Thursday, January 12, 2012

A Note to Our First Born-Happy 30th Matt




Happy 30th Birthday Son <3
 The following is a note that I wrote for our son, Matthew James Wilson for his 30th birthday celebration on January 13, 2012.  It is hard to imagine in may aspects that he is no longer a child.  He has been a source of strength, pride, and having him as our son has only made us become better individuals.  We are grateful for the relationship that we have with our children.  We look forward many more times of celebration in the years to come! GIG



Dear Son,

Today is a great milestone in your life, your 30th birthday! What a blessing you have been even before you were born. May you realize what a special person you are and how having you in our lives and being your parents is one of the greatest gifts we could have ever received! You are blessed with a close relationship with your family and you are blessed with some very close and connected friends. There are many more special moments ahead for you. Today’s celebration is the continuation of special times that God has in store for you.

This has been a momentous year for us and without any doubts we know that God has great plans for you and your life. May you continue to pursue your God-given goals and stretch your relationship and faith in Him. May your conviction and faith keep you strong as you pursue your interests and goals. Also, know that we are here for you whatever life may bring and we know that God has great plans for you as you hope in your future ideas and plans.

It is a privilege and a blessing to not only be your parents, but to be your friend.

Happy 30th Birthday Matt!

We LOVE You,

MOM & DAD
1/13/12
"It is one thing to show your child the way, and a harder thing to then stand out of it. " ~Robert Brault


Monday, January 2, 2012

January 2, 2012

Happy New Year!  The freshness of a "new beginning" is always a time of renewal of not only setting new goals, but also a time of re-dedication to what is a priority on personal levels in so many individuals lives.

This new year beginning for me personally is a time of getting back to "my normal".  We have had several months of results, early detection discovery, compatibilities, self-less gift of a kidney, surgeries, healing, continuing recoveries with prayer-answered results.  Through all of these months, I have been the care-giver.  I'm so blessed to be able to do just that and could not have imagined anyone else serving in that capacity.  BUT, it is a bit of an adjustment as the new year begins:  Jim is almost 4 months post-op his kidney transplant and continues to do very well in his progress (he begins his new position and full-time schedule this week) and our son, Matt is doing remarkably well being only almost 2-months post-op pancreatic cancer surgery (he will be returning to work as well this week)!

My resolution for 2012 is to be less intense with the "little incidences" that happen in life and continue to rely on His plan for me and those I love (as He has shown me ten-fold these especially these past several months). I have been forced in a sense, to wait on the Lord, and after all these months, I see how He always provides the needs that we have, even when I don't see it immediately, thus the waiting enters in again! My first change for the new year, is to work on getting back to a normal schedule that still surrounds my family, but not with the intensity of the past year has been.  I also want to be a better, which to me means, less of me and more of Jesus being seen in me!  I want to stretch my creative-side more this year and keep life in balance when wearing the several hats I love and continually wear!  I have realized the older I become that when I take care of myself, I am much more able to serve in more areas, which is something I have a passion to do--serving others through many avenues as well as I'm able to better myself when I take time for ME in the process of personal growth.

2011 was a year of so much good and our family knows that things could have had such a different outcome, but it is good to move on to another new year!  Our whole family has grown in our spiritual walk this past year and look forward to using this growth in our daily tasks in the months to come. 2012 has many opportunities for the Wilson Family and I look forward to all that God has in store for us.  May you obtain your resolutions with the help of your source.  I know that I will work towards my goals because my Source is the center of my existence-Jesus is Lord! 

~Tina

 "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. ~Phil 3:12-14



Saturday, December 3, 2011

Jim and Tina's 2011 End-of-the-year Newsletter


May peace be your gift at Christmas and your Blessing all year through!
 As we look back over the year in preparation for writing this letter, 2011 has been a rather typical year for the Wilson family with events such as birthdays and anniversary (31st) celebrations, our annual February vacation in Florida, cheering and jeering the Phillies and Eagles. However, this year has been very unusual for reasons which will be elaborated upon below.


In April, Tina called Jim while he was on a business trip in San Antonio, Texas that Stephanie Moglia has been identified as a potential kidney donor. (For more information, go to http://www.dccmf.org/r_newsletters.html and see the Fall, 2011 newsletter). At that time, little did we know that the transplant would later in the year, become nearly an all-consuming event.


The summer months brought some mixed news as we celebrated regarding Lindsay gaining employment following several months of searching. At the same time, Megan had a disconcerting medical event which damped things a bit. We also enjoyed trips to Longwood and Winterthur Gardens as well as a marvelous fireworks and music display event with close friends. We all served as staff members at the week of Sr. High 1 session at Camp Manatawny. In August our family spent a week together at a resort in Southern Delaware and had a fantastic time!


Late August, Matt was taken to the emergency room for what turned out to be a kidney stone and he needed to follow up on what appeared to be a shadow on his pancreas. It was later learned that Matt had a malignant tumor in his pancreas which is extremely rare for someone his age. In November he had the tumor removed and we are rejoicing that his prognosis is very good, he is cancer-free and that he will only need to have follow-up exams yearly for the next 5 years as his ongoing treatment. As he has said a number of times, "thank God for the Kidney stone!”


In September, two significant events occurred. Jim was promoted to the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at Wilmington University and he had a very successful kidney transplant! Interesting timing one might say!


A milestone was reached in October when our grandson, Jackson turned one year old! This brought some much needed joy for all!


Now it is December and as we write this letter, both Matt and Jim are doing well. Jim is working half days and Matt is recovering at our home. Tina has been very busy serving as nurse, social worker and main care giver for the last 4 months and looks forward to giving up such intense roles in the coming New Year!


While we look forward to a less stressful 2012, the events of this year remind us that we are so blessed and thankful! Our family, friends, neighbors, brothers and sisters in Christ, and coworkers who have showered us with much love and support, as well as loving individuals such as Stephanie, Bobby and their families who provided care and encouragement for them as she gave such a wonderful gift to our family through her donation of her kidney. Our list could go on!


May you and your family find much happiness and joy during this holiday season and the coming year!


The Wilsons ~ Jim and Tina

Thursday, December 1, 2011

It's coming soon

Very soon, I will be posting our annual "end-of-the-year" newsletter on this blog!  I'm sure you all can hardly wait! 

~Tina

Thursday, October 27, 2011

I'm still blogging!

It's been since August that I last posted on this particular blog.  Life has been full and every changing, but we are thankful for the God we serve, who is never changing and always there for us!  I have been doing blogging on another blog.  Please stop by and see what is going on in The Wilson household right now.  We are enjoying the daily blessings that are provided and are thankful for the results that our "life events" continue to take.  Stop by and see what's going on!  I plan to keep this blog going in time, so don't give up on me yet, just need a few months on my other blog.  Check back on this one from time to time...I may drop a few lines of my personal babble as well.  GISG

~Tina

http://thejourneyofouramazinggift.blogspot.com/