March 19th, 2012

Hello family and friends, 

I have missed you! I took break from writing for a couple of weeks. Sometimes you just need that mental break and need to regroup and refocus, Amen? 

First, let me update you all a little on us. 

Aaron is doing well, he is looking forward to getting through the last stretch of his senior year and making that final college decision. The remainder of the notifications will not be sent until the end of March or first of April. For you parents who have had a teenager deciding on a college, you know it is not just about getting accepted, but also about the scholarships that come with the acceptance. We are totally and completely trusting God on the decision that will be made. 

I am “hanging in there” ( I seem to say that a lot). I have to say I am surprised at the many adjustments emotionally that I am still experiencing. All I can say is that the life lessons never stop, and just when I think I cannot possibly grow anymore God will surprise me with something else. I am still writing stories for FACES and will have another one up very soon. What an incredibly humbling experience it is to be able to share the stories of these courageous survivors. 

I find that I have been really pleading with the Lord for His guidance and direction in my life. I think Aaron and I both have been praying this for quite sometime now. We want to see that big neon sign or feel that undeniable prompting as to which direction He would have us take. We want to be obedient to His calling. What we are learning is that you may not always see that clear sign or feel the nudging to go in a certain direction and that you have to just rely strictly on your faith. 

We had the pleasure to hear Tim Tebow speak several nights ago, and one of the stories he shared was about having to choose which college team to play for and what a painstaking decision it was for him. He said he asked those closest to him what he should do? They would all respond with the same answer: “Tim, you will make the right decision, you always do.” 

He went on to say how he just really began to pray so much over this decision and was really just waiting on God to show him and lead him where he needed to be. He waited and wanted to see that big sign.

The day came when Tim’s decision needed to be made and literally minutes before he was due to make his announcement, he was still struggling with it. As we all know ultimately Tim made his decision to play football at the University of Florida. He said although he never really saw that “big sign,” he was glad, because he saw God actually leading him, not just showing him. (2 Corinthians 5:7!)

This may be true in many of your lives right now, as you are waiting and looking for that big, clear, sign that may not present itself to you the way that you want. But, your faith still needs to stay planted firmly and strongly, not based on what you can see, but what you know to be true. God is always there!  I picture it kind of like driving on a road with no road signs, yet I know I will make it to my destination. 


 In closing, I want to say thank you for continuing to stand along beside us, praying for and loving us through this unpredictable journey of re-building our lives and trying to find our "new normal". I am so grateful for my Healer who has taken my heart and breathed it back to life.


I'm alive
Even though a part of me has died
You take my heart and breathe it back to life
I fall into Your arms open wide
When the hurt and the healer collide--Mercy Me (The Hurt and the Healer)

Blessings,

Tammy