It is 1:19 am and I should be in bed. I wanted to update everyone on Amanda and I couldn't think of a good title. The first thing I thought about as I yawned was the fact I needed to be in bed.
We heard today from the Duke Transplant Center as they called with several questions regarding Amanda and her health. We should hear from them again soon to set up a time for Amanda to go over for a consultation. This is a great step as it brings Amanda one day closer to getting a kidney. One of the hard things that Amanda has to deal with is all the appointments. Next week she will have appointments with four different doctors, which can be discouraging. It has been so long since Amanda felt normal, and she longs for that again.
I leave next Friday for Ethiopia for a few weeks to take care of some paperwork and to see Ermias. It is hard to explain how we miss Ethiopia. I have several friends scattered throughout Facebook who used to live in Addis and they would know exactly what I mean. Among all the frustrations that come with living in Ethiopia, there is a simplicity to it that is both refreshing and good for the soul.
Please keep praying for the adoption. We long to be together with Ermias, and at times it is hard to see the end of the road...
Off to bed, more later on some great stuff we have been reading.
Simply trusting.
Craig
29 May 2015
25 May 2015
Happy Memorial Day
The funny thing is that in Ethiopia we come to appreciate these precious Holidays more because we are unable to be here. After sitting at the hospital all day, JZ and I put some flags out to remember those who gave their lives.
24 May 2015
Get Comfortable...
...Being uncomfortable. I heard that on the radio the other night listening to Klove.
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
I remember when I was a teenager I would sit in the back of my truck and look up at the big clear sky on a summer night. My friend Jon and I would listen to music and ponder life and the future that was ahead of us. It sounds a little cliche-ish I know, but in small town America it really did happen. So many questions before us, so many unknowns out there.
I feel like that again.
The problem is that I am 37 and I have a wife and two boys. I am not 17 anymore but those same questions are before me again. I have no idea what the next few months are going to hold. Everything we have prepared for is up in the air, and we have a son we love very much who can't be with us right now. So many unknowns.
However, as cliche-ish as this might sound it also holds very true: We try to take it one day at a time.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
The fact is that God gives us grace for today, not tomorrow. He give us our daily bread not weekly bread. His mercies are new every morning. A new day, and new fresh amount of grace.
We can't look ahead too far, or fear will overcome us. We can't worry about the adoption because it is beyond our control. And while we are do everything we can to keep Amanda healthy and get her a kidney transplant, we just can't spend too much time worrying about it. God has it taken care of.
At 17 life seemed a lot more simpler and I had a lot more hair. But at 37 I know Jesus a little bit more and it makes it a whole lot sweeter. And by God's grace when Amanda and I are 57 we will still be learning about Jesus together...
I think I might go listen to the radio for a while...
Get comfortable being uncomfortable.
I remember when I was a teenager I would sit in the back of my truck and look up at the big clear sky on a summer night. My friend Jon and I would listen to music and ponder life and the future that was ahead of us. It sounds a little cliche-ish I know, but in small town America it really did happen. So many questions before us, so many unknowns out there.
I feel like that again.
The problem is that I am 37 and I have a wife and two boys. I am not 17 anymore but those same questions are before me again. I have no idea what the next few months are going to hold. Everything we have prepared for is up in the air, and we have a son we love very much who can't be with us right now. So many unknowns.
However, as cliche-ish as this might sound it also holds very true: We try to take it one day at a time.
Lamentations 3:22-23 says: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
The fact is that God gives us grace for today, not tomorrow. He give us our daily bread not weekly bread. His mercies are new every morning. A new day, and new fresh amount of grace.
We can't look ahead too far, or fear will overcome us. We can't worry about the adoption because it is beyond our control. And while we are do everything we can to keep Amanda healthy and get her a kidney transplant, we just can't spend too much time worrying about it. God has it taken care of.
At 17 life seemed a lot more simpler and I had a lot more hair. But at 37 I know Jesus a little bit more and it makes it a whole lot sweeter. And by God's grace when Amanda and I are 57 we will still be learning about Jesus together...
I think I might go listen to the radio for a while...
20 May 2015
11 May 2015
Website Information...
Here is a link for more information regarding kidney transplant and being a donor. We have yet to hear from the kidney center, so this is just what I have found on their website. https://www.dukemedicine.org/…/transplant…/kidney-transplant
Their main website is www.dukemedicine.org
Information...
Several people have asked what they need to do to be tested to see if they are a match with Amanda. We won't know anything regarding the process until we meet with the kidney center at Duke. Right now we are awaiting a confirmation letter from Duke which we will hopefully receive in the next couple of weeks. As soon as we know something I will certainly pass it along. Thanks for praying!
07 May 2015
His Mercies Are New...
Every morning. I have had to remind myself that His mercies are new every morning. Try not to think ahead. Try not to get overwhelmed. His grace will take care of tomorrow and then the next day we will do it all again.
As 2014 wrapped up I had a very uneasy feeling for most of November and December. I just had a feeling that 2015 would be a challenging year. Well...it has been.
Amanda was air evaced to Kenya on January 2 and on February 8 we returned to North Carolina to visit with her doctors and find out the treatment she needed. The cause of her going to the hospital on January 1st was Pneumonia, but dating back to last May, when she was sick, her doctors have been focused on her kidneys.
The last few weeks we have been going to her doctors and taking labs every couple of weeks. Unfortunately her kidney function has not been getting better, and after a biopsy last week, it was determined that Amanda will need a kidney transplant.
The news was not what we wanted to hear, as her kidney function is around 12% right now. We meet with a nurse yesterday to discuss the process of getting on a transplant waiting list as well as the possibility of Amanda needing dialysis. We are waiting to hear back from the kidney center at Duke University at this time. There is a high possibility she will need dialysis, although we are praying she won't. It is all a bit overwhelming.
The best scenario is that we find someone who would be willing to donate a kidney to Amanda. Because a donor can be living, it would allow Amanda to not have to wait on the waiting list that could take a number of years before she could get one.
It has been hard not being in Ethiopia. Our home is there, our ministry is there. Ermias is there and our loyal dogs Max & Molly are there. We have pictures on our wall and many precious memories have been made inside that compound. We have made it a home for 5 years we can't be there right now. The adoption is not done, and our work permits need to be renewed by July 1st.
Life is hard. Trust God.
There are so many people going through struggles far greater than ours, we are grateful for God's continued protection and encouragement.
Please continue to pray for Amanda, for wisdom and for the coming days ahead. I will be hopefully going back to Ethiopia in June to renew our work permits and residencies.
Our love and gratefulness,
Craig & Amanda
As 2014 wrapped up I had a very uneasy feeling for most of November and December. I just had a feeling that 2015 would be a challenging year. Well...it has been.
Amanda was air evaced to Kenya on January 2 and on February 8 we returned to North Carolina to visit with her doctors and find out the treatment she needed. The cause of her going to the hospital on January 1st was Pneumonia, but dating back to last May, when she was sick, her doctors have been focused on her kidneys.
The last few weeks we have been going to her doctors and taking labs every couple of weeks. Unfortunately her kidney function has not been getting better, and after a biopsy last week, it was determined that Amanda will need a kidney transplant.
The news was not what we wanted to hear, as her kidney function is around 12% right now. We meet with a nurse yesterday to discuss the process of getting on a transplant waiting list as well as the possibility of Amanda needing dialysis. We are waiting to hear back from the kidney center at Duke University at this time. There is a high possibility she will need dialysis, although we are praying she won't. It is all a bit overwhelming.
The best scenario is that we find someone who would be willing to donate a kidney to Amanda. Because a donor can be living, it would allow Amanda to not have to wait on the waiting list that could take a number of years before she could get one.
It has been hard not being in Ethiopia. Our home is there, our ministry is there. Ermias is there and our loyal dogs Max & Molly are there. We have pictures on our wall and many precious memories have been made inside that compound. We have made it a home for 5 years we can't be there right now. The adoption is not done, and our work permits need to be renewed by July 1st.
Life is hard. Trust God.
There are so many people going through struggles far greater than ours, we are grateful for God's continued protection and encouragement.
Please continue to pray for Amanda, for wisdom and for the coming days ahead. I will be hopefully going back to Ethiopia in June to renew our work permits and residencies.
Our love and gratefulness,
Craig & Amanda
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