About 14 years ago, my husband and I were married with big dreams and plans.  We had a vision for the future which included my husband making very good money as an Airline Pilot.  We would have a beautifully decorated house and, of course, our 2.5 children…  The American Dream, right? My husband was very focused on work, I was very focused on preparing for a family we would have one day.  Both going about our days and jobs with those goals in mind.  We were happy, but our hearts did not beat for the same things.  We loved God and knew that He loved us.  But things were mostly good, so we thought could handle life ourselves.  Funny how that can happen…sometimes you need to hit rock bottom before you can really soar.

So fast forward to about 5 years ago…the great paying job at the airline, had not happened.  The airline industry (and many others)  have not been the same since September 11, 2001.  My husband had worked for several airlines and was just beginning a job with a corporate company (private jets).  We had just moved back to Illinois, where all of our family lives, and we were planning to buy a house.

That was October of 2007…then a week before Christmas, we found out that the company my husband was just starting with was shutting down and I… was pregnant!  Those were two big pieces of information!  And not a good combination…insurance is a good thing to have when you are having a baby!  Thankfully, we had not invested in a house at this point, not sure how we would have paid for one.

My husband was able to find another job, but there were some questionable things going on there that he didn’t want to be a part of, so in April 2008 he quit that job and was going back to the airlines…but, literally on his way home from quitting that questionable job,  he was in a major car accident.  His back was broken and the car, which we had purchased just FIVE days earlier, was totaled.

  Complete halt on our life…or so it seemed.  Dreams were over, depression set in, especially for my husband.  He had two major surgeries done on his back, but there was A LOT of nerve damage.  The terrible burning pain of damaged nerves, still five years later, is normal life for him.

No big airline job, no big house, but we did get the 2.5 children (plus a half!).  When God has other plans…He WILL make them happen!  No matter what it takes to get your attention.  It has been a very difficult 5 years with many doctor visits and procedures.  He can’t work, he can’t play with his children.

Not at all the life WE planned.  But I can only imagine where we would be if these events had not occurred…. Our relationship with our God would be much more shallow, our marriage would be much less fulfilling.  Our hearts, truly, beat as one now.  TOGETHER we walk with the Lord, TOGETHER we raise our three boys.  TOGETHER we live this life of adventure.

I have no idea what is next for us, but I know it’s bigger than anything I ever imagined!

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”    James 1:2-4