Five months and a day later....Jonny turns 21 and it's Easter....

Our lives and our memories like the flow of the calendar and time go on....even though the reality of Barbara's life and her presence are gone...
Today was difficult in the mix of another milestone in firsts without Mama Bear and the celebrations of life and family.  Jonny, (our oldest w/ Down Syndrome) turned 21 today as we also rejoiced in the reality of what Our Savior, Jesus Christ achieved on the Cross for us 2000 years ago. In Deuteronomy, we are are reminded to, "Remember the days of old." The lens through which I now see is multifaceted, much like a prism....seeing not just our personal history...but also our eternal one that transcends and shows us God's history of how He has dealt  with us and provided us the gift of salvation.
Jonny came into our lives 21 years ago broken...He spent much of his first year and a half in the ICU almost dying a number of times. Through that time, God allowed Barbara and me the privilege to be broken in a different way as well. Through Jonny's suffering and the other children and families we encountered during that time we were changed forever....broken....yet made whole....

 On our way home this evening from our family celebration of the day's events at Samantha's, Jonny wanted to stop by Barbara's grave side to "talk to his Mommy."  He told her how much he missed her....that he turned 21.....that he was sorry for the times when he didn't obey or work hard enough (he has a very tender heart to conviction)...that Baby River, (his newest niece) was beautiful.... that he was sad she was in heaven and we weren't married anymore...but he was happy that she was with Jesus and God for Easter. We cried together there overlooking the Shenandoah River that flows continuously below Barbara's burial spot....reminding me once again of the flow of our lives in light of eternity...

              "I have set before you life....now choose life"  Deuteronomy 30:19








In His grip,

Papa Tripp