I was thinking about our website on my way home yesterday and was remembering why we started this whole thing. It was origianlly designed as an update medium to let people know about how our kids are doing. It was also a venue for us to share with you how the Lord was blessing us through all the trials we had with the kids. What I am posting below, I have posted on a previous version of our site, but I think it is important to include here for our new viewers to see, as well as the veteran viewers. It is about how we made it through:

The Situation

When our kids were born 12 weeks early we were given a seemingly heavy burden to bear. Everyday we were going to the hospital and not spending time in our home, which we had just moved into 3 weeks earlier. People often asked us how “do you do it?“ “You guys must be so stressed out.”

It was true that we didn’t know if our son would survive when he had complication after complication. When he was struggling to get off the ventilator and refusing to poop for weeks, we waited and longed for the day that we would hold him for the first time. But all the while we had the peace that surpasses all understanding. We slept well at night and arose refreshed and not depressed.

Why was that?

While we had a heavy burden, we had someone to carry that burden for us. We bore it only for a few hours after they told us Conlin was in distress in Shawna's womb. That night we turned to our loving Creator. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." The great thing about this verse is that it has a much larger meaning than removing worry from your life, or letting you sleep even when you are troubled. It is far grander.

The Grander View

The heaviest burdens we carry are our sins. We carry them and pretend they are not there, or that there are not too many to weigh us down and keep us from our God. After all, He is a loving God, surly He wouldn’t turn us away. Well, the bible says in Romans 6:23a “For the wages of sin is death” or eternal separation from God. The good news is that that verse has a second half. It says “but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You see, Jesus Christ loved us enough to come and die for His people because He doesn’t want to be separated from them for all eternity. Check out what Romans 5:8 says: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” If you have never acknowledged Jesus as the Lord of your life, and do not have this peace I am talking about, all you have to do is believe in Him and acknowledge Him as the Lord of your life. Acts 16:31 says “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.” If you want to learn more about this or have questions just post a comment and I will be happy to email you.

Here are two pictures of each kid, showing where they were and where they are now.