Every year, Joni and Friends hosts a donation luncheon to raise money for their ministry. This year, Kevin and I were asked to share how Joni and Friends Family Retreat has impacted our lives. I didn’t know it at the time, but our dear friend friend Lari was taking photos and then decided to record it. Thought I would share it with you all. We had already started speaking before she hit record, but not much was missed.
For more information about Joni and Friends and how you can support families like ours, visit www.joniandfriends.org/texas
Ever since he was little Gideon has loved being in the water. And since he has a winter birthday, it just makes sense that we should celebrate with a trip to Great Wolf Lodge.
Laynie suggested we make this his birthday trip every year. And I think Gideon, Josiah and Nya would be okay with that.
The best part about the trip is that Gideon was so worn out at the end of the day, that he slept SO well in the unfamiliar hotel bed. The biggest concern for me was the fact that 3 out of our 4 kids were in swim diapers. I didn’t want to be that family that shuts down the pool because my kid crapped in a swim diaper. Thankfully we had zero code browns in the pool. #win
Before you watch the slide show of Gideon’s trip to Great Wolf Lodge, I just want to say THANK YOU to the people who sent Gideon birthday cards. We had a sweet moment in the hotel room where Laynie read the cards to Gideon. I’m not sure how much he understood, but I can tell you that the rest of our family felt your love and support. Thank you for honoring him in a sweet and tangible way. <3
We were told you wouldn’t make it to your first birthday. And as it got close, we learned a new statistic. “PBD kids who make it to their first birthday, have a 77% chance of making it to school age.”
At the time of your diagnosis, there were no more solid statistics on how long you would live. We were told you would “write your own story.” And what a story it has been!
We believe you will continue to defy all odds, because you are, after all, a mighty wwarrior. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14), created this way for a mighty purpose. (John 9:1-3).
You have taught me what it means to love unconditionally.
You have taught me that my happiness is not determined by my circumstances.
You have taught me that the Lord is my portion and I need not fear the future.
You have shown me (and the world) that a person’s worth is not the sum of his or her abilities or inabilities.
You are changing a world that you cannot see. You’ve done more with your first 6 years of life than many will do in a lifetime. And I am so incredibly proud to be your mom.
So happy 6th birthday Gideon! I’m so thankful God has loaned you to me and your father. I will cherish every moment that He allows you to be here. (Job 14:5, Psalm 139:16)
Love.
Mom
PS: Your big sister Laynie says she loves you so much! And so does your little brother and little sister!
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“As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. And his disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him.
John 9:1-3 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/jhn.9.1-3.ESV
“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
Psalms 139:13-14 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.139.13-14.ESV
“A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed.”
Job 14:5 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/job.14.5.NIV
“Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
Psalms 139:16 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/psa.139.16.ESV
