Christmas Fun!

My sister is one who always gets cool Christmas gifts for everyone - always thoughtful and specific to what you desire or will enjoy. This year we were blown away. Corey and I got our present early - tickets to go with my sister and nephew to see the Trans Siberian Orchestra. I love TSO's music and I was excited to go, but never did I imagine what an amazing concert it would turn out to be. If you aren't familiar with the group basically what they do is some original music, but a lot of Christmas favorites with orchestra, electric guitars, keyboards and drums. It's amazing. The first half of the show was a Christmas story with lots of favorite songs. You have probably heard their version of Carol of the Bells before on TV or radio. It seems to be played a lot. Then for the second half they just had fun with lots of other songs - the Nutcracker Suite, Flight of the Bumblebee, Carmina Burana and so much more. Along with the music being incredible, the visuals were just as amazing. There were laser lights, strobe lights, fire, snow and lots and lots of light trees (I think that's what they're called - the long things of lights that hang from the ceiling.) Every song had a whole light show choreographed to it and it never got repetitive.

I'm just so happy we were blessed to go. We definitely have incredible Christmas memories to take with us as we prepare for the field. If you ever have a chance to catch TSO in concert - don't pass it up (unless you aren't a fan of electric guitars and drums)!!

Snow Day!!

Living in Michigan opens Alex and Maggie's eyes to new things all the time. Today they get to experience a true snow day. They've had snow days in Georgia, but let me explain the difference. In Georgia if there is rumor of snow they close all the schools down. If less than an inch falls everything shuts down (at least in the Atlanta area). Here in Michigan the schools are shut down because while we were sleeping 8 inches of snow fell! The plows haven't had time to clear the roads. Last night in the midst of the snowfall my mom and I went shopping at Target. There were quite a few people out and about. Amazingly, there was bread and milk and water on the shelves! Haha! (If you live in Atlanta you know the minute snow is mentioned for whatever reason bread, milk and water disappear from every store.) I'll post pictures later once we get out and about. It really is beautiful outside. I wish it didn't cost a fortune to ski because today would be a great day to ski.
~Tona

Healings and Happiness

I hear Alanis Morissette singing "Isnt It Ironic" in the back of my head now as I think about the past couple of weeks. We're not a family that gets sick and I personally have only been to the doctor once or twice in the past eight years for anything other than a regular checkup. So wouldn't it figure that now that I am in Michigan - away from my doctors - that sickness would hit. Just before Thanksgiving I experienced pain like I've never felt before. The Monday before Thanksgiving I had pain in my upper abdomen. I took some ibuprofen and rested and it subsided, but on Wednesday it hit again 10 times harder. I was on the floor crying it hurt so bad! I ended up getting sick after Thanksgiving dinner and spent the next three days unable to hold food down. With our insurance only a couple days away from expiring we were hit with a dilemma. Do we go to a local doctor and trust God to provide the finances or drive to Atlanta to see our insurance covered doctor - also trusting God to provide the finances to drive. On Sunday we decided we couldn't wait to go to the doctor any more. Corey took me to a clinic, but a doctor never showed up. Others in the clinic said they had been to the ER and other clinics in the area and everything was packed. I felt too sick to sit in chairs for hours on end, so I asked him to take me home and we'd try again the next day. That night Corey had the kids come around me and Alex pray over me. It was such a sweet prayer. (I could write a long blog all about the power of children praying, but that will wait for another day.) That night I successfully held down a cup of Jello - a huge victory after days of not holding anything! Since that point I have slowly been able to handle food. We've been praising God because healing came without any financial cost. I praise God for healing and for a family so strong in their faith. I praise God that no weapon formed against me shall prosper because I am His child! Be encouraged and trust in God for your needs. And if you need a strong prayer partner... send Alex an email! :)
~Tona