. I know she will be fine and do great but, I also know what it was like for me to go back. Continue to pray for those kids still battling this disease. We continue to closely follow quite a few other DIPG families and share their stories when we can .

Until tomorrow
Tim 💜

Happy New Year!

And so it begins – a new year, blank slate, fresh page… the question is, what are you going to do with it? Every one of us is staring at a book with 365 fresh pages just waiting to be filled. Some of the days will be filled with joy. Some of the pages will be filled with pain. Some will be easy and others hard, but one thing I know, we are all the authors of our stories. We get to decide the perspective. As you narrate your story will you share your good times and thank the Lord? Will you look at the trouble you face and choose joy? Will you make the choice to praise God no matter the circumstance? Will you stay positive and trust His plan even when you can’t see the next step?

Trust me, I know just how difficult that is. Some days we stand tall in the strength of our Savior. Other days we struggle. But every day that we have chosen to find the joy, God has blessed us. No, it isn’t usually what we expect. Often God answers our prayers in ways we don’t expect. But His ways are always better than ours. I pray that each of you, as you begin this new year, will set a goal to find the joy in every situation. And yes, we have been able to find God’s joy in our darkest days because of the love of Jesus. You will be amazed at how your heart is transformed. How your anxiety can be turned to peace.

Psalm 13:5
5 But I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me.

Psalm 28:7
7 The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

And just like that, 2016 comes to a close – and I’m not ready. I would like to linger in this, the year of Kayleigh, a little longer. As irrational as it may sound, I feel like starting a new year without her is like leaving her behind. I’m starting a new year where she won’t be present for anything – and that grieves my heart. Yet, we can’t stop time, nor slow it down, no matter how much we may want to. We can only make the best of each moment the Lord chooses to bless us with.

So, even though my heart is a little sad, I can still choose joy. I can choose to hope. And God’s word is so good to remind me of His beautiful promises. Only God Almighty can make beautiful these ashes.

Psalm 94:22
22 But the Lord is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

Romans 15:13
13 I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 145:14
14 The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads.

Romans 8:28
28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Wishing you and yours much faith, hope, and love in this new year. May the Lord bless each of you. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf. We need them more than you can know!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Ringing in the New Year with our small group

Write a good one indeed 💜