Thursday, January 20, 2011

Friends and Family-- and a huge debt of gratitude

      This past month has been a bit crazy here at the Haley household.  I won't go into too much detail, but with the holidays (remember, a month ago was only 12/20), driver's licenses, returning missionaries, school activities, work, etc, we have constantly been on our toes.  And this last week has literally been an emotional roller coaster for us.  Expectations have been blown away in exchange for reality, and life has once again reared its ugly head and threatened to throw everything into havoc.  Not that all of the good stuff is still not good, but it is tempered with the knowledge that other stuff out there is not so rosy.
     Those of you that know me are probably saying "So?  What's new?  Your life is always tipped a little towards the insane anyway.  Why is now so different?" 
     Well, let me tell you.  The highs in this case are some major life events.  Steven getting his license.  Heather turned 16.  Zach got home.  Christine did awesome in school.  My TV debut approaches.  But the lows are just as fantastic in the negative.  Christine's dad is deteriorating quicker than we thought.  He spent a few days in the hospital, and was released just to find out that there is not much anyone can do for him anymore.  Heather's first relationship is driving her insane (along with the rest of us).  None of us are really sleeping good.
     So needless to say, things are a bit hard to tame.
     But we have cause for HUGE celebration.  We all of a sudden discovered that we have been blessed.  And we don't know how it happened, but we thank God for putting us exactly where He knew we would need to be.  You see, he gave us friends and family that are AWESOME.  We didn't even realize how much we mattered.  We knew that they mattered to us VERY much, but we have been relatively late comers, so we didn't figure on being counted for much yet.
    Now we are awestruck at the outpouring of love and caring we are feeling.  There is just no better way to say it.  From seeing his needs and getting her dad on the prayer chain, to taking care of the details of stuff so that we don't have to worry about them, to just being there.  Christine and I are SOOO grateful for everything that you guys have shown us.  Even those friends who are overseas, who didn't have any idea how important it was when they  recommended music that is literally giving me strength right now.
     I guess what I am trying to say is just a universal thank you.  To God, for using our choices to place us in a community of believers that took us in as family and have been just awesome; to our friends, for doing even small things that mean so much to us-- you have no idea the gratitude we have for you; to our family, for coming together to rally around Christine's dad (and each other). 
     We love you all.  We only hope that we can have the opportunity to show you how much (although hopefully in a positive way) :-).

2 comments:

Phyllis said...

Hi Eric I am Robert McElrath's mom. I have been following Evan and Zach and Eric's mission to Scotland. I have been reading your "ramblings". I am sure that you are a good friend to your friends and to the body of Christ in your community. Praise the Lord for the body of Christ who helps us and keeps us sane in the midst of "life". Congratulations on your 2nd place win. I had my VCR ready to record and apparently it died, so I did not get to watch but I was rooting for you all the way from PA. Have a great day.

Anonymous said...

"To God be the Glory, great things he hath done! So loved he the world that he gave us His son!"

That is what brings us together! What gives us our hope! What comforts our tears! Without Him, we would be miserable!

"Praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, let the people rejoice!"

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