Thankful Hearts

We have a lot to be thankful for this year. Our family, friends, and church family have gathered around us in a show of support that is truly humbling. God had blessed us with such an amazing support system. I do not feel worthy.

Our family has rallied around us to be at the hospital with us, Tom's mom is coming all the way from Florida! My aunt is also coming from Florida to stay at our house to care for Blake and Elise. My sister is helping with kids, and helping my aunt learn the routines! My parents plan to drive back and forth to Michigan several times to help us where needed. My brother and sister-in-law have also offered to help where needed and will be at the hospital. Tom's brother and sister offered to drop plans and be here if needed.

Our church family has been amazing. They have offered so much to us. Our pastor and one other church member will be going to Michigan with us, and bringing the boys back home on Tuesday. Two small groups at church took up love offerings for us, and another small group took the time to write us encouraging words and Bible verses on note cards to help keep us positive throughout the next few weeks. Our small group is providing meals for us when we return from the hospital. We also have a group of people surrounding us on Sunday to pray over our family before we head to Michigan.

My gym family, and yes they are family too! My training studio is so much more than a job to me. My clients become my friends. I become involved in their lives, and they in mine. They care for me and my family, and I don't know where I'd be without that support. When I first set out to be a personal trainer, it was something I could do while staying home with the girls. I quickly realized that God had more planned for me than just training some people. I never saw myself opening my own studio, I never saw it moving out of my house, and I never imagined it would grow into not only a training studio, but a ministry. Lots of times, I find myself being more than their trainer, I become a counselor, a friend, a shoulder to cry on, someone they can count on to help them out. Well, they have returned the favor in a big way. They took weeks to collaborate gifts for all of my kids, gift cards and gifts for me and Tom as well. It was so sweet, and so unexpected! They also want to do meals when we return from the hospital. And one special lady already made up her "made from scratch" meatballs and marinara and froze several of them for my aunt, or us to use in the next few weeks.

There are countless others who have offered up support. Past training clients who are still friends, high school class mates, family friends who have all dropped off gifts, or sent them via amazon!! But its more than the gifts, while they are very nice and will truly help alleviate the financial burden, and will help Emmie recover by giving her things to entertain her while she's down, it's the outpouring of love on my family. All the kind, encouraging words and the prayers that I know are going up on our behalf because I feel a peace that surpasses all understanding. A peace that only comes from God the Father.

The next few weeks will test me, Tom & Emmie. We will be tested spiritually, emotionally and physically. The task at hand is no small task, but it is what God is asking us to do. Difficult decisions have already been made for Emmie, and I'm sure there are more to come. I just pray we are doing what is right for Emmie. So please continue to pray for us. Pray on Monday every chance you get, pray every time we pop into your head over the next few weeks and months.

Surgery is Monday. 6:30am check in time, 7:30am start time, which probably means they'll take her from us around 7:00am, which will be the hardest part for me. Then 6 to 10 hours of surgery. We will get hourly updates, and I'll update on facebook and text message. I'll blog at the end of the day, hopefully, as long as I have time and Emmie is sleeping peacefully.

Thank you just doesn't seem like enough. Thank you for reading, praying and supporting us!!

Psalms 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.