lots of games with our south african friends. check.
christmas braii (bbq) with an ocean view. check. 
swim in freezing ocean just because we could. check.
sleep under (charlie brown) christmas tree. check.
surprise box of goodies from our friend ANNIE. check.
merry christmas, ya’ll. (it’s still 11 p.m. christmas where my sister is in hawaii. weird.)
LOVE.
these bangs do not lie.
and they miss lindsay.
and.
and.
AND.
Merry
Christmas.
to go to OMAHA (so that at least one of us could be home for christmas and not just in our dreams) and lay feels a bit bewildered.
just saying. l-say–YOUAREMISSED from my life and this blog.
just so everyone knows the 12 days of christmas in south africa looks something like the following:
1. warm.
2. weird.
3. windy.
4. simple.
5. smiley.
6. bummy.
7. beachy.
8. not lonely, but….
9. is it REALLY christmas?
10. surreal (sorry to my sister who hates that word.)
11. wrong.
12. MERRY CHRISTMAS ANYWAY (love is about commitment, Not feelings, right?)
friends took us out for a beach picnic before almost everyone left for christmas break.
we’ll share the love with some photos. (please note lindsay shining with santa on the beach.)
First, thank you so much for all of your prayers. It’s been overwhelming to know how many are lifting us up and love us. It really means tons to me and has held me through some tough moments.
Second, I’ve gotten to see Tanya twice. Man. I can’t tell you guys all that I felt, but it was incredible to hold my wife in my arms and to be accepted even though my face (and it feels like everything) is different. It was so good to hold her and talk, even though she didn’t always make sense. She is still Tanya and her personality and humor is there, even though some other things aren’t.
Ok, now, here is how I’m doing. Things have been difficult in the last couple of days. Coming out of the hospital and off of more and more medicine, I feel like I can understand more, though things are still difficult to really grasp. Leaving the hospital, I was scared about seeing Tanya and if she would even recognize me. Then coming home, it was so hard to be in a normal place but without my wife and without and understanding of where life is going. Now, after two days, I am reassured and encouraged by my mom, mother-in-law, and others here, but please keep praying.
For Tanya: She remembers bits and continues to remember more and more. The awesome thing is that her personality shines through. There are times where she makes perfect sense, and most of the time, she wishes to leave her hospital. Her reasoning to escape is actually good (means she can reason better) but she needs to keep doing rehab well to get out sooner. Please pray for grace and peace for her where she is and continual healing. I feel that God still is going to breakthrough in a big way.
For Me: Grace and patience with myself, and wisdom to facilitate healing. Also, for God’s strength to get through the times where I can’t wrap my head around my situation. Most of the time, things don’t fit (as normal) in my head and it’s hard to move forward when I don’t understand. I trust and believe God has us in the palm of His hand, but it doesn’t make it easier sometimes. Tanya’s condition doesn’t scare me, but mine does – because I can’t take care of her. I still have a lot of physical healing to go.
I hope all of this made sense and thanks again so much for your love and prayers. God is moving and please continue to hold us up as we continue to grope forward.
4 girls.
afternoon of sun.
winding river of mud.
wooden bridge.
rusty merry-go-round.
we find ourselves spinning,
spinning,
spinning–
the sun spins too.
(thanks for all the prayers)
here are a couple of random updates from yesterday on my friends, will and tanya–
(From Rodger): Will should be transported to the new hospital by 12 tomorrow. Today he was sitting (upright) in a chair in his room! This good. His sweeling in his face reducing. He’s look much better, he still has shattered Face.
Tanya is connecting and talking more. She is settling in well at the new hospital. We still need to see the damaged areas in her brain to wake up.
Keep praying. God is healing them each day.
