Visionary Leadership
The 80′s were good. I was looking back fondly to the days of our minivan and came across this picture. Honestly, I didn’t know how hip we were to have ZZ Top as promoter of our minivan. MY parents were definitely ahead of the wave on this one.
Of course we didn’t get a microwave and a vcr until almost a decade later.
What What! Where is time going? I can’t believe we are at the midway point of February already. Time is fun when you are having flies!
Today is Valentine’s day, Marlo’s first. Marlo turned 9 months old a few days back as well, which makes her adjusted age 6 months. She is really growing quickly and weighs in at over 14 pounds. She is learning to sit up, spit up with more accuracy, and cry. Marlo is a real delight, and keeps us all walking on cloud 9 most of the time. We appreciate even the crying times at 2am, because we cherish every moment.
The other kids seem to be adjusting well and all of them are excelling in their school work. Phil is becoming quite the guitarist and when he plays we all find it very enjoyable to listen. I am of course pushing him to play many of the classic rock songs.
Life is pretty exciting and many things are coming together. 2012 is shaping out to be a unique and amazing year. Big things to come!
I am very excited about Christmas in 2012. Why? Multiple reasons. Our family has had a rough couple of years with the birth and subsequent death of our son John Carter Rinard in 2010, then a miscarriage, followed by a twin pregnancy that ended in the result of beautiful Claire Rinard going home to Heaven, and Marlo Joy an amazing miracle born 14 weeks premature, and fighting for life. Today Marlo is home with us in Texas, and making her presence felt! My parents were involved in a horrific car accident and survived. The list goes on, but why does that make Christmas special in 2012?
Christmas 2012, is on a Sunday. What a great day to celebrate the birth of Jesus. So, we celebrate new life, the life of our Savior, and the new life that is ours for the asking. This Christmas, I will celebrate with my entire family, all my brothers and sisters. All of us! This is the first time in 16 years all of my siblings were together for Christmas! Another reason to celebrate new life!
I am celebrating the life that gives life to all this Christmas.
If you are in the Fort Worth area, please consider joining us for a brief and memorable Christmas service at 10:30 celebrating the greatest gift we all have been given. Click here for location details for Christmas 2012.
I have been enjoying every minute of this time with the family. I have had fun times with each of the kids and my wife. The new addition of Marlo to the household has been very exciting. I find myself awake most hours of the night, just wanting to watch her as she sleeps.
She is struggling with some of her eating. We were told this is a common issue with micro-preemies, and sure enough it is for Marlo, the one who the nurses always commented read the book on preemies. Even with her eating and her spitting up, she is a delight for us all. None of us can get enough of little Marlo.
I know I am not updating often, and neither is my wife, but if you check both sites you may get a couple of updates each week. Her blog is Adventures in Mellowland.
Please keep us in your prayers as we seek the Lord’s will in our lives. We feel that something is right around the corner!
We are spending some time at the San Diego Wildlife Park. Last year we took the family there as one of the first things we did on our path of getting busy and back on track after Johnny died.
It was a good day last year, and today a day of remembrance while we celebrate our our little Marlo.
Life can be so very tough, but take it a step at at time, focus on each other and hold tight!
It is great to be back with the family. We have just been enjoying each other and getting caught up on sleep. Well, not catching up with a newborn, but well wishing we were catching up on our sleep.
I wouldn’t trade this for anything in the world.
I am not sure I have read very many posts that are more exciting than the post I am going to send you to momentarily. Long Awaited Day Post
All I really need to say is this:
“Oh, Marsha.” I heard from the hallway. “Do you want to go home today?”
and this:
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| Ready to go home after passing the big test! |
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| Finally, in the car on on our way home, talking to Daddy on the phone |
Read the entire exciting post here: The Full “Long Awaited Day post.
Now of course mommy has all the work of a newborn, but even more a preemie which is much more work. She has the older kids to take care of, schooling, and selling/packing all the household goods, cars, the house, and a lot more. Wow, what an amazing lady. Truly, an amazing, gifted wife, mommy, and friend.
I am blessed beyond anything I could have imagined, a I have 2 beautiful daughters, 2 beautiful sons, and 2 more daughters on the way. My youngest son was born one year ago tomorrow (Sunday April 11, 2010), and passed away when we was 8 days old.
This past year has been one that no one should ever go through. It is not something I can explain, or expect anyone to understand.
Each week on Johnny’s due date – birthday, I sang Happy Birthday to Johnny while he was in his momma’s tummy. His mommy would help me out when the tune wasn’t going so well. The older kids joined in, when they were around. The day he was born, with all of us around, we sang Happy Birthday Johnny. Being just a few hours old, we all could tell that he finally recognized something in this strange new place. He looked around, and even let out a squelch of emotion when the song was over. We have a video of this precious memory to each of us.
Little Johnny, your brother and sisters are as proud as can be. Your mommy, daddy, and siblings prayed to have you for a decade. You are an answer to our prayers, and you are so loved from before we even knew you.
Little Johnny, we miss you. Our heart aches for you, but we push forward, excited about the day we will be reunited with you. For now, we try to comfort ourselves knowing that you are in Heaven, hopefully playing baseball with your Uncle Phil, and hanging out with your Grandpa John (among others). We would give anything to have you back in our arms, and sitting in your high chair so we can sing Happy Birthday on your 1st birthday.
I assume you would be walking by now and beginning to talk. Your brother and sisters had so much to show you, and your mommy and daddy wanted to watch you grow.
I am not sure how to push forward everyday, but we do. Sometimes not so successfully, and other days I feel like we are making it, one step at a time. Sometimes a step backwards (mostly for your daddy), and then your mommy pulls me back into shape.
I am sitting here looking at your picture. You are a handsome boy, and tomorrow we will sing you Happy Birthday with tears in our eyes.
We miss you, Johnny.
