B's Annual Meeting

Well, this post is super late. We went to Milwaukee in July for B's Annual Meeting. It is quite the family event. This was my second time to go with him.

These are the puppies we met in the airport on the way out of town.

His company has an event at the Milwaukee Zoo the first night.

The pic is so small, but you can see we rode a camel!

B loves trains!

They had a little steam engine that took you on a little tour around the zoo!

Us, riding the train!

In the gift shop. He says it looks like I have kitty ears.

Yep! That's my baby. Not only is he a fox, but he's also a shark!!

Then, they had a concert! I'll tell you who was in concert soon!!

Here we are inside...getting ready for the big show!

Though he was just the opening act, he was the reason we were there....

Danny Gokey!!!!!

His family works for Northwestern Mutual.

Northwestern made a donation to the foundation he created in his wife's memory!

The next day, we went to the art museum.

Then, we saw a pirate ship!!!

Milwaukee has a free trolley service that takes you to different locations throughout town!

My baby, gettin' on the Trolley!

The sunset, from the plane, as we arrived back at DFW!!

That's it!
I figured I would spare you a bunch of "talking" on my part and let the pics do the talking!
We had a wonderful time and it's so special that he works for such an amazing company.

URGENT Prayers for Nate

Wherever you are, get on your knees and cry out to the Lord on behalf of sweet little Nate. I just received this plea from his daddy:

Something is going on with Nate. He did not have a bowel movement for a week. It took a lot of laxatives and prayers for it to finally happen. He sometimes screams about his stomach having sharp pains. He goes back in to see the doctor tomorrow. He also gets very down sometimes and just wants to sleep. These could all be effects of post-radiation or depression or just plain not feeling good, but it could be something much more serious such as the cancer spreading to other parts of his body. We are scared, because we are told it could be so many things. Please share with others to pray for his little body to be healed and for him to be happy. He does play and enjoys part of the day, and then he seems to crash and wants to just lay there. We know that God is good and can do anything, please pray that he will heal Nate. Please keep praying and do not give up, HE keeps healing Nate and Nate keeps fighting every time everyone gets together and prays, it has always worked so far. Thanks.

From Connor's Mommy

Friday, September 11, 2009

It was 2 months ago today that Connor left this earth to reside in Heaven. A somber day for our family. I recently completed a Bible Study called "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed." The author, Beth Moore, spoke on the topic of getting past our devastation with God. It spoke to me so completely. "Nothing has the capacity to cause more destruction in a believer's life than an occurrence that makes us question everything we thought we knew about God. A heart can shatter in so many pieces that we don't think even God could put it back together again. Words fail, but far more consequentially, faith often fails." We may find ourselves in a predicament where we question God's goodness and His sovereignty. I know that Tait and I had many questions after Connor's death. I know that Satan would love nothing more than to convince us that God is not good after all. Beth Moore explores the story of John the Baptist in prison to illustrate God's sovereignty, and His ultimate Healing and plan for our lives - plan for us to spend eternity with Him. In Luke 7:18-23, John was in prison waiting to be executed and he sent his disciples out to ask Jesus if He was truly the one that they had been waiting for. Was He the Messiah? Jesus replied to them, "Go back and tell John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me." As we know from John's story, not only did Jesus allow John to be imprisoned, but He also allowed him to be executed. But, this did not cause John to "fall away" from God even though He did not rescue John from his untimely death. Just like John, God didn't heal or rescue Connor they way we had hoped and prayed for, but more importantly God healed and rescued him in a much more miraculous way. He rescued him from sin and death for all eternity. Just like the miracles Jesus was performing on the masses described that day in Luke 7, He also caused Connor's "blind" eyes to open on July 10, 2009. His eyes opened to the very FACE of GOD. He caused Connor's "lame legs" to DANCE on the streets of gold. No more wheelchair for Connor. He caused his "leprous" sin to be CURED for all eternity. The "dead" was indeed RAISED and Connor heard the best news of all (without his hearing aids) "WELCOME HOME, My good and faithful servant! Enter into your Master's happiness!" Sometimes there's just a bigger plan. The knowledge that God has a bigger and better plan for us gives me comfort and reminds me that God is still good- all the time. Always believing, Joy

September 11th

This day marks quite an anniversary for our nation.

At the same time, it marks an anniversary for our family. This is the day that my husband declared that he would be a Cancer Survivor. Praise Jesus, it was/is true!

Three years ago today, the doctor told me that B had cancer and left the recovery room assuming B would take longer to come out of anesthesia. Instead, B woke up and asked me what had happened. It was at this point, that I fell more crazy in love with this man than I already was...if you'd believe it, that love just keeps on growing!!! You can read the link, to see his response when I had to tell him that he had cancer. He still amazes me.

I admire this man, that I get to stand next to every day, with all that is in me. I want to be like him when I grow up...His faith in the Lord is a daily lesson & a challenge for me. May you also be challenged by the man that he is and continues to be...

While praising the Lord today for B's continued healing, please stay in prayer for Little Nate and his healing. This is an update from his Mom:

"I thought I would send a brief update on Nate. Overall he is doing very well. He feels good enough to play with Jake and Luke everyday, go to their games, play outside and go to church most weeks. He has been more tired than usual this week. We were told this is to be expected after radiation. His balance and strength are not as good as they were a couple of weeks ago, but this can also be related to the radiation. Since I am back to work and we get out more now, I meet several people a week who have been praying for us through Nate's battle. It is so comforting to know how many people are praying. We are very blessed. Thank you for your continued prayers. We love you all!!"

Sunday

I'm typing this Monday night, while getting an awesome foot rub from my hubby. So, if this reads as if I'm dosing off or super relaxed...I am!!!

Well, this was the final day of our super fun Anniversary Trip! We originally had plans to stay at the Hampton because it was one of the only places that had availability. However, the day before we left, we called to confirm that the Hampton had the fridge in our room for all of my food. They didn't and couldn't provide it without moving us to a special suite ($$$$$$). So, B checked to see if the Hilton had any openings. Turns out that they did and it was a better deal than the original one at the Hampton.

As we were falling asleep Thursday night, he remembered that our first date was going to Military Ball at the Hilton in February 2002. He says it wasn't really our first date, he was just taking a friend to Military Ball. However, when we tell the truth, we both fell for each other that night.

B loves to dance and I had just broken my toe by falling UP my stairs. Yes, up...it takes the skill of a great clutz to actually fall up the stairs. Anyway, I had a broken toe when he asked me and was in one of those really cute blue orthopedic shoes (it just doesn't match many formals). I reminded him that I had a broken toe and he could ask someone else. He said, "no, I would be honored to take you." Wow!! This guy is already pretty cool!!!

So, if he was going to sacrifice his love of dancing, I had to make a sacrifice, too. Thus, I took a whole bunch of Ibuprofen that night, wrapped my toe really well, and put my broken toe in a pair of heels!! We danced the night away and had the time of our lives! I don't remember how many days it was before I could walk again and my pinky toe is still a bit crooked.

So, here we are 7.5 yrs later, standing in front of the ballroom where we had our first date!!!

Saturday night, I came down with a migraine. Regular Tylenol has Splenda in it, which is a seizure trigger. Most other pain relievers have ingredients in them that are contraindicated with the diet. So, we just went to a compounding pharmacy last week to get some acetaminophen that I can take while on this diet. Wouldn't you know, I left it at home. So, my amazing hubby found just the right ice pack and put me to bed. When we woke up to get ready for church, I still had this terrible headache. He got me more ice, kept taking care of me, and then found some medicine I could take...not too long after, the headache was gone and we were getting ready for church. This is just a small picture of how amazing he is...it's our anniversary and he could be upset that I don't feel well or just have me go to sleep. Instead, he found ice packs and medicine and tucked me in and made the room super dark.

We went to Grace Bible for church and had a wonderful time catching up with Brian & Tristie. Brian was the college minister while Ben was there and he is now the head pastor. Tristie came and did all of the "purity" talks for us in ASC (Aggie Sisters for Christ). We had the chance to just sit and talk with Brian for a while after the service. It was such special time. First, we learned that Tristie has been encountering some pretty serious health issues that are undiagnosed. Then, we got to hear the story of their children, adoption, etc. It had me crying and B giggling at how similar our stories are...amazing!!!

As we were leaving town, we stopped by Benjamin Knox's gallery and took a fun picture on the caboose that he has on site. His gallery is a re-creation of the old College Station Depot. Thus, the caboose....

Praise the Lord, Saturday and Sunday were seizure free days. That allowed us time to just focus on each other and have a wonderful time reliving old memories! What a blessed weekend!!! I can't believe I'm married to this incredible man!! Thank you, Jesus!!

Saturday in Aggieland

Saturday started with getting to sleep in...more than anyone, B needed that. He wakes up at about 4:30am each day and then stays up as late as he can with me. Friday, he had a 5:30am appt. and we went to Midnight Yell, which meant that we didn't get to bed until sometime after 1:30am. So, the man got some well needed sleep.

We had to bring all of my food since the diet is so strict. So, we prepped all of it prior to leaving and had it all stored in the fridge in the room. B asked if I minded if he got something that started with an 'S' (Shipley's donuts)! I didn't & so he went and got a box of donuts for himself and I ate my quiche. Then, we went up to the Quad (where the Corps of Cadets lives).


His outfit was having a BBQ and so we spent some time with them. While we were there, A, one of our groomsmen & one of B's ol' ladies (Corps lingo for roommate), came up there with his wife and absolutely precious little girl! We had fun catching up with them and playing with their sweet little girl! She was a doll!

Then, B got to go help D.C. get all of his brass ready (now I'm trying to act like I know what I'm talking about...). Point is, we all went to his room and B & D.C.'s Dad all helped him polish up all of the stuff that goes on his uniform and get it just right on his uniform.

This is step-off. The Fightin' Texas Aggie Band leads the way into Kyle Field prior to the game starting. Here they come....
Getting closer...
Now you can hear them play (it's short)...

Now, we are in Kyle Field. Nothing beats being in the "Home of the 12th Man."


Welcome to Aggieland!!!
There was a flyover prior to the start of the game with T-6s.

B got us great seats. We were on the 1st row of the Zone...just a tad right of the goal post.
This is Boot Line. All of the Seniors in the Corps line up in two rows for the football team to run through.


The drummers in the band lead the way

Look at how packed the stadium is...for the first game of the year...against University of New Mexico!

This is Miss Rev, the first lady of Texas A&M.
A closer shot, as she walked past us. Apparently, PETA or someone has gotten involved and she's only allowed to be there for certain parts of the game or for short periods of time. So, we got to see her come and go a few times.

I think I spoil my pups, but trust me, she is much more spoiled. So, all of the PETA stuff doesn't make sense. She is the highest ranking member of the Corps (five diamonds), a five-star general.

Since our seats were on the front row, not only did we get to see Rev, but we also got to talk to the band! They lined up, right in front of us. We got them to turn around and smile for a picture (other than the guy on the right-he's a freshman and they're not allowed to know how to smile) ; )!!

Forming at the North End of Kyle Field, the Nationally Famous, Fightin' Texas Aggie Band.
Here they go...
Computer software programs that are designed to create formations for bands, cannot handle the formations of the Aggie Band. They say they are impossible!!

Watch how amazing they are...look at how close they get to each other!

The Ags won 41-6! WHOOP!!!
One of the many traditions is that when the game is over, the Fish in the Corps go on to the field and tackle the Yell Leaders. Then, they carry them to the Fish Pond and have another Yell Practice!!! This is the Yell Leaders getting ready (the guys in white-see how their pants are rolled up and shoes are off)!
The Fish are going after them!!
Got 'em! D.C. actually got to tackle one of them!!!
Here we are at the end of the game! We had so much fun!!! Also, with a score of 41-6, it was perfect for our anniversary trip because it meant that I got a lot of kisses from my hubby. Another tradition: "when the Aggies score, we score!" So, anytime the Ags score, you kiss your date! B, nor I, kissed our dates at a game while we were students! So, it was special that the first game we went back to, once we were married, was our first "score" at an Aggie game!!!

Where it all began...

Time to celebrate the anniversary!!!

We went to Aggieland this weekend to celebrate our anniversary! WHOOP!!!
We decided to push the celebration back a few weeks so that we could go to the game, etc.

We started the weekend by going to First Yell on Friday night. The Singing Cadets performed and did a wonderful job. Sorry the pics are so blurry. We were pretty far away!
This year, they are doing a tribute to African-American composers and so they did a medley from The Temptations. The Singing Cadets are usually very poised. However, they said that they couldn't do The Temptations without dancing. So, the three guys in the front here were the dancers. It was precious.
Also, the lady playing the keyboard on the left, CC, played the Organ in our wedding!!!
There was a ventriloquist that performed as the main act. However, we left early because his language and the topics he discussed were quite disgusting.

Then, we went to Fightin' Texas Aggie Yell Practice!!

This is C, B, & D.C. Their younger brother was one of B's campers at T Bar M years ago. Now, these two are both Aggies!!! C works for the Association of Former Students and D.C. is a Fish in the Corps!!!

This day became pretty exhausting. I had four seizures, one right as we got to Yell Practice. However, that was the last one for the weekend! So, we had so much fun!

Here we are at Yell Practice!
I am so blessed to be going into my seventh year of marriage to this unbelievable man!!!

Nate Update 8/29/09

"Nate has finished radiation. He seems to be feeling great. We are just enjoying each day and as I said in last week's update, we will not know anything until at least early October. We ask that everyone continue to pray as we go through the next few weeks. His little body has just received a tremendous amount of radiation and the effects can continue for years. We know Nate in in God's hands and He is taking care of him. We also wanted to say thank you to everyone who has been praying for Wes' dad. He is feeling well and will have a spinal tap to see if his cancer needs to be treated. Love you All!!!!"

Joy's Journal 8/31/09

From Connor's Mommy:

Days continue to march on and the world continues to spin on its axis. It doesn't seem possible that everything continues in a normal way without our little ConCon here. But, it does. I know it will take some time to get used to our new normal, once again. Thank you for your continued prayers for us in this direction. We feel like God is cushioning us from the full impact of our loss. It seems as if we take it all in a little bit at a time, which is much more manageable for us all. Grief in small stages is certainly easier than handling it all at once.

Yesterday at church, Neil Jeffries, spoke to us about the little boy with 2 little fishes and five loaves of bread that Jesus used to feed over 5,000 people. John 6:9 says "Here is a boy." It sounds so simple, yet there is so much about this boy. He was insignificant, so much so that his name isn't even mentioned in the story. What he had was insufficient - it was not even close to being sufficient enough to feed 5,000 men. Yet, God used this little boy and what he had to offer to do a miracle that day on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. God used what was insignificant and insufficient and he did something mighty with it! He can do that in all our lives. It doesn't matter how much we have to offer, it only matters that we give Him ALL we have to give. The GIFT isn't as important as it is in whose HANDS we place the gift.

The whole time I was sitting listening to this message, I couldn't help but think of Connor. "Here is a boy" I thought to myself, who was insignificant and insufficient and look how God chose to use him. I'm still amazed everyday how I'm witnessing God's redemption of Connor's life. Countless people have told me how Connor has changed their lives, how he taught them to be strong and courageous, how he taught them to fight and remain faithful to God in all circumstances and how he taught them to pray. Even today, God is still using Connor. In the next few months, I'll be sharing with you the mighty ways that God is still using Connor to bring glory to His name. We have several things that are in the beginning stages. It is just amazing! The love and support of TeamConnor is another great example of how God is using Connor's life to make a difference for other children.

I know many times I feel insignificant and insufficient myself. I can't fathom how God can use me to do something great and significant. Connor and this story in the Bible will always remind me that I'm just the clay and God is the Potter. If I let Him, God can make something beautiful out of a piece of clay, out of something insignificant and insufficient like me.

"Yet, O Lord, you are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of your hand."
Isaiah 64:8

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."
2 Corinthians 4:7

Please continue to pray for Caden Ledbetter and McKenzie Mae as they need a miracle of healing, since the doctors don't have any curative treatments left for them. Also, please pray for Carson as he is having fear issues since Connor's passing. He's also having a hard time without his constant companion, ConCon.

Always believing,
Joy Cruse