Merry Christmas 2009

Well, family and friends, this is my cyber Christmas card and I will try to get my snail photo out to some of you as soon as I can. You can check out this blog for more all year photo happenings. We are just so thankful to have our son here with us and feeling almost normal. Last year, when he was admitted to the hospital in Nov. of 08, he was very sick and we had spent our Thanksgiving there as a family, which was great to be together. We were thrilled that he could even eat food by then. I have always left many of the details out, but he was truly at death's door that visit. It was really hard. We came home and just hung out here for Christmas and did nothing but be together while he recovered. It was nice to just be a family and not be running all over. We are so thankful to God for bringing us through it.

This was Christmas 2008.

Here is 2009!! Doesn't he look great??


Here is a brief update on what we have all been up to:

Glenn: He turned the big 40 this year!! I think he is still so young and handsome looking. He was laid off for a short time, but is back at work for the same company and is currently on a 3rd shift job for 4-5 weeks. He did some racing this summer and built a really cool rocket. He spends lots of time helping the kids build their rockets too, working up towards taking the kids and all the rockets to shoot them off at the big event. They had a...blast!
Heee

Tonya: I am always trying to get my home in order but this is just part of life you know. My feet are much better overall but have been a bit worse this month. I am trying not to get discouraged though. Many of you may not know that I damaged my knee late this summer. It was a doozy too. I am able to walk but it is still swollen and not completely healed. It is getting there. Other than that I am so thankful to be home and caring for my children. I work hard to keep B healthy, spend time with the kids, while really trying to sit back and crochet which has helped me to distress and heal those feet. God has blessed me greatly with this whole family and B's health.

I think the biggest news for us is that we just celebrated 18 years of marriage!!!

That is a long time and we have been through so much, growing stronger through these trials. I think we are truly stuck with each other forever. :)



Dylan: Well, so much has happened for him too. He likes to race with his dad. He is 17, a Senior and is attending the local community college as well. He has been working on high school and getting some college credit as he goes. So far he has 16 hours of college credit!! He is interested in some type of Computer Science or Engineering degree. God has really blessed him with a job at a small computer company. He has been paying for most of his classes so far. I will have my first graduate next spring!! Wow!


Braveheart: Just look how good he looks now!!
He is 12 now as he continues to do very well with his chemotherapy treatment. He takes one monthly chemo injection at clinic through the port in his chest, one weekly oral chemo dose and one daily oral chemo dose. He is tolerating it more all the time and is avoiding fevers and infections at this time Praise the Lord! He feels tired and ickey sometimes and his feet are getting a little stiff from the side effects too. He does PT for that daily. Mostly he is doing well though. Check above and keep track with us for his countdown to a cure!! Oh, don't forget to pray!! It truly helps.

Secret Agent: Well, this guy is now 10 and finally had his dream come true when he started Karate. He has a great, self discipline teaching, teacher. He was just promoted to red belt and seems to have a real gift for it. He is also enjoying being a Webelo Scout. He loves to learn about birds, exploring outdoors and studying geology.

Damsel girl: My only little girl. Can you believe she is 8 now? She loves so many things. She is still really into dolls and loves her violin lessons that she started this fall. That blesses us so much. She has a great teacher who is very talented at what she does. She loves to learn and keeps herself very busy and helps me so well. I am glad to have a girly girl who does fun girly things with me. She is very creative. Quit growing so fast girl! I have to confess she is still quite tough and can get dirty with the rest of her brothers.

I can't believe it, but I actually got a decent family photo!!

I can't forget this important member of the family! She is a grandma again this year. Why not, she is the best grandma ever!! She is my best friend. How can I not include someone who is so special to us and who has worked her whole life around helping us get through all of the hospital stays, clinic trips, babysitting, cooking, providing needs, praying for us. She even moved in with us off and on too. I thank the Lord for her everyday as do all of us in our family. We couldn't have done it without you mom. We love you so much.

We hope that you all have a most blessed new year in 2010. We are looking forward to END OF TREATMENT for Braveheart and hope and thank you for your continued prayers for a cure.
We also thank the Lord Jesus Christ for His help and sustaining us through everything. We hope you are thankful for that baby sent from above to take away the sins of man.

John 6:40

"For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life and I Myself will raise him up on the last day."