First Christmas

This Christmas brings our family much joy, but it also brings us great sadness. It is Rhyas first christmas and so far she is enjoying the attention! She is sooooooo blessed to have such wonderful grandparents and aunts!!! No uncles yet but... maybe soon!!!!! The wrapping paper is her favorite part!!! She wasnt able to open her presents by herself but she did make it known if she like crinkling and crunching of the wrapping paper!!!!

It is also the first Christmas without alans father, Marlin. Marlin was an inspiration to everyone he encountered and his faith was SOLID. In the two years that I have been a part of the family, never once did I hear Marlin complain about his condition. Marlin had a rough 20 years... starting with a heart attack, he was then diagnosed as a diabetic, two open heart surgery's, a pacemaker placed, a blood infection where the doctors had to remove the pacemaker and replace it. In 2007 marlin started retaining fluid and he was then taken to the hospital. Marlin ended up with a blister on his heel from the hospital bed sheets and got mrsa Marlins heel never healed and in January of 2009 marlin was faced with the difficult desison of amputating his foot. His foot was amputated in mid January. Ruth then discovered that Marlin had gangrene (gang green) on his other foot. He then had to have his big toe amputated but he didnt make it that far. On the evening before his passing marlin was very upset... when we were leaving his room he shouted to us "I'M DONE" immediately that brought tears to our eyes... but then he says, calm and collected "I'll be ok..."

Wow... We are taking our Christmas one step at a time but with every step we remember those who are gone and rejoice in the life that God has graciously given us.