Story of Hope

As many of you know, this fall/winter has been a trying time for my sweet little sissy. After nearly a month's hospital stay and two serious surgeries, it was a true miracle to have her home for Christmas. We laughed, cried tears of joy, and then cried those tears of joy a little more.

Just a few of our Christmas-in-the-hospital preparations.
The 99% chance that changed after Hope was prayed over and anointed with oil by an amazing group of women.

When Hope came home, we knew it was a "holding pattern." Her body stabilized enough for her to take in-home IV infusions to fight off her internal infection. (Props to nurse Mama for being the IV administrator -- you go girl!)

Girl cousins at Christmas : Waxyola,  Mimi + Papaw's Farm
I could never express how dearly + deeply we love each other!!!

Today Hopey had her CT scan to determine the effectiveness of the antibiotics. The outcome options were:

1) The antibiotics wiped away ALL of the infection!!! (our prayer)

2) The infection still exists, but it has weakened the abscesses enough for the infection to be removed via needle.

3) The infection still exists, cannot be removed via needle, and surgery #3 is a must.

Today Hope continues to live out her name, and her infection is GONE. Completely. HEALED. Praise Jesus!!! Our Savior, our Healer, our Redeemer! We still cry at the mercy God has shown to Hopey, and we rejoice in thanksgiving for all of your continued love, support, and prayers.

May this be a time of continued long-term healing for my little sissy, who is much braver and stronger than I will ever be.

11-23-12
Hope preparing for an unexpected 2nd surgery...fearlessly with all smiles.
I still look at this picture with the same awe I felt that evening.

I love you, Hopey, and I love how your testimony has strengthened and changed just as you have you have strengthened and changed as a daughter of Christ.

Burundi

Photo Credit: Jeanette Reber, our AMAZING team leader!!

When I decided that 2013 was our year of travel, I did not foresee what God had in store for us. Truthfully, I was thinking about our 2013 travel plans rather selfishly. I focused on where we wanted to go, who we wanted to see, what means we would use to get to each desired place.

Then God brought us this opportunity...and it straight up whacked me in the face with His goodness and sovereignty.

Burundi: "The Heart of Africa"

Mark and I will travel to Bujumbura, Burundi, for just over a week this summer with our amazing church, Forest Hill.  We look forward to beginning the preparation process for our trip. We met with our team tonight, and we leave exactly 5 months from today!!

This trip forces us to depend totally on God -- mentally, financially, and spiritually. This is His plan for us. This is a time when creatures who seek complete control of their lives (...me, me, ME!) have to surrender completely.

Please join with us in prayer for the nation of Burundi as well as for the students and teachers we will meet, love on, and serve this June.

2013

It's 2013. Mark & I have been married for 5 months (today!), and it looks like God has a LOT of amazing experiences in store for us this coming year...

...SO!

I decided to create a blog so our friends and family--whether down the street or across the pond--can share in our adventures. We really miss our English family, and we're (admittedly) fairly terrible at keeping in close touch with everyone. With that said, this blog is my solid attempt to reach all of the people we love the most at once!

Here are my personal goals for 2013. I taped them to the back of my calendar:

Please follow along with us as we watch these goals unfold throughout the year.

To our American family: we love you and are so thankful to be near you!!!
To our English family: we love and miss you always. You are in our hearts and prayers constantly!

Cheers y'all...and happy new year! :)