Started the year praying for a great one!
Radiation started
Had to say good-bye to our little dream girl.
The praise was she was adopted by a family in Italy.
Enjoyed the snow.
Greg turned 47!
Max was reunited with us!
Our friend Doug brought him to us and we got to visit with him!
Chick-fil-A has been a blessing this year!
Greg finished his radiation!
We visited friends in Wake Forest/Raleigh
Uncle Charlie and Aunt Sharon from Mexico visited us!
We spent some time with the Dysons! But... not enough! ;o(
We walked in the walk against brain cancer.
Enjoyed time with precious friends!
More snow!
Then came spring and some fun beach time thanks to Uncle Billy and Aunt Ann!
Greg got his keys back!
Enjoyed time together!
Celebrated our niece and nephew's graduation. (one from college, and one from high school)
Annie had a blast at Camp Cheerio
Jerod worked there all summer and learned a great deal!
I was allowed to work for a week too with my college roomie. Great times!
Our sweet friend and adopted grandma, Dottie entered the gates of Heaven.
Our sweet friend Jenny entered into Heaven a few months later. These were difficult days for us.
Alex and I had to return to Mexico and sell our belongings and say good-bye to some of our dearest friends.
Some of the hardest parts of this year.
We had more sad news as our friend, Mark also entered into Heaven after fighting brain cancer with Greg.
Greg's Uncle Rod also entered into Heaven. It has been a difficult year.
Alex got a job at CFA and followed in his brother's footsteps!
We got back in touch with some old friends, God blessed
us with their sweet friendship!
Spent a tiny bit of time with Jerod before he went back to LU.
Greg enjoyed mowing our large yard at our mission house.
We visited Jerod at LU. He continues to do well.
Greg had to have another brain surgery after chemo and radiation didn't seem to be working.
He did great after surgery and he started his new form of treatment. (immunotherapy)
We got to spend Thanksgiving with our Indiana family!
Annie turned 13!
Greg and I were blessed by free tickets to the Colts and were hosted by the
coach. We got to meet Peyton Manning which was really neat!
Even better was meeting Coach Chuck Pagano. He was a class act and spent a long time encouraging us. It was a true blessing!
Enjoyed Christmas events with our family.
Spent Christmas with my family in the mountains of NC.
Enjoyed our family every day!
Grew closer to Christ and learned so much from Him! He has continued to take care of us!
So.... 2016 was definitely a year of ups and downs and we lost a lot of friends along the way. We had to move out of our home, lost the daughter we never got to meet, lost the job we loved, left the friends and people group we loved, laughed a lot, were blessed by 100s of you, had many prayers answered, and continue to trust God. It hasn't always been easy this year, but man our faith has been strengthened and we have really learned what it means to rely fully on God.
2017...We are so optimistic about what this year is going to bring! We have been praying for quite some time that God would give Greg a ministry he could do here in the US. However, nothing was happening. God has blessed our family in ways that truly HE could only do. I will explain all the details in an upcoming post, however the BIG news is that Greg has been offered a part-time job as Missions Pastor at our home church, Arlington Baptist, that we have attended for the last 6 months. We could not be more excited about this position and look forward to great things happening in the future.
We are currently looking to buy a house and settle down here in the Mint Hill area. We feel like God blesses us each and every day and are continually amazed at how big He is!
Thank you for all of your prayers! They are working!!
We pray God blesses all of you in ways you can only imagine!
Thanks so much for the post! It was great seeing your family's year in review. Praying for you all as you transition back. We love you!
ReplyDeleteKaren Streelman
Missy, thank you for sharing your journey with all of us. We love you guys and continue to pray for healing! God is truly good!
ReplyDeleteMissy, your words are truly inspirational and a living testimony to the inner strength and fortitude that is gained by an unwavering belief and unquestioning faith in the Lord!!! You, Greg, Jared, Alex and Annie are a shining example of true happiness and familial LOVE- an inspiration to everyone you touch!! I believe like you that 2017 will prove to be a memorable year - full of God's miracles!!! Your spirit inspires me; your enduring faith comforts me; but most of all your love of the Lord teaches me to also see the wonder in each and every day and to recognize God's blessings amongst us....one of which is YOU!!! Love you all!! Paige
ReplyDeleteWow, Missy! Like the Israelites, had you know what the journey would entail, you might have said, "No, thanks." But God is being glorified through all that you have gone through and I'm sure all you will go through. You are such a dear, sweet family to us. Praying that your faith grows ever stronger and God's will be done. Thanks to Him for the job for Greg. I know many will be blessed and many lives reconciled to God.
ReplyDelete