Monthly Archive: April 2017

April 30, 2017

And just like that, April is over. As I go to sleep tonight, tomorrow is making me nervous. Tomorrow is May. May 2016 is when our world turned upside down. I am so incredibly thankful for the way our Lord has blessed us. He has carried us through some of the most difficult things a family can go through. He has been our strength and hope for the future. He has increased our faith through His goodness this last year. And yet even though I know all of these things to be true, I just don’t know how my heart is going to respond as we near the anniversary date of Kayleigh’s diagnosis – her 8th birthday.

I find myself digging into God’s word more and more. I know that by filling myself with Him, I am equipping my heart to weather the storm. But if I told you the storm I see on the horizon wasn’t scary, I would be lying. This is just one of those times where my faith will have to be stronger than my feelings. Where I will have to continue to remind myself that God is good, and His plan is perfect.

I am also thankful for the amazing Women’s conference I was able to enjoy this weekend. The Lord knew I needed to be refilled in order to be able to stand strong. It never ceases to amaze me just how good our God is!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

Oh how I miss this monkey!

April 29, 2017

Guess what happens when your wife is away at a women’s conference all weekend? You have a Cotillion Spring Ball and State Tournament for Softball on one of the hottest April weekends that I can remember. And everyone has survived and been on time to all required events up to this point. Yes Carrow is off enjoying the Women of Joy conference this weekend with a group from our Church which is something she’s been looking forward to for a while. With Carrow gone we had to recruit some outside help for Grace’s attire, makeup, hair, etc. We all know how that would have gone down if it was left up to me. By the time I made it home from work, my already gorgeous Grace had been transformed into a Princess and it was another reminder to enjoy every moment with my kids. Cole was able to go enjoy some time with his Uncle Rob during our Cotillion outing. Meanwhile Grace was able to remind me of what a miserable dancer that I truly am. Even though the AC was not functioning at this semi-formal event, myself along with other dads and their children learned how to do the Cupid Shuffle along with the Fox Trot. After three hours of Cotillion last night we came home to get ready for a full day at the ball park today. Even though Cole is not a lover of sports like his older sister he enjoys running around the ballpark and of course buying as much junk as possible from the concession stand. This is normally followed by “Why is that child crying? and why are you carrying a nerf gun and a light saber?” Today was a fairly short softball day from 8am to close to 8pm but Grace managed to play pretty well and make us proud as always. Talking to ‘Carrow tonight, I was able to fill her in on how the day went but of course Grace was missing one of her number one fans with her mom away. We did have a special #14 come see us today because she had a younger sibling playing softball and that was a nice surprise for Grace and I.

We still continue to see God at work with Kayleigh’s story whether it be at the ball field or hours away at a Women’s conference. It is pretty awesome to watch the Master at work when you know what to look for.

Until Tomorrow

Tim

Our special #14 escorting Kayleigh around the bases.

• 
• A picture of KB that came up today.  This is well before she was playing softball but she was definitely in the middle of all things including this pictures.

Mercy what a day! I made it safely to the Women of Joy conference with my friends. What a joy it is to have special, Christian women that love and encourage one another. I know I needed time to step away from my insane schedule and just sit at the feet of Jesus.

I was prepared for renewal, I was not quite as prepared for being broken first. But I guess when you plant seeds you have to till the soil first, right? Tonight’s speaker did just that for me. As she shared her testimony and pain from losing a child, a daughter, my heart clenched. And when she asked that room of nearly 10,000 women to stand if they had lost a child… I stood. I stood with tears running down my face – filled with both joy and sorrow, grief and hope, pain and faith. I stood holding hands with my friend, bonded by the sorrow of loss.

Yes, the Lord squished up my heart tonight – and the squishing made it soft. I have no doubt He has more to say to me this weekend and I pray that I will be receptive to those words.

One thing the speaker said was if she could go back and change it, she would. As I sat and thought about that I think I fall on the other side of things, I wouldn’t. Would it be wonderful to trade this hurt in, and have my baby back? Yes, that would be wonderful. I miss her so much. But I know where she is, and even though my heart hurts I would never ask her to give up paradise in heaven to come back here. I know I’ll be joining her in heaven soon enough, but until that time comes my job is to keep sharing God’s amazing goodness.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

It’s been a great day – but I’m still about this tired!

I am tired. It probably has something to do with the fact that, like tonight, I usually stay up too late. There are just so many things that need my attention – it takes every minute I can get to keep up! Thankfully, I am running away this weekend with some girl friends to the Women of Joy conference. I am so looking forward to being renewed!

Jeremiah 31:25 “I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint.”

I wonder if any of you are feeling the same? Tired, burned out, exhausted, weary… how beautiful is it that the Lord tells us He will refresh is? You don’t have to leave town for refreshment. God will meet you anywhere at any time – He loves you so!

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

This kind of tired!

Psalm 120:1
120 I took my troubles to the Lord; I cried out to him, and he answered my prayer.

Psalm 34:4
4 I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears.

Yes indeed, we take our troubles and fears to the Lord and He answers our prayers and frees us from fear. Thank you all for praying for Lindsey. God is good and He has answered our immediate prayer. I received this beautiful message from her this afternoon…

Our prayers have been answered❤️ Everything is stable, no new growth and no fluid ☺️

Her mom’s update tonight says that her symptoms have decreased over the last 3 days for no apparent reason. It can only be attributed to God! I know so many of you stood with us through Kayleigh’s journey, would you please continue to remember Lindsey? Pray for healing this side of heaven – a miracle only God can preform. We know our God is big enough!

This morning I sent Lind’s a verse
1 Timothy 1:7
7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.

And then I opened Facebook to find her dad had posted the exact verse. It gave me chills. I have no doubt that God has beautiful plans for Lindsey and her family.

Until tomorrow,
‘Carrow💜

#teamkayleigh
#lindseystrong