THE BLOG

Friends and Family,

It seems like forever since I last sat in front of the computer to post a note on our blog.  Many thoughts have filled my head, but time....and sometimes my heart would not allow me to sit and share.

As many of you know Team Whitaker recently relocated to Texas.  From January til now it has been quite a whirlwind, but things are finally beginning to settle down and after living apart for 5 months we are now all together again.

Since John had already relocated for his job, I did most of the packing(but for those of you that know me even though I may have complained about it....this is how I really prefered it).  I was grateful for John's parents and my girlfriends who came to my rescue many times.  I had packed most rooms and left Mitch's room to do last.  I guess because I knew it would be the hardest, but I also knew that for many of the items that went in the box they wouldn't be coming out.  John's mom and dad came to help one day, sweet Martha grab a box and said we just need to do this.  We both cried the whole time.

As we have been unpacking, Mitch's things have been set aside...in "his room" which is now our guest room.  I have not let John take any of his things to the storage unit or put them in the attic.  Weird, I know.....I can't explain it.  Maybe it is because doing this would make it final.  I am sure the staff at "Clean Sweep" would tell me "The memories are in your heart and your head and not in these things."  But as a mother our nature is to nurture and this is my way of nurturing Mitch for now.

I was reminded of this nurturing instinct of mothers shortly after we moved in.  It seems that a mama bird had found our chimney as a safe haven to lay her eggs.  We could  hear their little chirps each morning and evening.  They would usually quiet after she would feed them, but once in a while they would cry long before she came back.  What they didn't know was that she was sitting outside of the chiminey guarding/protecting them from intruders.

And that's what we do we meet their needs and protect them the best we can.  I think in the back of my head there is a thought that maybe some how I could have protected Mitch from getting cancer....maybe I should have breast fed him longer or not exposed him to certain things.  So now I protect his things from some how getting ruined or thrown away....Yes, crazy I know.  Truth is( and I have read it over and over) there is no certain cause for childhood leukemia. There was no way of protecting him from this.

I am grateful for a God who provides His grace and His word to protect me.  I came across this scripture the other day.  Words He spoke to Rachel after the death of her children.  "Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you......There is hope for your future," says the Lord. (Jermiah 31:16-17)

As we continue our journey on a new path down south I praise the Lord for His love, guidance, protection and for His promise of hope for the future.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and if you are ever down this way our doors are always open!

Much love,

Tracy