Love to All

Hello again, all "Jaque" clan. Hope this finds you all doing well. And I hope that your Christmas list is quickly getting checked twice! This reaches you as Jaque finishes her first semester of college. Her grades are not in, but looking like she did pretty good. This, considering I have no idea what she actually did her senior year of high school. lol

Most of you have heard that Sassy tried to break in the cube and come and find us over Thanksgiving holiday. When Blayne came to feed her, he found her laying in the car....most likely pondering if she should use the hand controls, or chance it with the gas and brake. I guess you could say she loves Jaque very much. So, we are getting the love scraps repaired.

I tried to remember that God is key in our lives and material possessions are really not that important. Between the angry spells, I know that a car is just a car....and the love and fear that Sassy felt while jaque was gone would be difficult to put into words. We had a laugh, and Chris did not kill her....so it is better now.

It has been a tough month as we have lost our friend Eugene. He was loved by our family. He is definitely one of the few people that you could count on to do what they said they would when they said they would do it. I know that you really do not get second chances to tell people what you think of them. He use to tell me how much he admired Jaque and that he would gladly give her all he could, all....so she could have life a little easier. Said she was honestly the toughest most awesome person he knew.

Jaque gets more beautiful each morning. She is learning life lessons the hard way, and striving to improve her decision making. What more can you ask from an 18 year old girl? She is learning that she needs to take her own good advice, and I love that when she talks to me....God is always in our conversations.

Someone asked me if I was getting impatient with God. I told them that everyone has something in their life they need. Jaque's is physical and more noticeable that others....but everyone has something that they pray for from God. I also told them that God's will is a very powerful thing. In his timing, all things are possible. In his hands are grace, love, and hope. Too many times we try to take things in our hands. In doing this, we take things out of his will, still within reach, but out of will. It takes a strong Christian faith to leave it in his hands.

Have you heard the song by LeeAnn Womack, "There is a God". And then it asks How much proof do you need? Anyone in our lives knows that he is alive and well. If you need a reminder, I will send you a picture of Jaque. He saved her. Brought her back from the dark, into the light, and from the light, sent her back to the earth to fulfil her destiny. What is that, well..she and God are the only ones in on that one.

While she was sleeping in Little Rock, I remember crying in the shower. I would speak to God, and say I trust you, I know that you have a plan, but just a little hint would do? Little did I know that he was sending me hints in each of you that came to visit. Each person shared a story of how Jaque affected their life, and he was showing that he had placed the foundation of her as a witness, I just was not paying attention to his signs.

Life is too short to not hold those dear to us and tell them how much they mean to us. Each visit we have must be cherished and enjoyed, for we never know if it will be the last. Time is not meant to be waisted on what is usually our selfishness.

The last time Jaque spoke to Eugene she had just got the Cube. They talked about how she was going to drive it down to show him. He said that he would take her out and buy her a "fillet" and take her out on the town of OKC. It was a wonderful talk...not all can be written here.lol But at his funeral, many of his friends and family walked up to her and said "You are Jaque." "Eugene told us so much about you. We are so glad to meet you." He believed in God. No doubt to me and Jaque where he is today. I thank her a little for revitalizing his belief...and thank him for witnessing to his family through our little Jaque.

I hope that you all have a wonderful Christmas. Jaque is indeed a nose taller than me now. I am hoping to take some pics for Christmas and get posted. Remember, Christmas is a time to remember that Jesus came into our lives. That he is indeed the Reason for Our Season. And if we keep him at Number One...Our family and friends will indeed be blessed.

For I will restore health unto Jaque and heal her of her wounds. JER 30:17 Have a safe holiday...and get a plan together to spend new years with friends!

Wonderful Reason for the Season!

What a great Thanksgiving we had. Our family is so wonderful. Jaque, Jaron, Lindi, and Toby had a wonderful time hunting. It was kind of funny, because as soon as Jaque got her deer this year, Chris seem to loose interest. He still went to the woods, but watching the deer took priority over getting a deer in gun season.

What changes our "love" for something? Do outside forces mold our view of what is important in life, or as we age do we simply pattern what we love by those we love?

I thought that Chris and I were both going to pop waiting on Jaque to get home from GA. She and Eddie had a great time. You would all be proud to know that Eddie was the perfect "flier." It was their first trip together, but alone. I had no doubts that Jaque and Eddie would both excel as usual. I love the fact that their personalities are so alike. Fearless, and confident.

Want you all to share in God's glory and mystery with our family. Jaque went to see Gary, the leg brace builder at Snell's in Little Rock on Tuesday. SHE HAS GROWN ALMOST THREE INCHES SINCE FIRST BEING SIZED. We have heard since her accident, "you should be about done growing." And a new chair, now re-sizing of braces, and a whole bunch of high-water jeans later.........still growing. God's just simply not finished with her yet. You would all also be proud to know that Jaque, Eddie, and I went shopping, and had room left in the "cube."

She is finishing up her first semester of school. I hate to admit it, but I really do not care what grades she makes this semester. I know some of you are shaking your heads at me. But think about it. Jaque has been up rolling around, going hunting, going fishing, riding 4-wheelers, shooting guns, mudding, going to GA, and taking college classes.

Good Lord. Yes, he is a good Lord our God. She is doing it. As we drove into little rock, I had a pit in my stomach of the night we drove in of her accident. Not knowing if she was waiting on me and Chris. Not knowing much of anything other than "Uncle Matt" had lied and stated he was a relative to keep up with the info. Him being a former EMT, could understand the talk and kept peeking at the board. I almost got emotional when I thought about all that changed for Jaque that night. I am almost that way now. Then I think.......wow, look at her GO! What an amazing young woman. Day in and day out, she makes me smile, she makes me laugh, and she makes me love her more than I thought imaginable.

God gave his son for us. He did not give a few abilities that his son had, he gave HIS son for us.

I heard Jaque telling a friend "Why did you not ask me to go bowling?" Her friend said something, (they were just talking, not arguing or anything like that) Then she said, "yes I can bowl, if I want to do it, I can do it. I can do anything that I put my mind to. No...I am not sure I would like it, but I would try it and see."

I read about a coach for Bethany OK, John Griffis. He passed away in Nov. He was working on his roof, and fell. Something that he did on the side in the summer for money. Something he was used to doing. He left behind a wonderful family. I have been reading their blog at teamgriffis.blogspot.com Please pray for his family.

Life is too short to waste time on the little things that hurt us, depress us, stress us....It is a precious gift that is giving and should not be taken for granted. This Christmas, try hard to remember that he gave us the "Gift."

I cannot express enough to all of you how wonderful Jaque is doing. She is young, and still growing, inside and out. God has touched her in a way that we can "Only imagine" and I know that she is put here to share with us all.

One last thing, she was talking to me the other night about her daddy. She was saying that she almost felt sad for people that did not have one like him. He is unselfish with his love and with his time. As we were talking about him, I never remember a time in her ENTIRE life that she needed him, and he was not there. Even with work and games....he would tell her, "Are you going to be ok with me not there" and in the few times she said, I really need you daddy...she came first. Numero Uno! None of us are without fault. But Jaque really has wonderful role models in the MAN department. Whoever does get lucky enought to catch her wheels -- will have big shoes to fill. And no doubt that God will have Chris ready to step up whenever she needs him.

You never get a moment back that passes. You may get an opportunity to correct mistakes, if you get lucky. But moments are never given on credit. Take time to cherish your kids. I love you all and hope that if you ever need anyone to talk to, give ol' Jaque a call. She will always surprise you with her youthful wisdom. Sweet Jesus, AMEN.