We're back.

We are back in the blogging world. But, get ready – this is going to be a long one.

A lot has happened in the last month and a half since my last post. First, we took our annual vacation to Destin, FL. It was Abigail’s first time at the beach. It was so fun to watch her take it all in. She was a little hesitant at first, but eventually she had a blast playing in the sand and floating in the water. Because my dad recently started a new job, he was unable to come with us. With my dad not there and the addition of Abigail, our trip looked very different – we still had a great time with my mom. Abigail got some great Mimi time, and a cute little tan line. Every year we leave counting the days until our next trip to Destin, and this year was no different.

Second, Abigail turned one! That’s right our baby is now a little girl. Wow, how time flies. We had the privilege of hosting Justin’s mom, dad and grandmother – they came from Tennessee to enjoy the festivities. To be honest, I don’t know if we would have pulled it off without them. They were a tremendous help with Abigail while Justin and I prepared for the party. Abigail was a little timid the day of the party. She has a tendency to be shy around big crowds and new people. But, she eventually warmed up. I think the balloons were her favorite part of the whole day. She was less than enthusiastic opening her gifts. She had a small loot, so I would imagine she was overwhelmed. And, as for the cake, she went face first. Yes, that’s right. She didn’t use her hands, she just face planted into the icing over and over. When we showed her that she could use her hands, she didn’t like the sticky icing. Shortly after that she was finished with it. It made for a good laugh at least, and lots of good pictures. Oh, and to top off the day, Abigail had the rare opportunity to be serenaded by our landlord, Indrek, with his rendition of “Happy Birthday” using his nose horn.

The day after Justin’s family returned to Tennessee, Abigail and I started the day with our usual morning walk while Justin slept in. A day that started so routinely quickly changed to after a frightening phone call notifying us that my dad had been in a serious car accident. That is one of those phone calls that you always fear. It was especially hard being twelve hours away and having to wait on a phone call to hear the latest update. But, the Lord was faithful to comfort me with His presence. We arrived in Memphis early Thursday morning to see my dad for the first time. It was so hard to see the strongest man I know lying there is tremendous pain. I was thankful that despite the ventilator, he acknowledged my presence my mouthing “I love you.” Even recalling the moment I saw him for the first time, it has been amazing to watch the Lord heal his body. Here is an email that I sent from Memphis a couple days into my dad’s recovery.

I want to begin by thanking each one of you for your thoughts and prayers for my family. The Lord has been so gracious to us through His people during this difficult time. Words will never be enough to express my gratitude.

As most of you know, my dad was involved in a serious car accident last Wednesday. He was traveling to work when a car came across the median going more than 70 miles per hour and hit him on the drivers side. The first few hours after the accident were really touch and go. He had a bruised heart, so they had to shock him three times at the scene. The impact broke his shoulder, cracked his rib-cage, broke a rib, punctured his lungs, and severely damaged his spleen and kidney. It truly is the Lord's mercy that sustained his life. Over the past six days, my family and I have watched as the Lord has answered one prayer after another. Here are a few ways the Lord has humbled us by hearing the prayers of His saints:

1. The Lord protected the life of my dad and the girl in the other vehicle.

2. Despite every doctor and nurse saying that my dad's kidney was shattered and needed to be removed, the Lord allowed the kidney to continue functioning and stopped the internal bleeding without having to remove it.

3. The Lord provided a place for Justin, Abigail and I to stay 3 miles from the hospital. Our friends, Daniel and Katie Banks, opened there home to us and offered to watch Abigail so that we could make every visitation. Even better - they have a little girl two months older than Abigail. Praise the Lord for great friends that are willing to drop everything to love us with their hospitality and service.

4. The Lord provided the money to cover the cost of Justin and I's rental car through our church here in Memphis.

5. The Lord has healed my dad's body so quickly that it has not only amazed my family, but also the doctor's and nurses.

6. The Lord has been faithful to surround us with His presence and provided us with His peace.

I have clung to the Lord through prayer in a way that I have never done before in my life. By God's grace, through it all my heart has resonated with the hymn writer Thomas Chisholm.

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my father! There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not: As thou hast been Thou forever wilt be.

Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness, Morning by morning new mercies I see: All I have needed Thy hand hath provided Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!

Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above, Join with all nature in manifold witness To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth. Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide, Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Amazingly, my dad was moved to a regular patient room tonight. He is tired and sore, but thankful and hopeful. Again, we appreciate all of your love and support.

Since that email there have been even more reasons to praise the Lord! Here are a few.
- My dad was moved from the Trauma unit less than a week after his accident. Much sooner that the doctor’s and nurses expected. Additionally, he was able to go home only a few days later. Originally the doctor’s said that the soonest he would be able to go home would be two weeks after the accident. Due to his progress, my dad was able to go home a week and a half after the accident.
- The Lord has made Himself known to me and my family in a new way.
- The faithfulness of the body of Christ to weep when we wept and to rejoice when we rejoiced.
- The faithfulness of the body of Christ to pray. The Lord is faithful to hear the prayers of His saints – we have seen the prayers of His people answered in the life of my dad.
- Because of the Lords provision, Justin, Abigail and I were able to spend a week in Memphis while my dad recovered in the hospital.

The Lord has been so good. This has been yet another reminder of the frailty of life. Each day is truly a gift from God – not to be taken for granted. We are so grateful for my dad’s recovery. But, we know that saving my dad’s life two weeks ago isn’t the greatest thing that He has ever done for him. The greatest thing he has ever done for him was bear his sin on the cross over 2000 years ago. My praise to the Lord would be lacking if I didn’t lift my hands in worship for the sacrifice He made that saves us from the wrath of God and gives us eternal life. What a magnificent God we serve!

Finally, we leave in a week for Tampa, FL. We would covet your prayers. We are asking that the Lord would unify our hearts about whether or not this would be the place we would plant His church, use this trip to burden our hearts for the city of Tampa, give us clear direction about which community in Tampa we would become a part of and begin our ministry, and that we would make great connections with fellow churches in the area. Be looking for an update soon.