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

Six years!!!!!

This is the man I fell in love with more than six years ago...

Little did I know, he would be quite the blog hacker!!

Sorry I haven't had a chance to post in the last few days.
We spent the weekend just hanging (3 days w/o seizures).
Then, they kicked back up on Sunday & are still going strong.

However, I want you to get to see this amazing man that I
fall in love with over and over again, every single day!

So, what has happened in six years?

Day 1 of life together!!
Our first baby, Tucker!

He was such a sweet little puppy!

Our family!

Our first home!
Tucker is getting bigger & now we have little Hank!

Hank cuddling with Daddy!

Sweet cuddles with Tucker!

Celebrating a b-day with sweet Ri!
At Cass' wedding!

My hubby is diagnosed with cancer and his first words
are "this means I get to be a cancer survivor"...
Haley does the Luekemia & Lymphoma Society walk
in his honor ( she was many mos. pregnant, I might add)

Across the street from B's chemo appt., we hurried
over afterwards as our friends had their first baby.

We just got the news that he is Cancer FREE!!!
Thank you, Jesus!!

He surprised me with a trip to NYC & to see the Yanks!!

Sweet Granny went to be with our Savior!
He sat by my side the entire time.

He even put up with me singing, "Amazing Grace" & "It Is Well
With My Soul," to her as she reached out to take her Savior's hand!

Family trips, with brother & nephew in this pic...

At the Indy 500 with his family!

In Canada...

A trip to Aggieland! This is the spot where he proposed!

Him winning the "Can Do" Award for work.
The first rookie to ever win!!
My Hot Stuf!!
At a friend's wedding rehearsal!
One of our many trips to Houston for doc appts.
He was by my side for so much...
On our way to Houston for the surgery...Waiting with me before some more tests...The crew that came to cut hair & pray before the surgery!
Him getting ready to cut his ponytail...
Now it's time to shave it all off...
Now it's his turn and I get to shave his.The two become ONE!!
Dinner with some of our groomsmen!Christmas Eve service. Look at how much hair he already has...

This is the place we said, "I do!"

On one of our many trips to Houston,

we stopped in Aggieland along the way!

Spending time with Cgsmn. Hall!

On the way to Family Reunion...

With Nana & Grandpa at Family Reunion!The beauty of Colorado!Remember our friend Joey, that was a burn victim in the hospital?
This is his son and we got to take him to T Bar M this summer!!Then, we got to take Miss Ri to T Bar M, too!!

Hollywood night for his office!

Concerts by the Lake with our "kiddos!"

My amazing husband!!

He truly meant every word of our vows and has stood by me "in sickness & in health!" May you all find a spouse as amazing as B and cherish every moment with them as I have with him! He is my Prince Charming, the love of my life!

I love you, babe!!