Category: Family

Family

The Big Five-Oh!

meghanewhite

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Here’s where it all began for me. My first professional photo shoot.  A photographer was going door to door, and my mom agreed to have my two-month old photos taken. The photographer positioned my chubby little arms in different poses. I was a very calm baby so I cooperated. The pictures are some of the few baby pictures I’ve got. I am the fourth of five children, and we were lucky to have any pictures from childhood at all. When I was young parents did not chronicle every single moment of a child’s life. You got the highlights and that was good enough. 

I am fifty years old as of Thursday, November 24th, 2022. My birthday just happened to land on Thanksgiving this year. I celebrated by having a delicious turkey dinner with all the fantastic sides. It was a low key day, and I loved it. I am a pretty low key kind of a person. I don’t enjoy a lot of attention, so a chill day with my family is a dream day. 

Back to turning half a century old. I suppose I should feel bad, or sad about aging, but I don’t. I feel good. Actually, I feel great. I still feel like myself, but better. Not better because I am so wonderful. I am comfortable in my skin, even if it’s a bit more wrinkly. I am just grateful for this life God has given me. My pastor used to say, “That breath you just took, you can thank God for that.” 

My life is in God’s hands. He has already decided when my life will end. He has not given me the knowledge of an exact date. I am to trust Him, and know that He has a plan for me. So I do my best to trust Him, but I’m not always good at it. I am a planner and not knowing the future has tested my faith time and time again. The Lord knows this about me, and graciously walks me through my challenges, fears, and doubts. He is faithful, even when I am not.

I’m still breathing as of this writing, and God is not done with me yet. It could be tomorrow when He calls me home, maybe another ten years. Or maybe in fifty years! Which seems so strange. On that day, will I hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant,”? That’s my prayer, but I fall short often. Thank God for His amazing grace. 

For some, turning fifty means it’s all downhill from here. The best years are over. I disagree. I’m just getting started. I’m ready for what’s next. I know who holds my future. I know who will carry me through every trial. I know who will never ever leave me. His name is Jesus. He is my Lord and Savior. Thank you Jesus for saving my life, and giving me hope. Thank you for my birthday. Thank you for today, and each day you have blessed me with. I don’t want to waste what You have given to me. Life is a beautiful gift. 

Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. For you are just a vapor that appears for a little while, and then vanishes away. James 4:14, NASB 

From one vapor to another, have a great day.

Love you all,

Meghan 

Family, Parenting

Happy Father’s Day

meghanewhite

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Tiny newborn Dylan wrapped his little baby hand tightly around his dad’s finger. Only days old and the love of a father for his child was immediate. Not a lot changed over the years except the chubby baby hand grew, and so did the love.

Dylan would follow Tom everywhere, and wanted to do anything his dad was doing. If Tom was in the garage and using tools, Dylan wanted to use tools too. Tom would hand Dylan pliers or wrenches and let him play along. When Tom mowed the lawn, Dylan mowed right next to him with his toy lawn mower.

At two-years old Dylan loved wooden trains, especially Thomas the Tank Engine. There was always wooden track set up on his bedroom floor. Dylan would wait patiently all day for his dad to get home from work to play with him. Tom would create elaborate train track arrangements. Dylan would say, “every piece of track”. So Tom would oblige and use every single piece of track.

When Joshua came along our life was different. Tom was back in school, but the deep abiding love for his second born was the same. As a newborn Joshua was colicky, so Tom held him all night until he fell asleep. I’d find baby Joshua snug between his father’s legs. Like a little nest. I’m not sure how Tom had the energy to do that since he was working full time and in school full time, but he did.

Tom takes fatherhood seriously and loves our boys deeply. Tom has always made everything fun for them. Even picking out candy was a fun adventure. Every summer there were father son camping trips filled with junk food and campfires. He has enjoyed taking our boys on adventures and showing them how to explore, and learn, and just be themselves.

Our boys aren’t little anymore but the foundation of love has been built upon over the years with layer upon layer of precious memories. Some difficult memories too. All the good and bad have come together, being used by God in a beautiful plan to shape our sons. Tom helped lay that foundation as their dad.

Thank you Tom for:

Loving our boys.

Loving me.

Loving Jesus.

Sacrificing for us.

Working jobs you hated to provide for our family.

Fixing all the broken things in our house.

Repairing all the cars.

Holding croupy babies in steamy bathrooms.

Taking the boys everywhere and showing them all the cool things.

Showing the boys what it means to be a Godly man.

Discipling our boys and teaching them the difference between right and wrong.

Thank you for the joy, fun, and perspective you give the boys.

We love you Tom! You’re the best dad.

The father of a righteous son will rejoice greatly, and one who fathers a wise son will delight in him.  Proverbs 23:24,HCSB

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads. God bless you abundantly!

Love you all,

Meghan

Family, Trials

There’s Always Hope

meghanewhite

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The first morning glory of the season greeted me bright and early today in the garden. It’s fun to grow a new variety like these gorgeous pinkish purple ones. Tom gave me these seeds among others at Christmas. I love watching seeds sprout, grow, and eventually flower. It’s very rewarding.

A new flower gives me hope. My garden is no longer a brown desolate wasteland. Now it’s full of new life. Vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruit are thriving. I didn’t have much hope of planting anything just a few months ago. I didn’t think I would have a garden this year with Tom’s hospitalization and health issues.

God brings hope and blessings in the midst of trials.

Since you all have graciously followed along on our journey of my car accident, and Tom’s hospitalization, and a lot of unknowns, I wanted to give you a little update. Tom had his hernia surgeries yesterday. I sat in the surgery prep area with Tom as nurses came and went asking questions, taking his vitals, and getting him ready.

The anesthesiologist came in, looked over Tom’s blood draw results, and was very concerned with his kidney function. He let us know that Tom is high risk, and rattled off a bunch of potential really horrific things that can happen going under anesthetic and having surgery. My heart sank. Fear whispered in my ear, “something bad is going to happen to Tom“.

Tom was not worried and reassured me that he will be alright. I told fear to take a hike, like forever. The Holy Spirit said to me, “I’ve got Tom. Do not fear“. It was another faith test. I could not see the end result and I was told awful scary things. But God said, “Keep trusting Me“.

The surgeon stepped in the room and went over the anesthesiologist’s serious concerns and asked Tom what he wanted to do. Tom told him that he felt good, and healthy, and that he was ready. The surgery was a success and went better than the surgeon expected. That’s a big praise.

Tom came home last night. There are all sorts of tubes and pumps in his three large incisions. He’s in a lot of pain, no surprise there. He’s been very nauseous and thrown up several times. Sorry if that’s too much info. Gotta keep it real. You have to go through the hard ugly stuff to get to the good.

Today is a new day with new hope just waiting. New opportunities for God’s grace and mercy are here. I’m praying Tom will have less pain today on his path to healing. I’m still praying for his kidneys to completely recover.

The Lord can breathe new life into anything. What appears to be a lost cause can be fertile ground for new life, for hope.

We stand on The Rock. We trust God to completely heal Tom. Through the ups and downs God is faithful. Thank you so much for your prayers!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Family

Brotherly Love

meghanewhite

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“We’re best bros!”

Joshua’s words were a loving reminder to his big brother Dylan that no matter what, they had each other’s backs. This was something Joshua would say often, when they were still little. When I could still protect them from so much.

These two precious boys, now young men, are my heartbeat. If they hurt, I hurt. If they succeed, I rejoice with them. The love they have for each other is no accident.

Dylan was six when Joshua was born. It was a little rough for Dylan at first, having to share Mom and Dad after a good long stretch of being the prince. Now there were two princes. His jealousy didn’t last long once he felt the responsibility of being the oldest. Dylan rose to the occasion.

Joshua looks up to his protective loving big bro. They have had their fights over the years but the anger never lasts. Now that Dylan is an adult, and Joshua is a teenager they don’t fight. They may get on each other’s nerves from time to time, but they don’t have huge arguments. It’s the grace of God.

How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! Psalm 133:1, NIV

I have always prayed for my boys and I always will. Several years ago I began praying Psalm 133 over my children. I wanted them to have a good strong relationship that would last their entire lives. My boys don’t know I pray that exact verse over them. It’s one of my many little mom secrets.

I don’t brag about my kids very often. I probably should a lot more. I am sharing this special love they have for each other to brag about God and His goodness and faithfulness. The bond my boys share is a gift from the Father. I count it as one of my many blessings.

My pastor used to say, “There are only two things you take with you to heaven, your relationships and your character.”

His wise words come to mind so often. When my boys spend time together, and look out for one another, it’s like having a tiny piece of heaven to enjoy right here on Earth.

Thank you Father for these two incredible young men.

Thank you Father for the love they have for Jesus.

Thank you Father for the love they have for one another.

How good and pleasant it is
    when brothers live together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head,
    running down on the beard,
running down on Aaron’s beard,
    down on the collar of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon
    were falling on Mount Zion.
For there the Lord bestows his blessing,
    even life forevermore.

Psalm 133, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Family, Prayer

I’ve Got a Praise Report!

meghanewhite

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My husband is home! Tom walked out of the hospital Tuesday night. Praise God!

If you don’t know what I’m talking about, read my previous post.

As I was praying for Tom during his hospital stay one of my prayers was that he would walk out of the hospital, and God answered my prayer. God has answered so many of our prayers. Tom left with the catheter still in, and is not fully recovered yet, but we believe Tom will fully recover.

So many of you have been praying for Tom and we are so grateful. We cannot thank you enough. God is listening and answering according to His perfect will in His perfect time.

Last week I had some really rough days and rough nights. I fell sound asleep one night out of exhaustion and woke up in the middle of the night completely overwhelmed and fearful. The next morning I woke up heavy hearted. Jesus encouraged me.

I sat on the couch getting ready to do what I always do each morning, read my Bible, pray and spend time with Jesus. I couldn’t start. I was discouraged. The Voice of the Martyrs magazine was sitting in front of me so I grabbed it. I flipped open the front page and read the following quote from the founder of this incredible ministry.

“In the year 1948, on a Sunday while I went to church I was kidnapped by the Communists. I knew that even in the van of the secret police I am in the hands of the Almighty God, and this gave quiet to my heart.” -Richard Wurmbrand

Richard was imprisoned and tortured for fourteen years for preaching the Gospel which went against the policy of state atheism under the communist regime in Romania. This man survived what is unimaginable to me and trusted God completely. I can trust God completely too.

It was like an arrow shot right through my heart. Tom and I were in the hands of Almighty God. No matter the outcome, no matter the path, no matter what doctors say. God has the final say.

There are still many unknowns with Tom’s health. The doctors still do not have an answer for the anemia or for the kidney failure. We have weeks and weeks of doctors appointments, and labs. But we trust God. Our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for Tom. He has carried us through this storm and He will carry us all the way out.

Thank you so very much for praying for Tom. We welcome any continued prayers for total healing. May God bless you for blessing us. Praise God for His faithfulness and goodness!

Ask, Seek, Knock

7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone?10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Matthew 7:7-12, NIV

Love you all,

Meghan

Please send me your prayer requests anytime meghanewhiteauthor@gmail.com