Bethany pulled out our little blow up pool this week and set it up on the patio. Yes, it’s the middle of March and our kids are swimming on our patio. This week’s weather in SoCal has been in the upper 80’s and beautiful. Definitely not the best weather to get us ready for Czech Republic, but such is life!
It’s been a rough week. Our entire family has been sick with the flu (yes, the one you hear about on TV) and we even spent time in the ER with our daughter Avery because we weren’t sure if she was throwing up blood. By God’s grace, we don’t think that was the case, and she is doing fine….but it was still scary. As I’m writing I can hear our two-year old son coughing in our kids’ room and Bethany has been feeling nauseous tonight. Like I said, it’s been a rough week.
I sat down tonight to write some thank-yous to friends who are graciously supporting us in our ministry to Czech Republic. As I wrote my first one tears began to fill my eyes. I guess I was a little overwhelmed with God’s amazing grace and the sacrifice of our friends and family who are joining us in this ministry. Writing these little notes always reveals how God’s plan has come together in one way or another. One of these notes was to a family who were crucial in helping shape my thinking about missions. Another family are close friends of ours who we will miss greatly when God moves us. A few were to individuals who I have served in ministry with the past few years. These people are all people that God has used in our lives to shape us, help us, mold us, and encourage us. Isn’t that amazing?
We serve a big God. His ways are not my ways. He can see the entirety of my life in a single moment. He knows every person we will meet, every person will we do ministry with, and he knew that maybe one day He would use those people to send my family to another culture to tell people about His Son Jesus. He knew how important each relationship would be in shaping Bethany and I and how crucial these people would be in encouraging our hearts when we’re weak. He knew this week that I would need that kind of reminder and encouragement and for that I’m very thankful. It’s just what I needed.
Our family has been severely under the weather this past week. We just spent the last 4 days at home together and really have done nothing but try to take care of each other. I (Shay) came down with this crazy sickness first and proceeded to pass it along to every other member. Though I’m working on my 6th consecutive day of feeling sick, I do believe I might be heading for recovery here. However, I can’t remember a time in any recent history of feeling as sick as I have this week–it’s been awful.
It’s very hard to keep your focus on Christ when you are having a 103 temperature. I’m thankful to Bethany for reminding me more than once that God had ordained in this for us and that He always desires our best. And I’m thankful that the Lord allowed this to happen during a time when we didn’t have any major commitments to keep as we were all literally stuck in bed.
If you think of us, pray for a speedy recovery for all of us. It’s hard to be sick, but it’s harder when you’re trying to take care of your family too so we could use a little break from the coughing and sneezing!
This year we were home for Christmas. That may sound normal to you, but we’re usually flying some place and spending it with our extended family so being home is a nice change of pace.
As our little family grows it’s fun to start and/or continue traditions. One tradition Bethany grew up with was eating breakfast on the floor in the living room, beneath the tree. We have continued this the past 2 years and it’s a fun way to start Christmas day. This year we enjoyed sausage, bacon, eggs, and freshly baked cinnamon rolls! After that we broke open the stockings and started tearing into the wrapping paper. Since we have family out of state we open presents “together” over video chat which definitely saves money on airfare, but doesn’t replace actually being together in the same room. We still had fun giving and receiving gifts and our families are always very generous.
Bethany got some new everyday dishes, a few books, and some clothes. I got books, books, and more books. They are basically all I ask for so I’m stoked (more on this in another post). Titus got a bunch of toys but all he really cares about is the remote control car Nana got him. Honestly, it’s a pretty cool car so I totally understand his never-ending desire to run that thing all around the house. And finally, Avery got a real metal shopping cart (mini size), a few dolls, and of course some clothes–girls always get clothes.
We have been greatly blessed this year and it’s a great joy to celebrate the birth of Jesus. More than ever before I feel like I’ve been thinking about Christ’s death more than his birth. Christ knew his purpose and from birth he was destined for the cross. Praise God for his sovereign plan in saving us and for Christ’s humility in coming as a baby and paying for our sins on the cross!
Here’s a few photos of our Christmas day:
Not enough Thomason Christmas for you? Click here for more photos.
One of the perks of working for a company owned by a billionaire is being invited to his mansion in Malibu to play in the snow. Yes, you read that last sentence correctly.
Today we spent the day at John Paul Dejoria’s house, owner of Paul Mitchell hair care (the company I work for). It was our second time attending this crazy event, but last year we had a brand new baby (she was just 3 weeks old) and the experience just wasn’t as much fun as this year. I’m hard pressed to try and describe all of what this party is, so here’s a few photos with some descriptions below each to try and help make sense of it all.
Titus standing on the snow as we walk up JPs driveway.
At the top of the driveway we were greeted by huge snowflake balloons. Did I mention they were huge?
Founder and owner of Paul Mitchell and Patron, John Paul Dejoria (aka: “JP”) shaking hands with friends and employees. We got to take a picture with him shortly after this photo.
In-N-Out truck! #1, no onions with extra spread.
Titus waiting for his In-N-Out cheeseburger.
Avery being cute in her stroller as we wait for our In-N-Out burgers.
The family is happy as we finish our lunch and head into the party!
This is JP…as a sculpture/fountain. Did I mention he is a billionaire?
This is the snow hill. The Pacific Ocean is in the background just behind the huge blow up Santa. If you look to the left you’ll see the “real” Santa sitting on his “thrown of lies!”
A sign pointing the way to the kid’s play area.
On the way to kid’s play area is a huge dessert table thing. It was ridiculous.
Another dessert table thing. Pretty sure the cotton candy on the tree was real. And the people off to the right are waiting in line for their custom screen printed t-shirts.
Looking down on JP’s tennis courts which held the kid’s play area.
Titus enjoy some bubbles in the kids’ play area.
The bubble guy trying to show Titus how to make a really big bubble.
Titus looking through a huge bubble.
They had a race track and Titus picked the yellow car.
Here comes Titus’ yellow car down the stretch.
Titus playing lego basketball. I didn’t know such things existed.
Titus playing at the lego table. Vroom!
Avery puts her hand on a giant rocking horse.
Titus playing with the bubbles again.
A huge bubble floats by as Avery goes in for the pop.
Pop!
Me: “Titus stand in front of the reindeer and say ‘cheese'” Titus: “cheese.”
And last but not least, the celebrities. Among them, the man with the rubber legs: Dick Van Dyke. We saw him coming up the driveway as we were leaving so I went back for a paparazzi shot. To his left is Suzanne Somers in the furry hat. A few others were Ben Folds and Jesse James. You know us Thomasons, always hanging with the celebs!
It was just seven years ago today that Bethany walked down the aisle to a tall and teary-eyed me. It was Yakima, Washington in December and it was the perfect day. A little snow on the ground, but sunny. It was cold outside, but everything was warm inside. I was a scared twenty-one year old with really no money in my pocket, but that was the last of my worries because here came my bride arm-in-arm with her daddy. Pastor Scott joked as Bethany and her dad stopped at the front of the aisle when he said, “There’s just a lot of emotion up here right now!” We all laughed, but it was true.
I remember someone telling me, “Now Shay, you have to tell yourself in your head what you’re doing during the ceremony so you’ll remember it.” I took their advice and it helped. I told myself, “Here she comes” and “We’re saying our vows” and “I’m putting on the ring.” But that all stopped when I grabbed my guitar. I had prepared to sing a song to Bethany but all I can remember was the feeling that my legs were going to give out any second. Playing guitar and singing in front of people wasn’t the issue–I had done that before. My main problem was that I was singing to Bethany and I was out of my league… way out. With wobbly legs, a shaky voice, and the help of one of my groomsman who played the piano I somehow made it through the song and I couldn’t help but think back on that today.
The lyrics to the chorus say simply “…she’s all that I see and she’s all that I need, And I’m out of my league once again.” That was true seven years ago and it’s probably more true today: she’s out of my league. Bethany is a selfless, Christ-honoring wife that any guy would kill to have. It doesn’t take people we meet very long to begin to wonder why the heck she’s with me. Trust me, I don’t know either! We’re not even in the same league. If this was baseball she would be a first round pick on the Dodgers and I would down playing co-ed slow pitch soft-ball in the church league. But despite my deficiencies, my failures, and my silliness she continues to love me. I’m so thankful the Lord blessed me with an amazing wife. As Pastor Scott still tells me today, “Shay, you definitely over married!” He’s right. I did.
I love you, babe. I’m praying for another 7 years.
Thanks to my roommate from college who invited us and the graciousness of his in-laws who watched our kids, Bethany and I had the unexpected blessing of attending the Shane & Shane Christmas Tour with Phil Wickham concert right here in our own town. We’ve been blessed by the music of Shane & Shane and Phil Wickham for a long time and seeing them live was a double blessing. The concert was Christ-centered and worshipful as we sang Christmas hymns and worship songs as loud as we could. I was brought to tears a few times during the show mainly because the music was beautiful and it was refreshing to have a focused time of singing with a thousand other people.
One of the blessings of being a Christian is that we sing. We sing in our homes, in our churches, and when we gather together. We are commanded to sing (Ephesians 5:19) and we do this as an expression of worship of our great and merciful God. God has given us the gift of music to a blessing to our souls and that’s exactly what it was for us last night. The final words we sang last night were perfect. To the melody of “O Come Let Us Adore Him” our hearts and voices sang loud:
We’ll give You all the glory
We’ll give You all the glory
We’ll give You all the glory
Christ the Lord
For the past two weeks we have been putting together our support letters and sending them out to friends and family. Since it’s impossible to do with the kids awake, our process always starts a little after 8pm and we do as many as we can before our hands can’t fold anymore. Though it might seem boring to some, we actually find it a great time to talk and dream about ministry and life in Czech Republic. Who ever thought that sending out support letters could strengthen a marriage?!
Here’s Bethany getting that perfect fold
A few folded letters before they get put in an envelope.
Every year for the past 4 years we have put together a video of our family decorating our Christmas tree. It’s been a fun little tradition that we’ve enjoyed doing together. This year’s video is up and you can watch it below. For past years, you view them here: 2009, 2010, and 2011.
Christmas Tree 2012 from Shay on Vimeo.
We’re full, and no, I don’t mean from all the turkey. We’re just full from life.
We spent the Thanksgiving holiday with Bethany’s family this year in Washington. It was a great time away and it’s really fun to see our kids get to know their grandparents more and more. Most of our time was spent just being together at home, and it was nice to have a change of pace (like getting to bed early!).
It’s impossible anymore to not think about the fact that us leaving for Czech Republic means (at least partially) that our time with family will be much different in the future. These are the kinds of things I think about when I consider “counting the cost” of being a disciple of Jesus Christ. Leaving family will definitely be hard, but we hope and pray that the time we do have together is as much a blessing as it was this past week.
A few photos (more can be seen here):
We also gave Avery a little mini 1st birthday party a few days early.
