Power Behind the Scenes

I have always loved our church. When I say loved, I mean thought of these people as my family. One of my favorite things about our church is how intentionally they are at challenging and equipping the men to be leaders and to step up to guide people to the Lord. I love that. It makes such a difference. Through Mom's illness, I have seen a side of our church that I knew was there but, never had really seen it in action. As a young girl and through my growing up, I watched the "older" women serve one another with meals and prayer. I guess I knew that someday I would be "old enough" to serve like that (and I love to). But, I have been amazed and humbled at the women at our church, women of all ages, who are serving behind the scenes. Not only are they taking meals to those who really need it but they are being intentional about seeking people out who need them. They are planting plants, hanging pictures, stocking pantries, taking care of children, cooking meals....the list goes on and on. These women are living lives with their eyes wide open to what the Lord has in store for them. They are not holding back even when they have crazy lives and families of their own. With women living lives like that, who can stop the men that they stand beside????? These men are capable of incredible things partly because God has given them mighty women who bring God to many tables. To these women and the many others (who don't attend our church) who are living their lives with eyes wide open, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to be one of those women who does not miss an opportunity to serve or to bless others with the love of the LORD! Your servanthood is making a difference. More than you will ever know. To the men who stand with these mighty servants, nothing can stand in your way of leading us to the Lord. As women, we will provide you with power behind the scenes. Thank you for pointing our eyes in the right direction.

Quick Update...

Mom is feeling pretty good right now. The tiredness is starting to set in along with a few other effects from Chemo Round 1 but, for the most part she is doing really well.
She has her port surgery tomorrow morning and Chemo Round 2 on Thursday.
Thank you for your continued prayers.

No New Information Yet...

Just to keep you all informed...Mom has a Dr. apt. tomorrow mid morning. We hope to find out quite a bit of information at that apt. Many of you have asked how she is doing, and quite frankly, that is a question with many answers. I will try to sum it all up with this...
Spiritually-Mom is rock solid. We have no doubt who reigns over every step of this journey.
Emotionally-To be honest, it depends on the moment at hand but when we fall emotionally our spiritual strength carries us through. Mom is doing really, really well.
Physically-She has begun to cough again some, but otherwise she feels pretty good. Cancer stinks!
More information will come tomorrow once we have a chance to wrap our brains around it.
Thank you for your love and concern for our family. Most of all, though, we are leaning on your prayers.

A Kiss to Remember

To be honest, it has been an emotional day for me but, something happened that I want to write down so I don't ever forget it (not that I even think that would happen.)
Today Mom (Sweets) and Dad (Ha Ha) came over to play with the boys for a little while. Needless to say, the boys were in heaven! Cason was so excited to play wii with Ha Ha he couldn't stand it. Braden grabs a remote and thinks he plays too. So, Ha Ha and Sweets parked themselves on the couch and Cason and Braden followed right behind. Cason sat between them and Braden found his perfect spot right in Sweets' lap. Ha Ha gave Cason a run for his money and Sweets and Braden sat fixated on the game at hand. I stood in the kitchen looking on and caught a glimpse of one of the sweetest moments I think I will ever see...
Braden turned around, propped himself up, and gave his Sweets a kiss. He then sat back down and resumed his interest in the game. Mom teared up on the spot and I was not far behind. My boys adore their Sweets and Ha Ha and they are not afraid to show it. Braden's actions were real and unprompted. I will cherish that kiss forever...

Pick Up the Phone!!!

Today was such a blessed day. I got to spend the day with Mom. We had such a treasured time. We laughed and cried and then laughed some more. We, as a family, have always believed in saying what needs to be said when it needs to be said. Today was no different. This was the first time I have actually seen her since we found out that her cancer is back. It was so needed to just see her and be with her. I'm sure, in some families, this would be just a sad time where everyone cries and stays down. Not in our family...we have way too many reasons to keep rejoicing even when the tears come. I won't share too much of what we said to each other but we left no stone unturned.
On day one, we were in shock! We grieved the news and mourned deeply.
Day two, we were more hopeful about treatment and maintenance of the cancer.
Here we are in day three and I am somewhere in the middle. Reality is starting to set in and my emotions come in waves. Today is about accepting what is before us (while knowing God could change it at any moment) and dealing with what we know.
I write all this to encourage anyone who is reading this to not wait. Pick up the phone and say what needs to be said. We are not sure of tomorrow. Make sure the people you love know you love them today. I have no question about the love Mom has for me and visa versa. Life is too short. Don't wait for Valentine's Day (there you go Kenneth), make sure your loved ones know where they stand with you now.
I pray that as my children grow up, they never have to question for a single moment my love for them or that they never have to wander if I am proud of them or the job they are doing. I have been fortunate to have a mom that has never left me wandering or questioning. Her legacy will live on in that way and hopefully many, many others. I love you, Mom and always will!

I'm Back...

Well...I think it is time I return to blogging. We Mom got sick two years ago, blogging was more than just fun for me. It was an outlet and a way to connect with people that I would not otherwise have had. Now that her cancer has returned and our lives are going down a path we had hoped to never see, I think writing and keeping others in touch is part of my role in all of this. Because there is so much to cover, since the last time I wrote, I am going to just start with today and write like I have never left.
Mom had her procedure today to remove the fluid from her lung. It was obviously covered in prayer because it went better than expected. God is so good to grant us those little gifts in the midst of a storm. Dad was with her, which was perfect. She is taking the rest of today to rest and regain her lung function.
Taylor and I have stayed on the phone with each other often over the last few days and I am sure for the many days to come. She is such a blessing to me always but especially in times like these. Our needs are so similar during hard times and she provides strength for me. Many of you are praying for her while she is away and I ask that you continue that. She is with Tyrel, which is the best place for her to be but, being away from here is hard too. She will come here when the time is right.
I have been nothing more than amazed and awe stricken at how God has answered the prayers many of you prayed that my children would allow me to grieve and concentrate on what was at hand. That was more than answered by God. Cason and Braden, I'm sure, can sense something going on and they have been more than wonderful (which is not always easy to say with two boys).
Freeby has been my rock. I am so thankful to have him by my side. Please continue prayers for him too as he stands beside me through all of this. His role is a difficult one that is ever changing due to an emotional wife and changing circumstances.
I am rambling and realize it but I want to end with this...My parents have always been "the perfect couple". I say that not to brag but because I stand in awe at how wonderful they are for each other. I am so proud of the way my dad is and has always cared for my mom. I am proud of the way my mother has always stood beside my dad with more respect and adoration than you can even put into words. God is blessing them through all of this but they have never taken their eyes off of Him and because of that I am full of joy even in a time of utter sadness.
Thank you for your love and support.
(I will get used to writing again and not ramble so much...sorry.)

I do exist...

I am overwhelmed with trying to start this up again. I have been absent for so long. But, I am contemplating blogging again. There may be more to come...

A Year Ago Today

Today marks the year anniversary of when we found out that Mom had breast cancer. In some ways I cannot believe it has already been a year and in other ways it has been the longest year of our lives. I don't want to relive much of it at all, but now that we are one the other side of most of it, I can say I am very thankful for so much of it. God did some wonderful things through Mom. She is so much stronger than I could ever have imagined. I am so proud of the way she made it through and continues to live life to the fullest. I am proud of my dad for being the strong support that he has been while being so compassionate at the same time. I am so thankful that Taylor and I had each other to go through it all with. I am thankful for both of our husbands for letting us grieve, rejoice, laugh, cry, talk, or whatever else we needed to do at that moment. They were and are wonderful. Life looks different on this side of things. No moment is taken for granted and I thank God every day for giving us a yes on Mom being healed to this point. I thank God for the lives he has brought into our because of her illness and for the ministry she did while going through the hardest time in her life. Mom blessed so many while being in a challenging place. It teaches me that there is always room to let God use me. This post is just a jumble of thoughts but I think it is good to reflect back and be grateful for what God has done in our lives. I also look forward to where He is taking me...

5 Months and Feeding Later

We are done with feeding therapy!!!! Braden did such a great job and caught on much faster than expected. We are so thankful to have had the therapist and others that we did but, we are even more thankful to be done. The verse Deut. 31:8 may have become my new favorite verse. It reads, "The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." This verse has meant so much to me over the past year but specifically with Braden's eating. I never doubted, for one minute, that God had gone before me and prepared the people that would be there to help us. He surrounded me with evidence that He was there. He gave us people to help, but also people to walk the journey with us. I am amazed and humbled at God's attentiveness to the details that took care of us. So I say, bring on the cheese, pizza, fruit, green beans, etc. God planned our journey for us and we are thankful to be able to go on this journey with Him. Thank you for all the prayers for us and for always asking how he was doing. Your thoughtfulness has meant the world to us during this trying time. Blessings friends!

December 2009

Here are some pictures from Christmas time and then there will be updates on everyone to follow. (Many have been asking about Mom, so that is where you can find that out.)

Freeby and me in the snow. We forget to take pics of just us sometimes, so I love this one.
Freeby, Cason, and CoCo making a snowman.

Cole, Jake, Sydney, Cason, and Braden on Christmas Eve.

I got decorations for my house! I cannot wait until it is finished so I can actually decorate.

The boys in their new playhouse.

The boys wanted to take a ride in the snow. It was cold, but they still had a blast.

Cason, stepping on the gas!

Santa brought the boys cars for Christmas. They love driving them. We are so blessed.

Aunt Tay Tay and Uncle Ty gave them a weed eater that Cason was so excited about. He wanted the goggles and wouldn't take them off. He was so funny. I was crying because I was laughing so hard.

Braden looks so cute in the goggles too! Thanks Taylor and Tyrel! These are gifts that keep on giving. Hilarious!

Ok, Updates...

Freeby family: We are all doing really well. We love living here with Sweets and Ha Ha but, we are excited about our house. We cannot wait to have it finished and get to move in. We are guessing it is going to be ready in late February or early March. Cason has really enjoyed watching the process. We drive by it most days and we talk about what is being done. He will later explain to me what they are doing on the house that day. So cute.

Freeby is still enjoying his job and we thank God every day for where he works and the people there. I am at home with the boys every day and love every minute of it. Cason keeps us all on our toes and keeps us laughing all the time. Braden is learning and growing so fast. He has just started saying bye bye and waving. Melt my heart. His feeding is going great! He is eating so much better now and we just have a few more things to learn and then feeding therapy will come to an end. That has been a long process but we feel God has blessed it all along the way. Overall, the Freeby's are doing great. I do have to admit though, that I am thankful to see 2009 behind us.

Mom and Dad (Sweets and HaHa): Many of you ask me how Mom is doing so here goes...Mom is doing really well. She is working full time now which is very hard on her but, she does extremely well. There are days when she is really tired but, most days she does great. She goes in soon to meet with her next surgeon to figure out the schedule of her next surgery. We will know more on that later. She also meets with a dermatologist this month to remove some skin cancer that they found recently. I have not really said anything about this due to it being minimal compared to what else has gone on but, to be honest, I am kind of in denial about it due to the simple fact that even the smallest things overwhelm me at the moment. The doctor does not seem too worried by it. We will know more after they take it out so, I will let you know what we find on that too. We actually thought Dad had it to on that same day but, thankfully, his came back normal. Dad is doing well. He sure loves God and people. He works so hard everyday. We are so proud of what he does and the life he lives.

Tyrel and Taylor: Tyrel is still deployed. Right now, we are hoping he gets to come home mid-February. This could change, as it often does, but we are praying that he comes home quickly! Taylor is hanging in there. We were so thankful that she got to come home for Christmas and she will come home again for our cousin's wedding in about a week. She is so tired of being alone, which I cannot blame her. That is no fun at all. She continues to work as much as possible, though keep her busy. We talk to her multiple times a day and try to keep her company the best we can.

Thanksgiving Day 2009

Happy Birthday Braden!

I know I am a day late, but I wanted to post a Happy Birthday to my precious baby boy! This boy is a true blessing to our family and I thank God for him everyday! Happy Birthday Baby B!

Port Aransas, November 2009

Here are some of my favorite pictures from our Freeby family vacation last week. I had so many pictures to choose from but, this should give a pretty good representation of how much fun we had. Cody and Taryn got engaged...Cason and Braden loved going to the beach, playing in the sand, riding on boats, watching dolphins, going to the aquarium...Clark, Cody and Freeby went tuna fishing twice...and Peggy and I got to spend 10 days with Cason and Braden which kept us busy but, was so much fun.

October 2009 Pics

Dad and Cason carved their first pumpkin together. These pics are in backwards order, sorry. Cason named his jackolantern Punkin Punkin Punkin. What fun fun fun!

Ha Ha and Braden!

Cason and Sweets enjoying relighting the pumpkin that Dad and Cason carved together.

Cason loved blowing out the candle on the inside.

Cason getting a peek of the eyes being cut out of the pumpkin.

Dad and Cason carving their first pumpkin together.

Cason jumping off the haystack at the pumpkin patch.
Cason jumping with buddy, John.

All the boys climbing on the haystack together.

John and Cason jumping again.

Braden looking sweet in the hay.

John and Cason counting down to the next jump.

Braden playing in all the pumpkins.

Cason posing at the wooden house.

Cason and friend Kailey at the pumpkin house. Such sweet friends. Kailey has that pose down.

One Bite at a Time

I am so excited! Yesterday was yet another feeding therapy appointment. I have to be honest and say, that we go so often it becomes hard to see progress between visits. Yesterday, however, was a different story. We went in and Ms. Sarah started with the usual mouth exercises, which Braden hates, and then she moved to actual eating practice. This is our routine and I have gotten very used to Braden's reactions and the distractions that Ms. Sarah uses to try to get him to chew and swallow. During our visit, though, Braden did something that I used to take for granted. We have been working with tiny apple pieces for weeks now. Ms. Sarah gave Braden an apple piece and he chewed and chewed it, like always. Then...instead of spitting it out, he did what we have been praying for all along...he gathered the apple together in his mouth and swallowed it! I know to most this does not sound like a big deal but, to us, it is HUGE!!! He is getting it!! I was such a proud momma. Ms. Sarah could not contain herself either. This is a milestone in his therapy plan. He chewed and swallowed four apple pieces. I seriously almost teared up right there in the room. Ms. Sarah was so proud of Braden that she told everyone she saw on our way out. All the other therapists cheered and wowed at Braden's success. I am not sure I have said this yet, but I am so proud!! What we are doing is working. We still have a long way to go but we are getting there quicker that I had expected. God is so good! He has given us such wonderful people with perfect knowledge to help us through this trial in our life. Braden is such a quick learner.
On a side note, it is awesome to look back and see how God has gone before us and has prepared the way for us. My youth interns Kendra and Jennifer are both speech therapists. Jennifer was Ms. Sarah's professor who helped to make her who she is as a therapist (the best, if I do say so myself) and Kendra who works with Ms. Sarah now. I love how God weaves our lives together and blesses us even when there are hurdles to get over.
Anyway, I am so thankful for our sweet Braden who is such an eager learner and I could not be more proud and thankful for his amazing progress this week. Please keep praying that he continues this progress and that eating becomes second nature to him.

10 Months Old Today

I cannot believe it has already been 10 months since this sweet baby came into our lives. I have loved every minute of it. Braden is such a good baby. He is so happy and loves to play. He is already walking, which he started at 9 months. He can get anywhere he wants to. His favorite spot right now is up on Cason's bed. This is not my favorite place to find him in the house but, he loves it. He squeals with delight when you walk in and find him up there. He knows he is not supposed to, which I guess is what makes it so much fun. We pray everyday for this precious life God has given to us.

We love you more than words can express, Baby Braden!

Braden at Feeding Therapy Today

Today was not Braden's favorite day at therapy but, his is still making progress. We have so much to be thankful for. Sara is so sweet with him. We say a prayer of thanksgiving for her everyday.

Braden and Sara working on some mouth exercises.
Trying to distract him so some work could be done.

Braden playing in the waiting room.

So Much to be Thankful For

I cannot even begin to put into words how much peace I feel right now. I just got home after taking Braden to his second feeding therapy session. We have been working at home but, I was not sure how to judge his progress. I felt like he was getting better but, didn't know what was normal. After meeting with Sara this morning I now know that Braden is making progress faster than she ever expected. She was so pleased with what she saw in him. God is so good!!! This is such a relief and I am oh, so thankful. Braden still has a ways to go but, this progress is so encouraging.
On a little side note...Freeby and I have decided to build a house right by Mom and Dad. Keep that in your prayers and I will update on this as it unfolds. We have to make sure this house sells first before too much is done on the other house.

August and September

We have had an eventful summer but I have neglected to post any pictures. Here are some highlights from the past few weeks.

Cason and Braden got a new John Deere truck.
They rode all over the yard at the lake house.

Dad teaching Cason how to drive it. The lake was a great place for him to practice.

Braden loves to "drive" too!

What a sweet boy!

We went to Jump Zone with some great friends and Cason loved sliding down the big slide.

Braden loved playing in the Sesame Street jump house. So fun!

Cason enjoying a Popsicle in the backyard when the weather was HOT!

Braden loves being outside. He doesn't care how hot it is.