Honest? Honest.

Weddings.  New Babies.  Debilitating accidents. Devastating cancer diagnoses.  These are all life events.  BIG life events.  Events that bring people closer. That bring about tremendous changes.  And foster love, support and PRAYERS from family and community. We’ve all been there.  We’ve all shared these events.  We’ve all prayed for families in every one of these situations. 

But, I see something missing from this list.  (Obviously, MANY things are missing, but I’m focusing on one…)  Something that’s usually not broadcast to the masses.  Something private; personal.  Embarrassing, almost.  But it’s something that has impacted our family in a TREMENDOUS way the past few months, and we have decided to open up about it to ask for that love, glean caring support, and definitely petition your powerful prayers.

I am going to be very vulnerable now.  Honest. Transparent.  As some of you know, Britt lost his job of 11 years at OSU back at the beginning of the fall semester.  He has been fervently searching for a job since then.  He went through several interviews with a company about 2 months ago, and we thought we had that one locked down.  Until they quit corresponding with him and he had no way to get in touch with them.  (This actually happened twice, 2 different local companies.) Then, since Christmas, he had another job lined out and was supposed to start training yesterday.  All last week, he tried to verify, but with no responses.  So, he got up yesterday and headed to Tulsa (where the training would be).  About 15 miles away from his destination, someone finally called him back.  And told him there had been some miscommunication and he was not going to be training and the job he had applied for had been filled.  So, he is back to the drawing board.

Right after the first of the year, I also became unemployed.  At that point, we thought Britt would be starting a job on January 23, so while it was not ideal, we figured we could hold out a few more weeks.  With the events of yesterday, now we are facing the reality of what an overwhelmingly hard situation we are really in.  We are both applying for every job we are remotely qualified for.  But, we could use some help!  Prayer support, of course.  But, I have had a lot of good luck in the past with word-of-mouth for job openings!  Two of my favorite jobs in the past came to me through friends either recommending I apply and/or recommending me to the employer.  Any help you can give in this area is much appreciated as well.

The “How’s” and Why’s” about our current circumstances don’t really matter.  We don’t (generally) go around asking how a baby was conceived or details about whose fault the car wreck was that a friend got injured in.  So, we ask that instead of being concerned about those details, pray for the details we all know.  That Britt and I both need to be employed.  We are lucky to have the additional income from our ******** business and the cash Britt makes from being Stillwater’s BEST Uber driver, but we still need the added income and security a regular job offers.  Pray for provision for our family.  Pray that our kids can weather this storm with minimal negative side effects.  Pray for our marriage – stress is BAD for a marriage and we are feeling that tremendous pressure.  We are filled with faith that God has BIG things in store for both of us and He is simply taking this time to prepare us, but we waver in moments of doubt and anxiety.  Your loving support is cherished.

This song came on the radio as I drove Lara to her duties as a basketball team manager at 6:30 this morning.  It really spoke to me, and details the message I want to share today.  “Hold it all together Everybody needs you strong But life hits you out of nowhere And barely leaves you holding on. And when you're tired of fighting Chained by your control There's freedom in surrender Lay it down and let it go.

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held Just be held, just be held …”

From our inner circle, we have received many supportive phone calls and texts.  I want to share one of my favorites; the one I cling to: “There is something very special out there just waiting for you to find it.”  There is purpose in the process.  “Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held…”

Year in Review: 2015 Six Dream Weavers

Merry Christmas and Happy New year from our home to yours!  2015 found the Weavers with seasons of growth and challenge, as well as adventure and celebration!  We watched tweens become teenagers, a little boy become at tween, and a toddler turn into a little boy.  We moved, found new passions, and bought a new (to us) car.  There is never a dull moment with a house as full as ours, and we wouldn’t have it any other way!  We look forward to wrapping up these last few days of 2015 as a family, and diving into new escapades in 2016.  

THE GIRLS

Emma and Lara turned 13 and started the 8^th grade in 2015.  They also saw their biological dad remarry (again) and move closer to them that he has been in the last 12 years since our divorce.  All of that brought many changes, adjustments, and fine tuning along the way!   Through all of this, Emma has emerged with a new found love: horses!  She has always been my animal girl – especially puppies and dogs – but her step-mom is a horse girl and introduced Emma to their care and nurture, and also to rodeo.  Emma participated in several JRRA (Junior ranch Rodeo Association) rodeos throughout the year and finished her first season last month at the Finals in Pawhuska.  Along with her regular classes, an advanced Algebra class and an advanced history class, she is also in her first year of Agricultural Education classes and FFA membership at school, and all of this experience and knowledge is helping her learn more about her hoped career path of becoming a veterinarian.  Lara, on the other hand, is our “inside” girl!  She is still dancing every chance she gets.  5 hours of classes on 2 nights each week at Encore! keeps her busy!  She is taking a pointe class, as well as classical ballet, lyrical ballet, and a jazz class.  To accompany her regular class load and her advanced English class, she went out on a limb and tried new things this semester to be more involved at her school.  She tried out for winter guard (competition color guard) in November and was thrilled to be chosen to join the Cadet team!  She is very excited about this new adventure and all the new things she is going to learn about spinning and competition teams.  

THE BOYS

Jake turned 8 at the first of the year, and is currently 5’1” and weighs about 112 pounds.  He is a giant among his peers, but he is our sweet, kind hearted little boy.  He is a sports and video game fanatic!  He played on a competitive baseball team in the spring and summer (Stampede:  first base, third base, pitcher), his first tackle football team this fall (Cowboys: D-line, O-line, Dedicated deep snapper), and is currently honing his basketball skills with his teammates (Haymakers: big guy inside).  If he’s not playing, practicing, or conditioning, he’s watching sports on TV or playing video versions on his game system.  He spouts off stats like they are spelling words and has big dreams.  He is in the 3^rd grade and is an excellent reader, a spelling champ, and a math wiz.  He loves lunch, recess, and science (in that order).  His teachers rely on him to be their helper, and we couldn’t be more proud of the friend he is to others.  And then there is our Finicky, Feisty, Fighter boy, Finn!  He too has had quite the year!  Still attending pre-school at the Methodist church and giving everyone a run for their money.  As usual, he has spent a lot of time in doctors’ offices this year.  We have graduated from Hearts for Hearing (he finally passed all his hearing screenings!), and only have to see his pulmonologist as needed instead of routinely.  Plus, his pediatric ophthalmologist doesn’t want to see him till he’s 6!  The ENT has cleared him as well unless he has issues.  But with the highs come some challenges as well.  Early in the year, we were diagnosed by his endocrinologist with Idiopathic (no specific cause) Short Stature (ISS).  He was born with the diagnosis of “Small for Gestational Age” (SGA), then coupling that with the ISS, we were tested for deficiencies and then started Growth Hormone Therapy.  He has been on nightly injections for about 6 months now and we are happy to report approximately 5 inches in growth!  So ecstatic for him!  Not only has he grown taller, but his overall health is better, he is hitting more milestones on time, and his overall outlook and demeanor are better.  His HAIR grew back in from all the bald spots from his twirling habit, and he needs new (bigger ) clothes.  We are still battling eating and weight gain issues, but go back in February to work on those some more with his gastroenterologist.  Apart from his medical things, Finn spent the summer taking private swimming lessons to get over his fear of water.  We came a long way!  We hope it lasts till next summer.  He was also honored to be chosen as a featured preemie on the Mercy NICU wall of Hope and enjoyed being in the spotlight a little it for that fun unveiling event.  We love that his face and story can bring hope and a light to others traveling through their NICU journey.

THE PARENTS

Britt and I are both still working at Oklahoma State University.   He celebrated his 10^th year with University Health Services this past fall, and I just marked my 2 year anniversary with University Dining Services.  Being on a thriving and diverse college campus keeps us young and in the know, and we really like it.  We are also enjoying watching our ******** business grow!  He has lost 95 pounds, I have lost 45, and we have grown a thriving business along the way.  It is truly a blessing to help others be healthier, as well as show them how to have freedom from financial debt and time burdens.  We have great visions for 2016 and what it can do for those around us!  We want everyone to have the health and freedoms we are enjoying!  We are loving raising our family, keeping busy, and growing and changing every day.  Our latest BIG change is the used car we recently purchased.  Shortly after we got married (9 years and 11 months ago), we bought our minivan.  It was a year old at the time, a 2005 white Chevrolet Uplander that we affectionately named “Derek” – as in Derek Zoolander (after the Ben Stiller movie of the same name).  At some point in our young marriage, we bought a blue 1996 VW Cabrio from my brother, and named it “Otto” – a nice German name for a nice German Auto (don’tcha think?).  When Finn came along, Otto was sold and we bought a much BIGGER vehicle.  A blue 1997 Ford Expedition that our then 5 year old aptly named “Rip” due to a small tear in the headliner that he noticed as we drive it home.  We just recently traded the van for a timberline green 2009 Nissan Armada.  Naming this behemoth (seating for 8!) has been a challenge, and his name has changed a few times these past weeks.  We have officially branded it “Hiro.”  As in Hiro Armada.  After our favorite animated character from 2015 Hiro Hamada (and Baymax) from the blockbuster movie Big Hero 6!  Fitting, I would say!

Hiro Armada

So, here comes 2016!  We hope to start it with a BANG and never look back.  We have big hopes and even bigger dreams for the coming year.  It is a good time to be one of the Six Dream Weavers, and we can’t wait to see what God has in store for us!