Merry Christmas Amy from Hock

-->

The day we found out about AJ's brain cancer and the days that followed were looooong days. The day we found out I hardly slept at all. The next day was his surgery. Lani and I (and many of you) fasted all day.

It was fairly late in the day that our surgeon came out to speak with us and tell us how the surgery went. We were then able to go and see our baby in the ICU. He hardly moved and looked like he was in a lot of pain. There was not a bed next to him, but there was a chair. After seeing the room/sleeping conditions and knowing that Lani and I were exhausted, sweet Aunt Amy suggested that Lani and I go home and get some sleep and that she would stay with AJ overnight. 

I felt conflicted about leaving him, but knew how tired we were and that he would be in great hands with Amy. It was a wondering respite. Lani and I were able to see our other kids and put their minds at ease. We were also able to go and partake of the sacrament and thank our Heavenly Father for the miracles we had seen over the previous couple of days. Amy stayed with AJ in the uncomfortable room and held him much of the night. My love for Amy increased greatly through this experience.

Not long after brain surgery, AJ went down to Jacksonville, FL for Proton Radiation Therapy for 6 weeks of proton radiation treatment. Once again Amy was a super hero for our family. She volunteered to stay with AJ and Lani in Jacksonville for a few days to keep them company and help out. 

We are also grateful that Wayne also came down for a while and many others watched our kids in NC- we are grateful to all of our angels!

Last Christmas, Amy was once again a super hero for our family. 

When Houston lacerated his spleen and broke his rib, Lani and I had to spend several days with him in the hospital. Once again Amy and the Dittbrenners volunteered to help, by taking our other kids home and staying with them for several days.  

Earlier this week I had a chance to ask "What would Amy Do?" and help out Bill and Charise. On Saturday, Bill and Char rented a kiosk at the mall from 8:00am - midnight to sell LulaRoe apparel.  They planned on taking their kids have and keeping them there all day. 

As they described their day and their plans to have Cole and Savvy there, I thought, “this sounds awful”. A full day of them working with kids asking, “how much longer” or "Mom, what can I do" (it's possible that Cole and Savvy would not have acted like that, but I know my kids would have, so I assumed they would as well). 

I thought about Amy, and knew that if she were here, she would offer to take the kids, so I called Charise and asked if I could take Cole and Savvy for the day and have them sleep over so they wouldn't be exhausted the next day. I know that watching two kids for 20 hours isn't an apples-to-apples comparison, but I'm not Amy, I'm me! For me 20 hours is a long time.

We had a good time. Cole and Savvy joined us for family Christmas shopping and then came home for pizza night/movie night. The next morning I woke up and made them breakfast so they could be on time for church.

I love Amy. I'm grateful for her and for all of the times she has served my family and been an example to me of what it means to show our love for Christ through service.