As we prepare for Christmas this Advent, we are thankfully slowing down slightly with the end of the semester coming soon and many big events coming to a close.
We have just closed on our first house here in Houston!
We are grateful for this gift this Christmas and for this opportunity to serve Christ with a new larger space:) As I was reflecting on this move I have found it very similar to our last two moves, once in DC and finally the move down here. Our first move in DC, I was 5 months pregnant and Matt was undergoing chemotherapy, neither one of us in a state to move down 3 flights of stairs and back up 3 flights into our new apartment. In our last move down to Texas, John-Matthew was 8 months old and we were chasing him every which way (little did we know that would only increase 100% :)) and Matt's side pains had increased dramatically, again not an ideal situation. But in our weaknesses the body of Christ was strengthened by the many many helpers that walked those flights of stairs for us and supported us both on the DC side and down here as we moved in. So I am once again in awe and thanksgiving as we prepare to move again and I am 4 months pregnant, John-Matthew is running:) and Matt is not able to lift as much as he would like without irritating his side (from his initial surgeries)- and in asking for help we were blessed to have so many responses of yes either through babysitting, moving heavy boxes, or helping to organize. In our physical weakness, we have again been uplifted by His body.
As we prepare our new house, as I mentioned, we will be preparing for a new little one to join us and bring much joy to our family and a play buddy for John-Matthew. He/she is due May 28th! We are so excited and blessed by this joyous gift from the Lord.
We are enjoying our job as co-youth ministers at St. Clare's parish in Houston and have been so welcomed by the community and the teens. There are so many programs going on at this parish (what a blessing for these teens!) that it has taken almost the full semester to get a grasp on them, but it has been such a fulfilling job and we learn something new every day. Matt has thoroughly enjoyed being one of the leaders of the weekly bible study for the teens. We have both enjoyed the challenges that have arisen and worked together to solve, and working for the Church has been a wonderful blessing to our family.
Matt is doing very well regarding his health, though there are some concerns regarding the tumors in his brain and the functioning of his liver. We are currently looking into the doctors down here at MD Anderson and have a few contacts from our first visit here with his initial diagnosis. He is still proceeding with the natural treatment and diet and has gradually increased in his variety of foods. It was a special treat at thanksgiving to have an avocado, tomato, and lemon salad prepared just for him by my family:). His energy level is great, though recently we have both been a little worn out with all the events taking place. Nevertheless, each day the Lord really refreshes us to serve again. We do continue to ask for prayers of healing if it is the Lord's will and if it will bring us closer to Him.
I am doing well, this pregnancy seems to be easier than the last- or maybe since I am chasing John-Matthew around I don't think about it as much. There have been no cravings and not as much nausea this time around so I am grateful for this. We will have our big ultrasound on January 5th and we look forward to telling you if we're having a boy or a girl.
These past five months in Texas have been a great witness of the love of family. We have seen both our families very often and it has been neat for John-Matthew to be around his grandparents more. We definitely miss our friends in DC and of course the family we left behind there, but have seen the blessings of following God's call here.
May the Christ child bring you great happiness and joy this Christmas,
Matt, Lucy, John-Matthew and Baby Coles
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