Trip of a Lifetime

First of all, if you haven't read my mom's story just click here to get caught up!

I had started my own version of the story but when I ask mom if she had anything she wanted to say, she said a lot of what I was going to....only much better. Thanks, Mom!

I will start my story and touch briefly on some of the same things she did but from my view point and then add in some other things I want to remember.

I will never forget the day that she called home from going to visit Uncle Craig and Craig Jr in San Angelo. We were all at my Uncle Ike and Aunt Beth's house when Mom called Dad. He then passed off the phone to my sister, who then passed it off to my other sister, who finally passed it off to me. At this point, I can remember being confused on why everyone kept leaving the room and coming back looking a little more quiet than they had left.  She said that after learning that Craig Jr didn't have much hope if he didn't receive a new kidney, she felt as though she needed to offer to see if she was a match. She wasn't even sure if she would be but she felt she needed to try. She asked if we were ok with that and if it ever were to come down to it and something happen to her reamining kidney--one of us girls would be her best match. We were all on board 110%. I remember having the thought of "Holy smokes, is she really going to offer a kidney to a cousin she barely knows?!" But she did and from then on, God's hand unfolded one of the most beautiful stories I have ever been a part of.

For a year, she passed all sorts of tests that she didn't have the greatest odds of passing. The transplant was finally scheduled for June of 2010. In the midst of all of this, the love of my life asked me to be his wife, so we began planning a wedding for the Fall. To say that my mom is amazing is somewhat of an understatement. If you have ever planned a wedding, you know how stressful it can be.....then to throw in donating a kidney on top of it....She is a champ! We got most of the planning done between March and June so that we wouldn't have as much to do after the surgery.

School ends for me and a few days later, Mom, Dad, Me-Me, Uncle Craig, Whitney and I all head off to Virginia for a month. To try and find the words to describe the month in Virginia is next to impossible. We got to see things that I never would have had the chance to see....Colonial Williamsburg, Ash Lawn, Monticello, Staunton, VA, an Episcopal Church with Tiffany windows, Shenandoah River, Front Royal, Charleston, Washington DC, an Inn built in the 1700 where there was a telegraph from the Rockafellar's requesting a room, Oldtown Winchester---It was incredible! There is so much history up there it is unreal. And the scenery was breathtaking.

And that doesn't even touch the whole kidney transplant event we went up there for :) Yes, we got to see and do more than I can ever imagine but the one thing I am most thankful for was the relationship that we got to develop with Craig Jr and how much closer we became with Uncle Craig. When we first met Craig Jr (I say met because even though I'm sure I had actually met him at some point in my life, this is the first time I remember), my first thought was how quiet and reserved he seemed. He was pretty soft-spoken and very intelligent. He taught English at a military academy called Randolph-Macon in Front Royal, Virginia. We got the chance to visit this BEAUTIFUL school and to learn so much about Craig Jr. He was a favorite among the students and staff. He made learning English fun--and in all honesty, I had amazing English teachers in High School, but I would have LOVED to take one of his classes. When he retired after 29 of teaching there, they printed an article about him that I want to share bits and pieces.

-"Craig Porter was one of those people who is a blessing to both students and parents alike. My three children each had Craig as an instructor and more importantly, an inspiration. Life has a few figures who make a true difference in the lives of people among them. Craig Porter is a "hero" among his peers and a man who does make a difference. My family is forever grateful for his role in our lives. We miss him, we thank him." -a R-M alumni

-"Craig Porter was the consummate teacher at Randolph-Macon Academy, and was highly appreciated by his students. Each student considered it a blessing to be in his class and he was the best in the business in getting them ready for college." -President of R-M, General Hobgood

-"I asked the students what made him so good, and they told me 'He understands us.'"-a fellow teacher.

These three quotes sum him up pretty well. Teaching was his passion. His students were his passion. Words used to describe him were "legend", "hero", "inspiration", and "blessing". I got to see a little glimpse of that man in the month I spent in Virginia and the years that followed. He was no longer just my mom's long lost cousin who lived in Virginia. He became a part of our life and a part of our family. I think my favorite line of what my mom wrote was, "I got to love him because I knew him---not just because he was my cousin.". That is how I felt.

I grew to love this man--the one who had I not been there would never have believed that this quiet, bow-tie wearing, sixty-something year old man LOVED Eminem and Lady Gaga. :) This man who EVERYWHERE we went in Front Royal, people would stop and visit with and sing his praises. I got to know Uncle Craig even better and make more memories with him then I would have ever had the chance to.

Craig Jr will be missed but I am so thankful for the opportunity I had to know him. Because of him, I got to see my mother in a new light. I have always known she was a giver---just the other day, getting ready for the funeral I used her comb to rat my hair and told her I really liked it. Her response was "Oh, you take it." That is just how she is....But this experience brought that out in her even more. She gave a part of her to someone she barely knew--without a moment's hesitation. I got to see my family and my church family come together to support Craig Jr and Mom. It was incredible....truly incredible. So like my mom said--I am so, so sad for his story to end but I'm thankful I got to be a part of it..even if it was just a small chapter.

Last night in Virginia-Uncle Craig, Me, Me-Me, Mom and Craig Jr

6 Months~Half a year!!

How on earth is it possible that Hensley has been here for half of a year~?!? I can't believe it. But as I have said it before it is hard to be sad because every stage is so much fun. Each day brings something new and we are just in awe of the little things she does each day.

Josh went into work Monday morning and I only had time for a quick photo shoot--needless to say without someone there to help, it was rather comical. She has become quite active. She couldn't get enough of her stuffed animal. I am going to try and get some more with Josh there so we can get some good ones.

At 6 months, she is:

-eating green and orange veggies

*Green beans, peas, avocado, sweet potatoes, carrots, sweet potatoes/corn

-putting something in her mouth at all times--Hands, bib, burp cloth, toy, etc

-rolling from her tummy to back and as of yesterday her back to her tummy

-VERY ticklish

-starting to get upset if you leave the room--which I told her yesterday was very flattering but she really needs to be okay with it because I can't carry her around everywhere

-sometimes acting like she is about to sit up all by herself and other times you let go and she flattens like a pancake

-wearing 6 month clothes

-wearing size 2 diapers

-eating 6-6 1/2 ounces every 3-4 hours

-sleeping about 12 hours a night
-happiest first thing in the morning! You will pick her up and talk to her and she will just giggle and cling to your shoulder. It makes getting out of bed so much more fun!
-obsessed with people's mouths and fingers

Brave Enough to Say YES

On Tuesday, we got to celebrate the life of a wonderful man. The crazy thing is I didn't know all that much about this man until about 3 years ago. I'll start from the beginning:

Growing up I can always remember hearing about Craig Jr (who would be my grandma, Me-Me's sister's son). I remember seeing postcards he would send Me-Me and Hossie from China but that is about all I could tell you about him. That all changed about 3 years ago....

 

**Note: I had written this whole long deal and then asked my mom if there was anything she wanted to say---Well, let me just say that her version was so much better than mine. :) So I am going to put her part here and then do a follow up post with some of my thoughts. But hers is the best place to start. I hope you enjoy--it is long but SO well worth the read!

 

 

 

The things that happened to me in the 20 months of the journey with the kidney made such an impact on my life that I will never forget Craig Jr and I will be eternally grateful to him.

 

The journey started even before I offered...In October of 2008, I was in the worst health of my life. I started going to a homeopathic person who checks yours organs, etc and then gives you herbs and supplements that you need. I failed every test that she did. She took me off all cokes and made me drink lots of water. I had to take hand fulls of supplements. ONLY GOD could have known that I was going to need to be healthy in 20 months.

 

In March, I took MeMe to see Craig Jr in San Angelo. It was the first time I had seen him in years...since Aunt Sue's funeral. We talked about his health and asked if a kidney transplant was possible for him (At this time he was on dialysis two times a week). He said that it wasn't a possibilty because he had to have a live donor. At this point, as I have told some of you, ANYONE who saw a man without hope would have offered...But here is the next amazing thing...after asking mom what she thought, she told me to call and ask my family. I called Curt first and WITHOUT a moments hesitation he said to do it. (I later found out in my testing in Virginia, most families try and talk their wife or mom out of it). Then I talked to each of the girls and like their dad, they never hesitated. Looking back I don't think I could have done it wihtout asking a question or two---but they never hesitated. When I told Craig Jr that night, it was like a load was lifted. He saw a ray of hope.

 

When it got out that I was testing to donate a kidney, the lady that had started me on supplements to be healthier called me and asked me to come by. She had heard what I was doing and started saying that I couldn't donate a kidney because I wouldn't pass all of the tests. And if I did my kidney was so unhealthy that it would not have been good for me to be left with just one. I told her I was not going to tell him I couldn't do it. So as I left she said, "Then I guess we better get them as healthy as we can!"

 

Everytime I doubted or wondered, GOD told me without a doubt that I was to do it and in really cool ways. But it would take a novel to share all of it. So I passed every test for a year. The March before I donated, I had to do my last testing in Virginia. I went from department to department and each one had to take my blood pressure. It would be a little high the first time, then I would calm down and it would be good. The morning of surgery, Curt and I were in the holding area and a lot of doctors were in and out....a time I would have normally been nervous. But they came in and took my blood pressure and it was perfect. It didn't dawn on us then, but in a few minutes I asked Curt if he felt it...the overwhelming calm. We both knew that it was the "peace that passeth understanding."

 

I prayed that the kidney would be so healthy that they would know only God could have been in charge...AND it was! The doctors bragged on it.

 

I will never ever forget the journey and the time I had to get to know my amazing cousin. Craig and I probably hadn't spoken 30 words in the previous 30 years--and I got to see the man he had become....the amazing things he had accomplished, the amazing sense of humor that would surface, and I got to love him because I knew him---not just because he was my cousin.

 

*I will also never be able to thank my husband, girls, son-in-laws, and mom enough for the initial reaction of nothing but 100% support (It did effect every one of them, and may even in the future although I don't think it will) and like I said after interviewing in Virginia, I realized what a God-thing their support was too. He sent me this awesome family and I don't think I take enough time daily on my knees to say thank you to Him. THEN after the rest of my family found out....It makes me cry EVERYTIME I think of the support I had (Yes, I am crying right now). Then it goes on and on, my church family, friends....OMG and people don't believe it was a blessing for me.

 

**On a sad note, I think Craig and I both went into it thinking he would be 100% again--Fairy tale ending so to speak. And the people in testing warned me time and again how it would feel if things went south. But on one of my 8 hour drives down to see him, it dawned on me, that it really did serve its purpose. Uncle Craig knew he had an amazing son, but even he didn't know about the amazing man he was in Virginia and all the people he had impacted because he told me he didn't. We werea all allowed to see that he was so much more than the quiet cousin I knew. I also realized that if he had lived a lot longer and then gotten sick there would have been no one there to take care of him. Uncle Craig was the one that was supposed to take care of him and he wouldn't have been able to later on. It is not easy to lose a child, but to think of him with no one to take care of him...well, it played out it was supposed to, or so I would like to think.

 

Once again, I am crying...so sad for his story to end. So thankful I had a small chapter in it with the help of everyone in my family. I might have been brave enough to say yes, but it took each member behind me to walk the path.

 

 

---Pretty incredible story, isn't it?! One woman being brave enough to say YES to God and a whole bunch of people's lives were changed forever. Craig Jr was given a HUGE gift, I am not denying that---but I must agree with my mom and say that we were all blessed by it in so many ways. I am SO thankful for my mom, Craig Jr, and the gift of life that was given.

 

Thank you Lord for using it to bless us all in ways we can not even describe. My prayer is that I will be brave enough to always say YES to God even when I don't know what the future holds.

Monday Night Photo Shoot

At my Tahoka Shower, my sister-in-laws family got Hensley the cutest outfit! I could not wait to get her in it and take pictures. Welll.....that was way back in September and she is just now really fitting into it! :)

Josh and I were finally both home with nothing to do (well, that couldn't wait another 30 minutes) so I had him go change her and I went and set up a blanket on our bed for a quick photo shoot! I was so excited with how some of them turned out! 

Not too sure what to think about the feathery thing on her head

Getting warmed up to it

I wish I knew what she was thinking as Josh and I made silly faces and talked goofy to her. 

She doesn't seem too amused

There's a smile :)

Close-up of the little outfit

Sweet, sweet girl

Typical Hensley right now. Her hands are always in her mouth

Josh and I laughing at her with just a hat on

Playing with daddy after photo shoot. We were laughing that she was sitting on her knees

 New (or rather its back) tongue out grin

Sitting on his chest

MY FAVORITE!!

She was concentrating really hard on sitting

And then a few outtakes from the shoot--because they are too funny not to share!

I love her look in this one---like "Seriously, Mom?! What did you put on my head?!"

And this one looks like she is singing opera

HAHA! I told Josh just to strip her down since she was about to eat and then we would just put her pj's on. I went to the kitchen to get her food ready and this is how Josh brings her in! :)

So excited she finally got to wear this sweet outfit! 

Words

A few weeks ago, I wrote a post on how little things make a big impact and how something simple you say to someone can completely change their day. Someday I want to write a post on how powerful our tongue is but in the meantime, I was driving home one day and even though I had heard this song before I actually heard the song for the first time. WOW! I love it and it is pretty much summing up everything I wanted to say.

 

 

Here are the lyrics:

 

They've made me feel like a prisoner
They've made me feel set free
They've made me feel like a criminal
Made me feel like a king

They've lifted my heart
To places i'd never been
And they've dragged me down
Back to where i began

Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you

You can heal the heartache
Speak over the fear
(speak over the fear)
God, your voice is the only thing
We need to hear
(we need to hear)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts or
Put it out

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you
(back to you)

Let the words i say
(let the words i say)
Be the sound of your grace
(sound like your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you

I wanna speak your love
Not just another noise
Oh, i wanna be your light
I wanna be your voice

Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you
(back to you)

Let the words i say
(let the words i say)
Be the sound of your grace
(sound like your grace)
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you
(back to you)

Words can build us up
Words can break us down
Start a fire in our hearts
Or put it out

I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you

 

 

I think the line that completely grabbed my attention was:

Let my words be lifeLet my words be truth
I don't wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you

 

Are the words I'm speaking life? Are they truth? And MOST importanly, are the words I'm saying pointing the world back to Jesus?  WHOA!

 

 

Hayes & Hensley

I took these pictures a few weeks ago and have been meaning to put them up! 

Hayes and Hensley are four months apart and are going to have lots of fun in the future :) 

Hayes really wants to play with her now but she just isn't quite there yet. 

But here are a few pictures I snapped the other day:

Trying to hold her hand

Sweet babies

Nice bald spot, Hens!

Cutie patootie

He loves to clap :)

Please excuse the nasty bib!

:)

Haha, I think Mimzie was a little nervous!

Playin'

Love this little boy

Sweet cousins!

Trying to give kisses

SO SWEET!!

Hensley is so blessed on both sides to have such sweet cousins! I can't wait for the future and all the trouble fun they are going to have! 

Easter Weekend

We had a crazy, fun-filled weekend.

Instead of rambling about it, I'm just going to post pictures :)

 

 

Hensley and I before going to a baby shower Saturday afternoon

 

 

Super Baby!

Our new favorite thing to do with her because her legs automatically stick straight out

Family picture before heading to a wedding on Saturday night

Easter morning

 

 

We like to eat our clothes

 

Pretty girl

Another family picture

Church wore them out!

Hanging out with Nana after lunch

 

We got home from a crazy weekend filled with lots of car time and just laid on the floor and played.

It was the perfect way to end the long weekend.

Love this look

One of my favorites

When I was pregnant, Josh told me, "I sure hope she doesn't look like me because I wouldn't make a very cute girl." I informed him yesterday that God proved him wrong. She looks just like him and she is beautiful. He just smiled :)