The Miracle of Christmas and everyday

Tonight one of the moms at Mackenzie's basketball practice started talking about the miracles of every day life... how sometimes we get so caught up in the hustle and bustle of every day that we don't take time to stop and truly see the miracles that happen every day in front of our eyes.

 

I have to say I truly felt that way this Christmas as I watched Mackenzie and Connor in the children's christmas program at our church.

 

They were both angels in the service and they were so incredibly proud to be a part of it!

 

It was their job (along with about a dozen other little angels) to parade around through the aisles, waving the kites yelling "Glory to God, Glory to God"... of course, Connor can't really say his "L's" so it was more like "Gwory to God, Gwory to God!"

 

Then, at the end, all of the children went on stage with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus, the shepherds, sheep, wise men, you name it, they were up there as they sang "Silent Night".  Mackenzie knew every word (or at least she mouthed something close to the ones she wasn't a hundred percent on) and Connor waved his sparkly light from side to side.  As they ended the show singing "Happy Birthday to Jesus"... Connor made sure to add in the "Cha, Cha, Cha" as loud as he could... at all of the parts he would at a regular party!!!

 

I laughed, I cried, but most of all I gave thanks to God just for the fact that both Connor and Mackenzie could be a part of such a beautiful service.  I thought of all of the parents who were spending their first Christmas without their children and I thought of how it truly is a miracle that Connor could not only sit up on that stage during Christmas Eve, but that he could literally run through the congregation yelling "Gwory to God!!!"

 

There truly are miracles each and every day and we should all stop to give thanks for them.

 

God Bless,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

The best Christmas Gift we could ask for!

Yes, Christmas came early in the Lint household today!!!  It was a really good day!!!

 

The MRI preliminary results show that the tumor is stable!!!

 

We had this amazing peace going into the MRI today, we truly believed everything was going to be wonderful!!!  As always, I teased Dr. Shah that they weren't going to be able to find the tumor... and she said, "You know... there was a time I was wondering where the heck it was, but I called Radiology and they said they hadn't uploaded all the images yet!!!"  Don't worry... that day will still come :)

 

Connor did amazing with everything today... he couldn't eat all day and so we had all of his food waiting for him when he woke up!!  It is so amazing how much he is growing up... as soon as he opened his eyes, he started asking me, "did they already take my pictures?..."

 

I also have to tell you what happened on the way to the hospital this morning.  At one of the intersections, there is a cemetary.  As we were sitting there waiting for the light to change, Connor asked me, "Mommy, is that heaven?"  I proceeded to explain to him that a cemetary is where people are buried when they die and go to heaven.  So Connor came back at me with, "So, we come back to life in heaven?  Jesus gives us a new life in heaven with you and daddy and Mac?"  When I replied, "Yes."  Connor's response was... "YES!!!  That's AWESOME!!!  I get to live again in heaven with all of you guys!!!  That's pretty cool!"

 

I couldn't agree more kiddo... but for now... heaven can wait!

 

God bless,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

The Next MRI

So, as we approach Christmas... the countdown is on to the next MRI.

 

As what usually happens just before an MRI, to totally freak us out and give mommy a nervous breakdown... Connor starts having weird symptoms.  Everything from the hands to the feet to the legs, lower back... even the neck!! 

 

It's so hard because on one hand you try not to freak out about every ache and pain... but on the other hand... how do you know if what's causing this is a simple kid virus or one of the tumors???

 

The next MRI is on Tuesday and we pray that God gives us the best Christmas present of all... NO TUMOR!!!!

 

Connor is so excited about Christmas this year and REALLY in to Santa!!!  He even walks around stores, school and out of church today singing Christmas carols!!! 

 

Connor and Mackenzie are both going to be in the Christmas Pagent at church and we will all be giving thanks to God for the many, many blessings he has given us.

 

God Bless,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

November

In November, the miracles continued!  We got to go camping in Garner State Park... beautiful!!!  We celebrated Thanksgiving... and.....

 

Alan Ames was back in town and this time, I took Connor and Mackenzie to see him.  Some believe he has the healing power of Jesus Christ... and he is the only one sanctioned by the Catholic Church to hold these "Healing Services".

 

I have to tell you, they actually are very beautiful and very peaceful.  There is first a mass, followed by a talk from Ames, and then the healing services.

 

They ask everyone to come forward and it's usually a standing room only event.  This time, as we were waiting in line, a woman collapsed and was lying on the floor in front of us.  Not sure how the kids would respond, I waited to see if they would even notice.  Then, Connor jumped out of line, walked straight up to her, leaned over to get a good look, looked back at me and asked, "Is she okay?"  Bless his little heart, he wanted to help her.  I explained to both kids what was going on and they seemed okay with it.

 

Then it was our turn.  We walked up to line up along the alter rail.  As Alan Ames was walking past us, he paused.  He looked straight at Connor and then looked at me, concerned at first and then he smiled.  Now, keep in mind... he has no idea why we were there and he doesn't want to know... he says that's between you and God!

 

Then, as he was coming back to lay hands on everyone and bless them... he came to us.  The whole thing is usually pretty quick... almost like receiving the ashes on Ash Wednesday... he places his hand on your forhead, does the sign of the cross and moves on all while saying  prayer.  He started by laying hands on Connor and Mackenzie, then me... but instead of continuing down the line... he paused again.  Alan Ames then went back to Connor.  He placed his hands back on his head again, stood there for what seemed like an eternity... said a few more prayers over him and then said, "Bless this family abundantly."

 

As you might imagine... yep.. I broke out in tears.

 

I pray every day that God will continue to show us the miracle and continue to extend the healing hand of Jesus Christ upon Connor.

 

God Bless,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

October

October was a fun month!

 

While both kids are full swing in school, James and I are both busy at work and in between we enjoy every day we can together.

 

In October, we were fortunate enough to be able to take the kids to Great Wolf Lodge up in Dallas.  Someone had told us it was similar to Vegas for kids and they weren't kidding!!!  There was so much to see and do... we all had a blast!!!

 

We also discovered the Love Creek Orchards for the first time!  It's not too far from our house... a beautiful scenic drive through the hill country and perhaps the largest pumpkin patch I've ever seen!!! 

 

At one point, a woman stopped and said, "Excuse me, but is that Connor Lint?"  She went on to explain that she and her son had been praying for Connor.  Elizabeth, I want you and Noah to know how touched we are by that and you should both know that those prayers are working!!! 

 

Of course, there was also Halloween in October!  Every year for the past 5 years, we've done a Halloween party for the kids.  Nothing fancy, just a lot of fun!  Of course, it always holds a special place in my heart because it was two years ago Halloween that Connor did his last round of radiation.

 

What a difference two years makes!!  This year, Mackenzie decided she wanted to be a pirate and she convinced Connor to be one too so that they could have sword fights!  So, we were a family of pirates!  Too fun!!

 

Hugs and Blessings,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

September

I realized that the last blog I wrote was for the last MRI Connor had in September. 

 

But, what I didn't do was come back and update the latest information we had from that MRI... Connor's brain tumor continues to shrink.  It was actually 2 mm smaller this time compared to a few months ago!!!  It now measures 4.1mm which is a pretty amazing difference when you consider two years ago it measured more than 8 cm!!!  Yes, centimeters... that's not a typo!!!

 

As for the tumor on his spine, it also continues to shrink!  Praise God!

 

Let's just pray that both of them will soon be gone!

 

Hugs and Blessings,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor

So much to catch up on

Okay, so you know it's bad when your family members actually start asking... what happend to the blog???

 

Honestly, I've missed the blog... and I truly don't know where the time has gone except to say that life has been crazy... in a good way!!!  So I guess that means that no news in this sense actually is good news!

 

Because I have so much to catch up on... I'm going to write a few "installments" tonight.

 

I write these so that one day Mackenzie and Connor will be able to look back on them and realize how truly blessed we are as a family.  At the same time, I give thanks for each and every one of you who read these and perhaps say a prayer for our family.

 

God Bless,

James, Brandy, Mackenzie & Connor