Family

Each one of us is beautifully and wonderfully made by our Creator. When He binds us together by the strings of our mother and father we are Family. The bonds we form in those early years (including the normal sibling rivalry) connect us forever. I love to listen to my mom and dad tell the stories of how each of us were born. They love to tell the stories just as much as we love to hear them and they have such tender memories and hilarious recollections of our birth, our behaviors and our well......teachable moments! My dad especially adds a great deal of humor as he recounts them. How proud our parents must be to see the beautiful fruit of their labor.

This picture was taken in November 2005.

Adam is on the left, Amy in the back, me in the center and Aaron on the right.

I remember with sweet sadness the days of my childhood, the smells of the country air, the joys of no responsibility and the endless fun we shared playing together. The four of us and our endless groups of friends found entertainment in the outdoors. Playing in the sun, sled riding in the cold and hiking in the brisk fall. I yearn to return to those days and live in utter ignorance where there is no death, no pain, no sadness. But that is not reality. And without the pain there would be no joy. Without the loss we would not gain.

I feel the pain in my heart today as we mark a milestone – one month without my dear brother Aaron. There will always be that “count”. I’ve started to refer to it as A.D. – After Aaron’s Death. One week, one month, etc. This month has been life changing for me to say the least and there are days I can barely remember it the way it was before because of the intense sorrow. In a devotional called Joy for the Journey I read this today:
“When we stand in the middle of a lifestorm, it seems as if the storm has become our way of life. We cannot see a way out. We are unable to chart a course back to smoother waters. We feel defeated – and broken. But do we let that brokenness keep us forever in the mire of “if only” thinking. Or do we yield up that brokenness to the resources of the One who calms the winds and the waves, heals the brokenhearted, and forgives the most grievous of sins. The choice is ours.”

Yes, there is pain. Yes there is sorrow. I believe there always will be. But our God who makes all things possible promises us perfect peace. Amy (my sister) shared with me one of her husband’s favorite verses when we were on our way to Arkansas. You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on you. Isaiah 26:3

He is the Almighty God. He is the God who heals. He is the God of peace. He is the God who forgives. He is the God who provides, and He is the God who is in control. He knows everything that is happening. He is not caught off guard. His love is perfect.

My family lost a very special piece on October 5th and even though that earthly bond has been severed by tragedy, the spiritual bond will remain and we will jump into each other’s arms on that glorious day we are called up to be with the Lord. And as I said before, with pain - there is joy. We rejoice knowing EXACTLY where Aaron is and we embrace the joy of adding more to our family through Aaron’s life. What a huge family we’ve discovered!! We’ve met so many of you – but there are many more that we will not meet until that glorious day.

For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom. 8:38-39

More of the family. Each of us with our spouses and children. This visit from Aaron & Christina and the kids was a God-send. We never realized how special this picture really would be. It was a surprise Christmas gift for our parents that year. And now it's been a gift for us all!!

Amy was pregnant with #4 and is now pregnant with #5! Try getting that many kids to sit still long enough to get a usable picture!!