In honor of my Dad

Today is my dad's 67th birthday!  Happy birthday, Dad!

A year ago today, my dad was hospitalized and later diagnosed with multiple myeloma, stage 3 bone marrow cancer.  After surgery, months of chemo and radiation and a stem cell transplant my dad is completely cancer free!  He is regaining his strength, his hair and his sense of humor.  Now that the grocery store has sold, he's even getting a chance to relax and watch the Cowboys play.

We learned a lot this year about cancer, about family strength, about frustration, guilt, pain.  But more than any of that, we learned about the faithfulness of our heavenly Father.  God used this time in our life to mature our faith and grow our trust in Him.  He proved Himself worthy of all the praise and honor we give Him, even though no proof was necessary.  So, I want to honor my heavenly Dad today, too, for his great love in healing my dad on this earth and seeing to it that one day, he will heal my dad for all eternity.  Thanks to my dad for not giving up the fight and thanks to our Dad for winning the battle.

The Gamut of Emotions

To say that the last few months have been an emotionally, spiritually, and physically exhausting roller coaster...well that's where the word gamut comes in.  Gamut describes a spectrum or range of whatever.  Let me attempt to show you this gamut of ups, downs, free falls, and soarings as experienced by The Overbys Overseas these last few months.

May/June - whirlwind of insanity trying to finish well the first year at ICSV.  From sadness at the departing of friends for the States, happiness for the Seniors of 2011, to frustrations about Austrian Law changes and flight bookings, as well as excitement to see how God was going to come through just like He always does.

Summer - Stateside.  'Nuff said.  Fundraising trips, families wanting as much time as possible, and friends longing to maintain relationships...it was a hard, exhausting time, but was sweet to see all of those faces in person.  Saying we were blessed would be a gross understatement.

August/September - excitement again as God brings in 240 students to ICSV!!  Stress because we have less staff and more kids! Joy at the birth of a friends new child, pride as a Daddy gets to watch his son's first Soccer game ever, and love mixed with sadness for the friends who have made this their last year here.


And now...just wonder and amazement at an awesome, loving God who can do all this and more with a small portion of His Children!  His grace is sufficient, His Love unending, and His plan perfect.  So thankful that He knows the gamut of my life and has it under complete control even when it looks like chaos to me!