So I am way behind around here, on the blog and in life! With packout sneaking up, boys energy plus, second garage sale of the month today, working with a contractor back home on the house, unpredictable sleep patterns of our lovelies, Seth having some big stuff at work…..breath…my stress levels are high.

Many of you know we had a garage sale a few weeks ago. We sold our big stuff which we were very happy about but needed  to get rid of a lot of other little things. So, with the encouragement of our friend who did the first one with us we signed up for the neighborhood sale that occurred today. It was from 10-4, we had loads of people and sold 5 francs worth of goods. It was comical really. They don’t really do garage sales here and the neighborhood attempted it last year for the first time. Although the  Swiss are big on going green and recycling I feel like the thought of buying other people’s things might be stretching it. I went around and got some great finds from their stands so at least that was a score.   So at the end of the long day I separated stuff into categories for goodwill, friends and church. thankful that is my last attempt at convincing the Swiss on the beauty of garage sales! The part I can’t complain about is that I got to spend most of the day with my great friend Daniela. And that is always a treat!

So life is hectic and stress levels are high BUT on Monday Seth and I are leaving for a few days away. When we had Jackson we decided we would place high priority on spending a few days a year just the 2 of us. As long as our moms were willing to watch the kids and it could be budgeted in. Seth’s mom is here visiting so we planned in some time for us to sneak away.We tucked away our dividend points from our credit card and didn’t check them until we were ready to plan our time away. We live less than 10 mins from the airport and found a good deal to Barcelona which is only an hour and and a bit flight. I can hardly believe that we will be seeing part of Spain…nevermind the fact that we will see it without needing to focus on the kids full time. It is for sure the last shebang of this European post. It’s likely we will land more long term in the Latin American region so it has been a treat to fit in as much as we could.  We are so thankful to Seth’s mom for sharing her time with the boys so we can get away!   I am hoping to catch up on sleep enough to be sane through our packout and 2 months of being essentially homeless, or at least living in empty homes and not sleeping in the same place for quite some time. Once our packout occurs on June 6th it will be late July/early August before we sleep in our beds, read our own books, have our own toys, you get the idea. So pray that we come back recharged after a safe trip!  I will be back here soon with pictures and also an update on Mia’s visit!

ps- Owen ate okra and kidney beans all in one meal tonight. I am telling you, the stars were aligned…at least for that meal

It was 4 years ago today that we sat in a hospital waiting room.  We were parents of a cancer patient. A 9 month old cancer patient. Jackson. I can remember it like it was just yesterday. We sat with our parents and my older brother Ryan.  We waited for the nurse to come out and tell us about Jackson’s surgery and if they were able to remove the mass. As Seth and I laid in bed last week one evening we were remembering the day we were told that Jackson had cancer. As we talked I felt my chest tighten and a flood of emotions come back.   The emotions are as real today as they were then.

Many of you know our story. How Jackson was diagnosed with Rhabdomyosarcoma, by not one oncologist but many from the top hospitals in the US. We were told he wouldn’t likely make it through the year, would have radiation that would eliminate his ability to have children and that if he did survive he would possibly have his leg amputated or very limited use of the affected leg. We blogged on here begging the world to pray. And you did. Every corner of the globe was praying for Jackson by name. And God chose to answer your prayers. I say your prayers because I distinctly remember my inability to pray clear prayers during those days. We were experiencing such shock and had to just pull it together to get to doctors appointments and keep life normal for our baby.  After a longer than expected surgery, the surgeon herself came out of the OR flabbergasted that there was no longer evidence of the mass. She opened his leg and found a mass of blood vessels remaining. His muscles were set to heal properly leaving no long term damage and he was set for recovery.

Today Jackson is an almost 5 year old ball of energy. He is smart as a whip and keeps us on our toes. He starts kindergarten in the Fall and loves life! At times his scar seems so much a part of him that I forget. And other days it catches my breath as I remember where we have been. Today we celebrate Jackson’s life. It isn’t his birthday but it’s a very special day when we look at his scar, stop and celebrate life! Tonight we will have his favorite meal, thai food! (although he tells me his Nama makes the best, mine will have to do tonight!)

Thank you for your prayers 4 years ago. Please let us know if there is ever a time when you need our support!