christmas vacation

I know its a little late, but better late than never I guess.  Sorry it's been so long, but we got a Wii for  Christmas/ Anniversary and that has been occupying all of Adam's time recently.  We took a trip to Alabama for Christmas this year.  It was such a good trip and we had a wonderful time with Adam's family.  It had been 10 months since we had seen any of them and none of them had met Kate yet.  We left on Christmas eve night about 8.  We were expecting the airport to be packed but we lucked out.  We didn't even have to wait to check our bags curbside.  We witnessed a strange yelling match between the lady who takes your tickets at the gate and a passenger right when we got to our gate (they were just finishing boarding the flight before ours).  Then we waited, got some hot dogs and some chicken for Aidan, and replaced the water bottles that we had to leave at security (I looked up online about taking them with kids and I was sure they would make and exception for a baby with formula...but no).  We weren't sure about the flight time and what that would do to the kids, but both of them actually slept most of the way there, and it helped that it was a nonstop flight.  We arrived about midnight, met Adam's parents and then had to drive an hour to get to their house.  The kids went back to bed , and so did we.  It was a long day.  We were expecting cold weather while we were there, or at least colder than it was here, but most of the time we were there it was about the same temp as at home, just wet.  It rained quite a bit while we were there, that was nice.  One day there was a tornado warning all day.  The day before we left was colder and the morning that we left it was 23 when we got to the airport.  I was glad that it wasn't that cold the whole time we were there.  It was nice to see Vaughn and Kathy's house in person and to see Beth and Joseph and Jonathan.  Beth is due with the next installment at the beginning of next month.  We had some really good conversations and Nana and Papa had fun playing with the grand kids.  Adam and I went out to dinner and a movie for our 5th anniversary.  THe trip home wasn't quite as fun.  We had to get everyone up early to get to the airport.  The lines were long, we had to change planes, and didn't get to sit together.  The kids had a harder time because they were tired.  But we made it and everything is pretty much back to normal.  I got a cold while I was there and gave it to everyone else when we got home.  Adam's wasn't too bad though, which was god because he didn't have to miss work, we was only sick for a couple of days.  We were really glad we were able to go to Alabama for CHristmas and New Years.  

stormy az sky

On the evening that my family is coming in from AL, the AZ sky wanted to give them a little welcome with tons of rain. Here are a few pictures of the rainbow that came before the storm hit our place.

bethany's goodbye

Below is the post that my sister, Bethany, left on her blog about our Great Grandma Mildred Marcetta (Charles) Van Liew. Here is the link to the original post on Beth's blog: Great Grandma Van.

Last week we were informed that my Great Grandmother was very possibly on deaths door. Our family members were encouraged to say their good-byes. Since she is in Phoenix, my good-bye had to be done over the phone. I have never enjoyed talking on the phone about important things, I would much rather be face to face or write it all down. So, Joseph and I prayed and I made the phone call. I told her I loved her and that I was so thankful for the godly heritage she has passed down. That was about all I could get out and I was very disappointed. So I determined to write her a letter, whether or not she lived to receive it, I would feel better about writing all the things about her that were so important to me. This is what I said...

Dearest Grandma Van, I am so very thankful that God chose to give me a great grandmother like you. Mom and I were talking about you the other night and I realized it was you who first introduced me to sharing my faith. When we lived in Grandpa George's old green house down the street from you when I was in fifth grade, I went to Backyard Bible Clubs with you and Mrs. Singer. Thank you for watering that desire in my heart. The desire to see the lost come to know Christ is still very strong in my life and in the life of my husband, Joseph as well. So I really meant it when I said I am thankful for the godly heritage you have given your children and their children and their children, so we can in turn pass it on to our children.

I wanted you to know that Jonathan David has been dedicated to the Lord and we pray first for his salvation and second that he will be a godly man of integrity who does great things for the Lord. Selfishly, I wish that I could introduce you to Jonathan in February, but the better thing is to go to meet the Lord. What a glorious homecoming that will be! A long life, well lived! The Lord God will definitely say to you, "Well done, my good and faithful servant." Your life has produced many ripples, like a rock thrown into water, you may never know how many other lives your 100 years of service have touched, but I am eternally grateful that I am counted among those lives. The godly counsel and wisdom you have gained you never kept to yourself and I thank God, that He prompted you to share it with others.

I love you so very much; I pray that it was evident in my life. Philippians 1:3 "I thank my God (and will continue to for all my days) upon every remembrance of you."

I sent it out the very next day and God has chosen to sustain her life thus far. So I know she will be able to read the words of my heart. I still have mixed feelings wanting to see her and wanting her to go ahead and be with the Lord. I am glad I don't have that decision to make, it is so good to be able to put all our trust in the Lord.

yo mama

Katherine Ann Van Liew (Bonsack) is my mother. She has been going through a lot of difficulties physically for years. First, she's had to have two back surgeries; both were very invasive and serious. The second surgery, the doctors (in AZ) went in and actually fused together two of her vertebrae, in order to stop the back problems she was having. She was in wrenching pain beforehand, and she was in wrenching pain afterward as she recovered for a long time. Amy (my wonderful wife of four years) and I were able to have my mom live with us for a month or so after the second surgery. It was hard for all of us, but the Lord pulled my mom through and has healed her back now. Second, my mom has had stomach issues for a long time. A couple weeks ago, the doctors (now in AL) decided it was time for my mom's gall bladder to be taken out. So it was. She then had a very hard week, or so, afterward in recovery; but the pain wasn't from recovery: something else was wrong. They found that her bile (liver produced) was somehow leaking where it shouldn't, so they had to go in again to place a stint where the issue was. They went in orthoscopicly (from which she's incurred no problems) and place the stint by her liver. The operation was a success. Starting a week ago, she's felt better than she's felt in a long, long time. She told me that she even got a leaf blower/vac and was enjoying going outside and using it to clean up the yard. She was excited about it even. What joy it brought me to hear my mom talk like that (meaning that she was feeling well enough to enjoy working outside). This past Friday, the doctors went again down her throat to remove the stint, and that was also successful. She was so out of it, though, from her anesthesia, that she called me, had a thirty minute conversation on numerous topics, but didn't even remember calling me the next day. How strange the human mind is (a thought from her). We talked the next day, resaid everything that had been said the day before (but I finished her sentences this time), and I enjoyed every minute of it. What a blessing it is to know that the Lord provides! To God be all the glory for the great things He has done which show off His character for us to see and respond to. That He would even give me a chance to respond! Love you, mom.