Ryan had an excellent time at the Lacrosse game this evening. What a warm reception he received from EVERYONE! We got there early enough to watch a good portion of Jacob’s JV game. Unfortunately they lost, but Jake had a good time as always. A lot of Ryan’s friends from his school, other schools and church came just to see him and show their support. Prior to the varsity game, many of his teammates came over to take a team picture with him. He also got to go out onto the field to be recognized for Senior night along with the rest of the Seniors, and he received a tremendous ovation from everyone in the stands. He waved to the crowd…with a little assistance from his father. Each of the Seniors was given a framed picture of an action shot of them during a game. If I can figure out how to do so, I’ll post it sometime.

Needless to say, the outing was a tremendous experience for Ryan…and us as well. Our community at large (including everyone reading this) has been so supportive of our family. With much love and gratitude we say THANK YOU for all you mean to us, as well as all you’ve done; which includes bringing us meals, putting together fun raising events (don’t forget the car wash tomorrow at Orinda Motors in downtown Orinda), praying, donating time, gifts and services, driving us around, going to the store for us, cleaning, gardening…and pretty much doing everything under the sun that any family needs in order to survive and live a “normal” life. If you can think of it, it’s been done for us. You all have gone way above and beyond all we could ever imagine, and we are forever in your debt for your generosity. We are so blessed to be part of an amazing village. It does take a village, and this village (you all) has stepped up in a huge way; and although we will make a gallant effort to pay y’all back in one form or another in time, we can share something now that is dear to us, and worth more than any material thing we could ever come up with…

1 Peter 1:3-9   Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.  Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

May God rejuvenate your souls while you sleep…