The streak, as planned, is over. Well, let’s say paused. Yes, paused. Jennings went into clinic here in Charlotte for his visit on the 5th. It went as expected with little medical focus, other than some bloodwork for a CBC and a vital sign check. Jennings nailed his poke as has been the norm for over a year now. It’s crazy to think there used to be so much anxiety around that for everyone involved…Jennings, us, and even the nurses trying to hit a tiny vein on a child that seemed to be on a rollercoaster.

The CBC came back beautifully with all results in the normal range. I think the only reported downsides were that Puggles the dog was not there that day and he had to eventually leave the new video game area to go to school. Next month we hope to resume the medical-update-less posts until his (4th!!) annual visit to St. Jude in April.

Here is one Jennings at each of his visits to a Novant Hemby facility since Thanksgiving. The bottom is him at his first visit to the new clinic as a patient. The top left is J as one of the helper elves for the toy drive drop-off. Lauren and Kristen Montgomery have led this for the 7th straight year and it is such a blessing to the kids who spend time inpatient at Hemby. The top right is Jennings loading up the Claire’s Army meals for delivery to the inpatient cancer families on the Hemby floor. This was our first time volunteering in that capacity and we hope to make it more of a regular thing.

That’s a few from Thanksgiving weekend, post turkey day. ☝️We took the kids to see Wicked, which they were all super excited about. So much so that Charlotte put on her Christmas list “wicked stuff.” 😂 Even the boys did well making it through the almost 3-hour movie. I think the fact that we had all worked together to build the wizard’s Emerald City out of Lego (pictured bottom right) helped. That’s brother-man top right with his brand new tool set that he won at the Camp Care holiday party. We bought each of the kids a bunch of raffle tickets as the toys are donated and all the money goes to Camp Care. Henry put all of his tickets in for the tool set. He gamed the system, though, by leaving them all together in one big sheet. Of course, that’s what got pulled out…the fact that a 6-year old did it let it stand ha. Last one, bottom left, is us, having decorated for Christmas before Thanksgiving for the first time ever, putting our feet up a little earlier than normal for our annual screening of Christmas Vacation by the fire.

Well, we have navigated through another season of markers and milestones for our family. Other than some slightly peaked anxieties and cold feet around the 12/5 visit, it was mostly marked by remembering and quietly celebrating. Praise God for that kindness.

Last year was full of joy at this time, almost as if we were discovering Advent and the Christmas season for the first time. This year has been different; not worse necessarily, just different. Maybe this is just a convenient excuse, but the lateness of Thanksgiving has intensified the December calendar. It’s been full, all of it good stuff but just busy. We made a conscious decision heading into it to be present in the moments. Be there, find the joy, and avoid the anxiety around getting to or being ready for the next thing. So far, I’d give us a B on that. Room for improvement, but we’re doing alright. Plus, I’m an easy grader.

We both carry different things through this month. Lauren is the primary planner and executor of the kids’ “happiness” for the season. That means coordinating the events we say yes to with the traditions we try to fit in, picking out gifts and stocking stuffers, making the cookies and chex mix, and planning a birthday party for 2 out of the 4. I am the helper of all that, occasional tag-in idea guy or part-time executor, and I am also employed full-time like the rest of the year. The end of year for businesses is usually a lot of wrapping up one year and planning for the next. I’m in a leadership position and there’s been some intensity around that this year.

All of this is normal stuff, but I have felt especially grateful for the lived experience God has gifted us with. We carry our perspective from that, especially through this time of year. It is a feeling of groundedness and rootedness and I am grateful for it. We are each uniquely wired by God and placed intentionally in the geography, time in history, families, and roles to use our gifts. I have been becoming more aware of that and have felt it in particular this month.

A few from December…mostly Christmas themed - minus top right. Can’t believe how big and strong and mature looking our sweet Caroline has become. The big one is Jennings impersonating the Bumble on our annual stroll through McAdenville. The 1960s version of that movie played on repeat in his hospital room that first December in 2017. The middle is the rest of the gang at another one of our favorite McAdenville houses. Bottom is them trying to stay warm at Carowinds Winterfest - big thanks to A Kid Again for another great event.

I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and can rejoice in the hope of things promised. We’ve got a couple of 7-year-olds to celebrate first!

“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.” Isaiah 9:2-3

#allinforjennings