BNSC Spring Fling

No rest for the weary! Back in business at the pool today. We kicked off summer season at the BNSC Spring Fling Classic. The Gators did fantastic! Kiersten swam in the 10 and under for the first time. Leah took top honors for 10 year olds in her last 10 year old meet...so did her buddy, Alex! And if you’re ever in need of a babysitter, Coach Ed will do in a pinch. It was my first meet as an official, Mitch was out of town, so Ed had Hattie set up camp next to him on deck. All it took was a bowl of goldfish to keep her happy...and a lot of talking! 

Besties reunited

Of course we had to find time to catch up with the Dukes while we were in Tucson! Ra’Kel graciously hosted us on Easter Sunday for a swim play date. Hattie and Khegan picked up right where they left off. Such sweet friends!!! They even got to have a sleepover. Hattie was thrilled and being with Khegan was WAY more fun than visiting a college campus. When I picked her up and she had to say goodbye there were tears...hers and mine. Good friends are hard to come by and we can’t wait to see them again this summer.

Beardown

When your aunt is kind of a big deal of course you get to check out all things Arizona Athletics! Leah and Kiersten were so excited to go visit the University of Arizona for a private tour. We started at McKale center. They got to see where basketball, gymnastics and more happen. We checked out the athletes training center which was totally cool and then we headed over to the pool. It was a given that we needed to take a peek at the swimming and diving facility. The girls were impressed!

Then we took a little walk over to the football training facility...WOW! We got to try out the Arizona Experience and saw recruiting videos on some major cool screens. We definitely got chills watching recaps of Aunt Laura’s National Championship win. We headed to the bookstore to wrap up the afternoon and got some Arizona swim caps.

When your aunt is

Arizona Easter

It seems like it’s been ages since we were all together...when really it was just Christmas. I’m so glad that we were able to be in Arizona for Easter. These cousins are just the sweetest. It was so special to see them spending time together. Natalie and Jo were so excited and couldn’t wait to have their cousins stay the night. They couldn’t wait for them to try out their new bunk beds.

We certainly enjoyed Easter services and time at the pool. Already looking forward to more time together this summer.

Pay it Forward

Sometimes God has a way of slapping you upside the head with his messages. A few weeks ago I was messaging with a friend and I told her that I’ve been angry with God. I’m upset that Jackson is sick. I believed that because my family has been loyal and dedicated servants, this is unfair. Yesterday’s sermon, Pastor Thielen was speaking directly to me! He talked about how sometimes we think that just by pleasing God we are doing enough, that being stewards of faith will help us feel the reward of being children of God. When actually the journey is about trusting in God. In my despair, while I know and believe that God has a plan for good and not to bring us harm, I’m letting it take away from my trust. That has to change now.

They always have a children’s message at Ascension Lutheran. He called the kids forward and said that every child could pick an egg, and each one had a tootsie roll, but only ONE had a 5 dollar bill. He opened and egg, and somehow Pastor got the lucky egg. He asked a boy to chose an Egg, and sure enough, he got $5 too! It was a reminder that Jesus paid it forward, he gave this gift for ALL of us. Pastor then asked the kids to do good with their $5. Right away Leah said we need to use our money for Jackson.

Yesterday was hard. Being here with my sister is always amazing, but I felt torn because I also want to be in Indianapolis with my brother. But having these girls here...taking in this lesson, thinking about and praying for Jackson makes it better. And I’m trusting in God that we’ll be celebrating holidays together again soon. #schultzfamilyescapades #jacksonsjourney #payitforward

Holding on to HIS Promise

So here we are. Three weeks ago our world was turned upside down with Jackson’s diagnosis. And somehow this is turning into our new “normal”. Only we don’t want this. How do you accept this new “normal”. Truthfully, you put one foot in front of the other, and you just keep going. Because really...what other choice do you have, but to be strong?

I’ve made it back over to Indy several times. I’ve been with them on good days, and I’ve been with them on not so good days. The struggles lie in knowing that there are many more bad days to come. I’m having to remind myself that bad things happen. Bad things happen Every.Single.Day...they’re just harder to accept when they happen to you or your loved ones. But God never sends us into these battles alone. And even though at times we feel alone, he is with us every step of the way. He sends us little reminders, you just have to be willing to see them. He sends us reminders in the shape of support and love and prayers from family, friends and even people you don’t know at all. And it is then that you realize what a gift you have. The gift of others lifting you up. The gift of knowing you are not alone.

Tomorrow is Easter. Mitch the girls and I are in Arizona. Getting on that plane was a tough call. I didn’t want to do it. But Gigi reminded me that I have a sister here who needs me too. I have nieces and Jackson has an aunt that need to feel connected right now. So we’re here. My anxiety is off the chart. Matt and Cynthia were supposed to be coming out here in a few days as well. I feel guilt. Guilt that I can be here with my healthy kids, while they can not... they will be spending their first holiday in a hospital room. And guilt that I’m not even there to support them and love them through it.

Tonight we had a lovely Easter celebration with the Robisons. We’ve known them and loved them so long that they are family. We know they’re lifting us up in prayer. Tomorrow I will go to church with my family. We will praise Him. We will keep the faith, we will continue to believe that he will heal his faithful Jackson. We will pray that he comforts us and heals our hearts throughout this journey, and we will thank him for the gift of his forgiveness and unending love.

And while we’re here we will enjoy every moment with the family that we love dearly and don’t see nearly often enough. These girls are forging a special bond. They laugh and giggle and giggle  and laugh some more. It does my heart good and I remember to give thanks for the abundant blessings in my life. Happy Easter. May you enjoy faith and fellowship with all your loved ones on this holy day.

Gators Banquet

A fantastic night at the YDSC swim banquet. Shout out to Coach Erin and Coach K for all their hard work to make it happen. I couldn’t have asked for a better group of kids (and parents) for us to spend so much time with. And the coaches!!! How fortunate are we to have coaches that genuinely love our kids and push them to be better swimmer and people! 

Hattie got a certificate for finishing her 1st season as a YDSC Gator. The other two both received two year certificates...it’s only the teams second year in existence! Leah and Kiersten both USA IM readiness awards. And Leah was honored as most valuable in the 10 and under along with Eva and Alex!  

We also hosted a swim team sleepover this weekend. We had quite the group of girls who played Ghost in the graveyard until well past dark, enjoyed plenty of Pizza and Doritos, ice cream treats from Dairy Queen and a whole pan of brownies! It’s awesome when teammates become great friends. Love being a part of YDSC Gators! 

Faith over fear

Phillipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Friday evening was heartbreaking, I was immediately filled with fear as I began to process the news. I desperately wanted to get to the hospital to be with my family. How could this be happening???

Saturday morning when I woke, again I was filled with uncertainty. I laid in bed and shared my heart in prayer. Leah came in, upset because she had heard me upset the night before. After we talked I opened Facebook. There in my memories was peace. On March 30th, 2014 Jackson was baptized, he was a Child of God, a promise that God would never forsake him and care for him always. It was a light shining from the clouds in that moment...an eternal promise.

Yesterday, my aunt Sandy sent me a prayer and asked us to add it to our prayer book and we ask you to pray:

Dear Heavenly Father,
As we unite in prayer and common bond in belief in you, we ask you for mercy to heal Jackson completely. Knowing your love for Jackson is greater than our own, please use your healing hand to strengthen and comfort our entire family. Give peace to the family to draw them all closer to you. We completely trust you to put Jackson in the care of doctors who can best promote him to good health. We thank you for listening to our prayer, in Jesus name. Amen.

Sweet Jackson

Prayer warriors we need you now. My sweet little nephew, Jackson, was diagnosed with leukemia. We know that He hears our prayers so I’m asking your to lift us up. Matt, Cynthia and Jackson have a long road ahead of them. I love my little buddy, and I’m trusting that all will be well and he will be healed. He’s in the best place possible right now.

On Sunday Mitch and I went to Indianapolis to be with Cynthia while Matt went home to be with Macy and Colby. I can tell you with 100% certainty that a pediatric oncology floor in a hospital is what nightmares are made of. We hugged and we cried but mostly he talked about next steps and how to move forward. We aren’t ready for this to be our new reality, but like it or not, these are the cards we have been dealt.

On Monday I returned to Indianapolis. We waited patiently for the bone marrow biopsy results, and once again we were heartbroken to receive the diagnosis of AML, Acute Myeloid Leukemia. AML is the more aggressive leukemia with a much more difficult treatment plan. Again, we held one another, we cried and we prayed. We opened Matt’s prayer book to see verse Joshua 1:9 in my grandmothers writing. Before I left I held their hands and prayed over Jackson for comfort and complete healing.

Even when we don’t like the answers we recognize that we prayed for answers and now we have them. We wanted an explanation for Jackson’s pain and we have that. Please Lord, take this pain from his little broken body. Make him whole again.