Happy Birthday, Pops

Well, another uneventful day. Dad is relatively the same as yesterday, except that now's he 56 years old, not 55. No tracheomoty today, but he is scheduled for sometime tomorrow. Let's pray it really happens...and early in the day!!

Since there's not much to report, I've got to share this amazing story. The day before dad's accident, mom was working on getting the Christmas card put together. She said as she went to bed that night, she felt a stirring to pray with dad the next morning about our Christmas letter. By divine design, she was up very early the next morning as dad was getting ready for work. Usually dad just says a prayer with her while she snores in bed (imagine that). But that morning she was awake and she stopped dad as he hurried out the door. She said, "Bohr, I think we just need to pray right now that God is glorified through our Christmas card." She said they prayed quickly, just a few lines asking God to shine through our family this Christmas. It was less than 2 hours later that mom received the phone call that would change our lives forever.

Well, talk about answered prayer. This past week we have often thought of that prayer that was prayed last Friday morning. It's amazing to watch how God works. Our hope is that God is being glorified through all that has happened, because we know how powerless we really are. It's because of God that we are here and that dad is still here with us. It's only because of His grace that we are still standing. It's only because of His word that we have any joy at all. May God always be glorified through our family, through this blog, and through our dad.

So here is the original Christmas letter as it was supposed to be sent. Since every person on our Christmas card list is most likely reading this (and thank God for that...) I thought I would save my mom the time and energy of actually sending it...she has other things to think about.

Bohrman's Year of Change - 2006

Life Change, Name Change, Address Change...

Our baby, Patrick John Jr. (P.J.) and Kersta Noel Johnson were married on October 15th in Tucson, Arizona. What a joy to have our whole gang together and what a special blessing we have in our new daughter-in-law! She is as sweet as she is beautiful! The new Mr. and Mrs. Patrick J. Bohrman call Denver, Colorado home.

Heart Change, Life Change, Never Changing...

Daughter Amy and son-in-law Chris continue their ministry with teenagers through Young Life in Palatine, Illinois. Their very busy life as leaders, helping kids turn their hearts to Christ, and their never-changing faith is a blessing to us all. They are the stablizing factor in our family-keeping us focused on what really matters. Throughout all of our little family "dramas", they are the glue that helps hold us all together...thank you God, for Chris and Amy.

Small Change, Spare Change, Diaper Change...

Oldest son Mike (we now call him "captain") and daughter-in-law Becky keep the numbers of our family "ever-changing"...baby number three is due in February and will join Cole Patrick (4) and Paige Hastings (2). Our little ring-bearer and flower girl strutted their stuff in Tucson...and managed to stay clean!

Change of Location, Lane Change, Address change, Change of Pace, Change of Life...

After almost six years, we sold our old sailboat in Hawaii and bought a little place...in the desert! Yep, we're land lubbers...with 900 square feet of living space and a two and a half car garage...the garage is actually larger than the condo! It's in East Mesa, Arizona, where I've made three road trips transporting furnishings from here to there. We've decided to "lighten our load"...sell our house here in Oconomowoc...and move a couple of blocks away...into Mike and Becky's house! No kidding-we'll be like the Waltons! A new addition to their home provides "Bapa" and "Tutu" with their own space and plenty of room for all to enjoy. We're all looking forward to being a three generation household! And, at this point, I'll bet you're all looking forward to next year's Christmas letter!

We hope that during this holiday season, you'll experience God's never-changing and never-ending love for you...in an ever-changing world.

God bless you all,
Pat and Jean

It turns out our own little world did some serious changing this past week. We have had a change of perspective, a change of priority, a change of plans. And we have experienced God's never-changing and never-ending love in ways we couldn't have imagined. God prepared us for this in so many ways...and when I think of mom and dad's prayer that Friday morning, it only makes me more absolutely certain that God is in control.

I probably won't post again until after the tracheotomy tomorrow. I can't promise when that will be, but keep praying that it all goes well. We'll be in touch....look for some new pictures tomorrow!