Merry Christmas!!

Well, it's been quite a year! One that started off pretty bad and continues to be a roller coaster ride of incredible highs and deep in the mud lows. All the lows were when Tracy was sick enough to be in the hospital--that would be last Dec., April, July, and Oct. He didn't actually go into the hospital in Dec., but he had a picc line with the kinds of drugs they would use if he had been hospitalized. They had to pull it early because of a clot, and Tracy spent the next three month on a blood thinner on top of everything else.

He spent 2 1/2 months on our sofa because he had gotten so low by the end of Jan, we needed to keep a closer eye on him, and I was determined to get the 20 lbs back on him that he had lost. I didn't. He continued to worsen until he was hospitalized in April, spending three weeks at the University of Colorado Hospital in Denver.

A low for Kevin was the end of his contract with Kansas Dept. of Health and Environment, and being thrust back into the job market. A high for Kevin was the publishing of his first novel.

A high for me was publishing my 4th romance novel.

A high for Tristan was his new girlfriend, Kelly.

A high for me was a bit of stage acting, playing the part of Rahab in a church production.

Another high was my high school reunion in May.

And a high for Tracy was proposing to his girlfriend of a year, Jessi.

Another low hit in July when Tracy went back into the hospital. It is beginning to feel like a revolving door, as the effect of the antibiotics only seems to last a few weeks. He did, however, gain back at least ten lbs this time.

With Tracy and Jessi's wedding planned for the end of Oct., we began shopping, sewing, etc. in earnest! We had a Roaring 20's bridal shower in Sept.

The same day as the bridal shower, there was another engagement announcement: Tristan and Kelly will be tying the knot in the spring!

Then the worst happened--Tracy went back into the hospital a week before the wedding. We didn't have a plan B. The wedding had to happen on Oct. 25th, or Jessi would lose the money for the building rental. We prayed and went on with the plans. And God was gracious. Tracy was released the day before, and again, would have a picc line for awhile.

After nine months of unemployment and sucking our 401k nearly dry, Kevin got a job with United Healthcare. Hurray!

In early Dec.,I did a bit of painting, and published another book. (I did the artwork for both of the Rocky Mountain books with Tristan doing the title and layout magic)

There were other highs as well... I went up Pikes Peak twice this year! You can't get much higher than that around here! And the gals I hiked with 3 days a week all summer were a huge blessing! Tristan has been designing fabric through Spoonflower and making designer scarves when he's not working for Print City or an inventory company. And of course, Kevin, Tristan, and Tracy are still making people laugh with their QuipTracks (www.quiptracks.com)

Tracy had a wonderful month of health and gaining weight before the lung infections began their dirty work again. If he can stay off of antibiotics until Jan. 5, he may qualify for a trial drug that targets one of his mutations. We are hopeful.

And here we are ready to celebrate Christmas 2014. There's no doubt it's been a tougher year than most, but God is faithful, and I'm looking forward to a victorious 2015. Because that's what Christmas is all about--a light to scatter darkness, a name to bend knees, a hope for all eternity. Jesus.

Be Brave

I wear a bracelet that says "Be Brave." I wear this bracelet because I'm not brave. I'd have no need of the reminder if I were. Sometimes I'm so not brave that I'm nothing but a quivering mess on the floor, crying my heart out. My son has had CF his whole life--nearly 23 years, and while there have been times that I've been a bit frightened for him, and I've hurt for him and the various painful maladies and procedures he has had to go through, I've never really felt the possibility of losing him until last fall when he was suddenly fighting several kinds of bacteria in his lungs and losing twenty pounds off of his already slim body.

That's when bravery was required. And that's when I realized how far short I fell.

I know a few of you are thinking, "Well, that girl just needs some faith. Does she believe what she says she believes or doesn't she?" I know you're thinking this, because I've thought it. I've even said it behind the back of someone afraid of dying.

And I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. And I forgive you if you've thought it about me, because you just don't know. And I pray you never find out.

Having been accused lately of being "sanctimonious," I've given this word some thought. The dictionary defines the word as "affecting piousness; hypocritically devout." And while I was initially offended, I have to wonder, do I believe what I say I believe, and do I believe it enough to say it out loud... to anyone and everyone. I go to a church that believes in the finished work of Jesus on the cross for the redemption of the whole man--body, soul, and spirit. It's a church that believes in ALL God's promises without sweeping the inconvenient or outrageous ones under the rug. It's a church that believes that God not only heals, but that he wants to heal EVERY ONE EVERY TIME. Sanctification through illness is not one of God's methods.

So here I am being real--being brave. I'm putting my faith where my mouth is.

I believed that I received this word from the Lord: "I will not abandon Tracy to the grave. He will live; he will not die. I will heal him, and his testimony will shine like the sun."

Every time I ask him "what can I do" in regards to my son's health, I hear, "Just praise me."

Why? Because, somehow, in a spiritual war that we can't see, that is our greatest weapon.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. Acts 16:25-26

So, I'm going to ask you to join me. Take a few minutes to fight this battle with me each day. I don't even care if you're a believer. Just sing. Then share this post. I'm putting my name and my faith out there. Be brave with me.

And it doesn't need to be all about me and my son. God's big enough to take care of your needs for healing, deliverance, provision, addiction, depression, anxiety, etc., at the same time.

Sing with me, and the chains will fall.