Future Grace

I received a text from one of my best friends in the world today- and to me, it was the perfect encouragement for where my heart is right in this moment. I wanted to share it in case it struck a chord in any of you since I feel so strongly that each of you is so deeply invested in our family & are truly walking this path along with us.

"I'm reading a book called Doctrine Matters by Piper. In the section I am reading he talks about past grace and future grace. Past grace being the cross & the new birth in Christ. He states, 'Christ died for us and lives for us. And because his death is all-purchasing, and his life is all providing, grace will NEVER stop flowing to us. Therefore to trust in past grace means to draw from it confidence in future grace.' Carolyn, praying that as you trust in past grace you would draw confidence in future grace. Thankful that even that trust and faith is by the power and grace of God alone."

Each of your devotion to reading our humble attempts at processing life right now is proof that the Lord we serve protects us & loves us in profoundly beautiful ways. We get to trust in future grace because the truth of the gospel REIGNS. God sent his only son to die on our behalf. Jesus lived the life that we could not live in order to die the death that we deserve to die. The best part? He rose from the dead to give us new life! We get to live in freedom knowing that God the Father sees us through the perfection of His Son. There is no greater gift than the past, present & future grace of the King of all creation.

I echo Tara's beautiful prayer for me, over all of you-that you would draw confidence in the grace of God.

All our love-
C

Jewels on the Rugged Path

It’s Saturday morning and I had promised Carolyn I would update the blog this weekend, especially in order to convey our current prayers requests to you. The Wanberg family, minus Kaitlin, left for Chicago on Thursday for a memorial service for Tom’s mom, Grandma Jeanne. They’ll be returning to Denver tomorrow afternoon.

Kaitlin is spending the day with Mark. Believe it or not, they’re going on a hunting excursion in Bennett, Colorado for the day. It’s a Craig Hospital recreational outing and Kaitlin jumped at the chance to go. Of course, she will probably be the only ‘girl’ on the outing! 

She is doing well and is scheduled to leave Craig on November 14th. She went to the local mall with Megan, Carolyn and her occupational therapist last week. They had fun power shopping for an hour or two. Kaitlin is now allowed to ‘transfer’ completely by herself without calling a nurses aide to assist her. She is also learning how to drive with steering wheel controls and hopes to become certified in driving before she leaves Craig in two weeks. We’re still trying to figure out a car situation for her. Originally we thought that she could use her Honda Civic for solo driving but now her physical therapist is saying she may not be strong enough to take her wheelchair apart and hoist it into the car. Therefore, she may need a van with a side lift for solo driving. Her schedule remains extremely busy leaving her quite exhausted each night. Last week she actually learned how to get in and out of airline seats!

Kaitlin’s health continues to be pretty good. She had a minor setback earlier this week with pain in her esophagus and a scope procedure revealed ulcerations which were probably caused by all of the medications she’s on. The doctors believe her esophagus will heal if she is careful taking her meds one at a time and in an upright position. She is already feeling improvement but it will take 10 days or so to fully heal.

All of the renovations on the house are moving along and are on schedule to be completed by the end of November. We are so thankful to Frank, our head contractor, and to the crew of subcontractors who are working so diligently to make Kaitlin and John’s house a ‘home’ that will be functional and easy to live in. These men are emotionally invested in the job and we’re so grateful for their tender hearts and sincere efforts to make it the best home it can be. Frank is one of Mark’s old fraternity brothers. There will be a two week stretch of time when Kaitlin and John will either stay with Carolyn and Daniel in their new home or live in a handicapped accessible hotel room.

We continue to be eternally grateful for all of the prayers, calls, meals, letters, cards, donations, visits, errands run, and TLC you have lavished on us these past two long months. Your love has been truly astounding and an inspiration to all. You’ve been jewels along a rugged path.

When something of this magnitude happens in your life, it requires great faith. In the case of a ‘complete’ spinal cord injury, Kaitlin’s healing is totally dependent on God’s healing power.  Unlike cancer or other illnesses where a physician might present a plan of treatment, spinal cord injuries have no specific treatment besides waiting to see if movement/feeling are restored as the cord heals during the next six to nine months. The patient can work to become more independent and self sufficient, but there is no ‘cure’ for the spinal injury. If Kaitlin is to be healed it will be by the sheer, magnificent power of God. We hope to one day celebrate His provisioning and her healing by giving ALL of the glory to Him. But one thing we know for certain, even if Kaitlin never walks again, God will give her a beautiful life. She is still ‘our girl’ and her value, remarkable beauty, incredible faith, sweet disposition, and fierce independence and tenacity are not dependent upon legs. They never were! She has been one of the most precious blessings in my life….my first born child! The one who endured all of my mothering mistakes with such grace. And who has continually inspired me to be a better person. I have always been incredibly proud of her, but never perhaps to the extent that I have during the past two months. I love you, Kaitlin.

The depth of John and Kaitlin’s trust and hope in the Lord has been apparent each and every day. I have thought much about this and many people have commented to me about it, even insinuating that this was perhaps something Mark and I and Anita and Tom did ‘well’ in raising our children. I personally will take no credit for their level of faith. I believe that it happened because of a whole army of faithful, selfless servants who took the time and made the effort to teach and mentor and minister to our kids along the way. It took a Christian community of believers to prepare them for this day. I am thankful for all of those people who have been involved in the spiritual development of Kaitlin and John throughout their lives. You all know who you are. From preschool/elementary school Sunday school teachers, to pastors, junior and senior high youth group leaders, small group leaders, camp counsellors, and parent volunteers.  Each of you has invested in their lives from infancy to young adulthood to help them come to know the Lord Jesus Christ in a real and personal way. It is you who have prepared them to meet this challenge with the Lord and we are truly grateful. I hope you will walk into your classrooms with greater vision on the lives you are undoubtedly impacting each and every day. Thank you.

Train a child up in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it. Proverbs 22:6

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THIS WEEK:

• Total healing of Kaitlin’s spinal cord
• Restoration of abdominal muscles
• Healing of the ulcerations in Kaitlin’s esophagus.
• Physical, spiritual and emotional strength for all of us
• A positive and gentle transition from Craig Hospital for both Kaitlin and John
• Protection from the enemy
• Continued protection from colds and flu
• Travel safety for the Wanberg family as they return to Denver tomorrow
• Comfort for the Wanberg family as they grieve the loss of Tom’s mother, Jeanne
• Safety for construction crew members as they work on home renovations
• That the Fruit of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self control) would rain down on us all

With love and appreciation, Sue

GOD IS MOST GLORIFIED WHEN WE ARE MOST SATISFIED IN HIM. 

Linguini & Love

It began for the family around 2pm on Sunday afternoon. We got to Amerigo, put on our aprons (feeling very official), rolled up our sleeves and got to work cooking & preparing. It ended around 11pm after the last of our guests had left & we had finished cleaning the last of the dishes.

I could write a novel about how special Sunday evening was for me & our entire family, but for now will leave you with these brief, but genuine expressions of gratitude:

Thank you to those who blessed us with your presence. We cannot express the deep affection that we feel for you--you not only show up for the difficult times, but the joyful times as well. We truly are honored to live life with people like you.

Thank you to those who served alongside us on Sunday afternoon/evening. Liz, Tara, Lane, Andrea, Sean & Aunt Peggy-the way you served our family so effortlessly & joyfully brings me to tears every time I think of it. Seeing you wash dishes, clear tables, roll silverware and mop floors without hesitation and without being asked was truly beautiful. You are Christ in action to every member of our family.

Thank you to my sweet family (Daniel, Wanberg's & Rice's) who took my orders & crazy vision for this fundraiser & made it possible and incredibly fun. I am the luckiest girl in the world to get to have family like you. It will make me giggle every time I think about Daniel calling, "order up!" from behind the kitchen and Sue saying, "don't mess with my system!" as she is trying to sort out her orders. Megan & Mom-you two are good at everything you do. Dad-you make everything fun. John & Kait-so blessed that you both showed up & lit up the room. Peter & Mark-you were the hidden heroes of the evening...thank you for your willingness to serve all those around you!

Thank you for letting us serve you & for being so gracious as we figured out what we were doing & how to serve you better. To be able to bring you food, clear your plates, fill your glasses & see you enjoy your evening brought us more fulfillment than I could possibly express. We finally had a small chance to give something back to all of you who have given us so much & we are grateful.

Thank you for gifting John & Kaitlin so generously-we made nearly 3 times the money we were expecting to bring in for their long term care and we are still speechless three days later. We are AMAZED and inspired by the way you each give-lovingly & without reserve.

Thank you to Iain, owner and head chef of Amerigo Delicatus. He gave up his Sunday (a night when his restaurant is usually closed), gave all of the proceeds directly to John & Kaitlin, prepped the food on his own time and was incredibly patient & gracious as our family tried our best to make it in the restaurant business on Sunday! He has been a family friend of ours for a long, long time and we are so honored that he continues to love us & serve us so well through his resources and incredible talents. If you haven't had a chance to eat at Amerigo, please let me know what else I can do to convince you to make a reservation! I promise to you, that you will not be disappointed in the slightest. Our families favorite phrase to use when eating there is "we are in food heaven!" Those who had the pleasure of eating his famous linguini on Sunday night can vouch for this!

Please consider joining us for the next Amerigo fundraiser....date & times to be announced soon! Keep your eye on the blog and tell your friends--we have no doubt that the next evening will be just as wonderful as Sunday was!

As always, thank you for your love & devotion. We are on our knees each day praising the Lord for your friendship.

Love,
Carolyn

A Celebration of Life

My son the engineer….only John could pull off making Kait into a John Deere tractor for Maestro’s annual October Costume Party Gala last night. Tony London (DJ Maestro & his vendors) generously expanded his annual party to include a fundraiser for John & Kait’s long term needs. The idea for our costumes grew through laughter at the dinner table on Monday night to make our family into a seven-person costume called the Wanberg Farmily. From John morphing into an ear of corn, to Carolyn as a lamb, Daniel as a cow, Peter becoming a very legitimately looking chicken, to Anita in a farmer costume…to be normal would be so boring. A united front; we will enjoy life together. We will not lose the precious life we have been blessed with. We are going to be joyful, laugh and of course-look ridicules together. It’s rolling back into our life, redefining playful, sometimes only taking subtle baby steps…but each step worth the fight. Our resolve: Kait’s accident will not define us, grace and new mercies will define us. No loss of hope, but a redefinition of “be joyful always"(1 Thessalonians 5). If God has our best interest as part of His heartbeat, we are not victims. Being a victim is not Biblical. Our inner joy is unchanged. We claim a house built on rock; whatever happens we stand on solid ground, rooted in the authority and sovereignty of Christ.

The Wanberg Farmily

Have you noticed how courage and bravery is defined differently for every person? For some it’s jumping out of an airplane with a parachute, for some-bungee jumping from a great height. Others may see bravery in waking up each morning and facing their workday. I witnessed bravery and courage in a new light last night. For one young couple, it was packing gear into a car from Craig Hospital, driving to Broomfield, assembling an elaborate costume (yes, needing legitimate tools to assemble), entering a room full of loud music filled with people in crazy costumes dancing…and choosing to celebrate life. This is a party that they are familiar with, as in the past they had both attended in creative costumes sharing the season with their closest friends. This year, it looked different. The girl in a wheelchair, seemingly fragile and scared, all eyes on her, and John standing tall beside his wife, together. It seems like every week I am forced to redefine my definition of what bravery looks like.

Judging the costume contest.

The whole party was centered on her. One of the first girls to approach Kait said, “I’m so surprised to see you here.” John and Kait judged costumes, engaged in conversation, smiled and laughed…all the while exhibiting graciousness and shaky confidence; shaky, but authentic. Testing their newfound confidence with every old, but new experience. Behind her smiles Kait struggled with searing pain in her upper back, the late night hour- home by 11:30 (finally in bed at 1AM), the two transfers to a higher profile vehicle. This morning she woke up proud of pushing her limits, and thankful to have been part of the fun. Kait recently has been explaining to those who are near, “this chair is part of who I am now, it’s part of how I achieve freedom on this earth. It has to be.”

As a Dad, I’ve never been prouder of my son; I’m witnessing integrity and courage with every step. Watching them learn to function as a married couple, learning about how to resolve all the normal communication issues with a new marriage. John sees Kaitlin through the lens of Jesus & he is captivated.  -Tom

Grandma + Jesus

A Tribute 
Jeanne Wanberg
November 08, 1925- October 21, 2013

Sweet friends,

Full of humor, vibrant and active - about to turn 88 years of age, my grandma Jeanne died last night. She was a grand lady, with a sharp mind, full of wisdom, humor and grace. A few days ago my cousin Elizabeth and her baby Caleb were swimming together with Grandma, and she said, "I'm feeling great, I'm full of joy and  plan to live until I'm 100 years old".   She woke up very short of breath yesterday morning with symptoms of pneumonia.  Upon arrival at the hospital in Illinois, she was immediately admitted her to the ICU.  They felt confident that she was stable, with the pneumonia in check, when her heart stopped beating about 6 pm last night. One of our biggest praises to the Lord is that she died quickly, without any apparent pain & with complete peace.

Interestedly, our whole Denver family (with spouses Kait and Daniel) went to a restaurant last night right next to Craig Hospital. Just as we were sitting down ordering drinks, my Dad got the call that his Mom had died. Through intermixed tears of joy for her soul and pain for our loss, the first thing we did was raise our glasses to a life well lived & to the new life she received last night in heaven. We turned quickly to prayers of gratitude for the hope we have in the grace of Jesus Christ - knowing that Grandma is discovering heaven's mysteries with the one she loves the most - her Creator! My grandma loved (and loves) Jesus more than anything on this planet and she truly longed to be in His Holy presence. 

Before dinner arrived, as we were holding hands praying a tribute to Grandma, I couldn't help but overhear the joyful conversation at the table next to us. They were raising their voices and glasses in celebration of the birth of a new grandchild. It brought my mind back to that terrible night Kait was admitted to the ER, when we were told Kait wouldn't walk again. On that night, my cousin Elizabeth and her husband Greg described the irony that their son Caleb (Grandma's first great-grandchild) took his first steps that same day. I can't help but reflect in this season on the natural cycle of life and death- that we truly are not meant for this broken world. We are meant for something greater, and this morning as I woke up my first thought was, "she is home!" The Lord promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that "I have for you... plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." He is with us in every step that we take, or don't take. He is the one who gives life and the one who decides when we are ready to turn to dust. We trust in His sovereignty and in His power to use our lives for His good.

One final thought that came from an e-mail my Dad sent this morning to our family-
"While I’m going to miss her terribly, I’m happy for her today. She has been yearning to be with Jesus. My guess is she is having a conversation right now with the Lord about Kait, and advocating to allow her to walk. I pray she will be successful." 

From the day of Kait's accident, Jeanne Wanberg never wavered from her absolute certainty that Kaitlin was going to walk again. We continue to invite you to pray boldly for this to be a reality & to believe wholeheartedly that the Lord is so pleased to hear our prayers.

I've included a few pictures of the most beautiful Grandma in the world. My prayer is that each of you would share the gospel like she did-passionately & without reserve!

Thank you for your thoughts & prayers!
We love you,
Carolyn, Tom, Anita, John, Peter, Daniel & Kaitlin

Grandma and my Dad on graduation day from New Trier East High School, Illinois. 

Halloween Party Fundraiser Reminder

Hello everyone...as Carolyn noted, we SOLD OUT the Amerigo dinner last week. However, there is another chance to attend an event and visit with John & Kaitlin.

Please see below for a reminder from Tony "Maestro" London about the Halloween Fundraiser Party this Friday night.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
The Halloween Party for Kaitlin and John is coming up this Friday, October 25th at Noah's Event Center from 7 pm-12 am!

Party admission is free, with a suggested donation of $25 per person at the door. A silent auction will also take place with many fabulous gift packages. If you have any items you would like to donate to the silent auction, please send that information to KaitsHalloweenParty@gmail.com as well. All proceeds will go to support Kaitlin and John and Thrivent Financial will be matching donations!

Come enjoy food, drinks, music and fun- and all to support Kait and John! Don't forget to wear your best costume. The costume contest prize is an Ipad mini!!! More info on the party can be found here.

Finally, if you can, please RSVP by sending an email to KaitsHalloweenParty@gmail.com with the number of people in your party. We look forward to seeing you there!

- Tony "Maestro" London

Helping Hands

A post from Tom:

I received an email a few weeks ago from a friend of mine attending college in the Midwest. He relayed a story from Exodus 17 in the Old Testament.“I'm sure you know the story, but, the Israelites were fighting against some enemy and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the mountain to pray. Whenever Moses' hands dropped, the battle went in favor of the enemy, but when his hands were raised to the heavens, the battle shifted in favor of the Israelites. However as time went on, Moses couldn't hold his hands up anymore, so Aaron and Hur stood beside him and held his hands to the sky until the battle was won. I just want to encourage you to keep your hands up. When they're up and you're praying, Kaitlin's battle is shifting in her favor. But, they will get tired, you will get tired, you won't be able to pray anymore. Your hands won't fall though because I am here, as well as many others, to support your hands and hold them to the sky until Kaitlin's battle is won.”

Well, our family has gotten tired; yet we are coping relatively well in the midst of what we consider to be nothing short of a battle. What is sustaining us? Ask any of the family members and they will say without hesitation it’s because of the layers and layers of caring and faithful people supporting us, both in prayer and action when we are overwhelmed and exhausted. Consider the last three or four days. Due to amazing professionals in the construction business, all donating/discounting their time, John was able to successfully pull a permit with full architectural plans, a detailed work schedule with a very reasonable budget for electrical, plumbing, framing, drywall, and tile. We are on a very tight renovation schedule, since we are hoping to accommodate Kait when she returns home around Thanksgiving. Due to the amazing generosity of our community donating funds directly to Kait, she has the money in her checkbook to pay for the bulk of this work. Move out day was this past Friday night and Saturday for John, Carolyn and Daniel – they couldn’t stay in the house during construction due to noise and dust. Collectively, we had about a dozen volunteers that helped pack, load, and then unload the entire contents of their house. Most items will be stored at a donated warehouse until the rehab is completed, with the rest of the items temporarily in our garage on Ivy St. On Sunday after the move out, we had demolition day at Lima Street. The demo day was accomplished with another 15 volunteers, including a hand full of dedicated CU fraternity brothers of Mark (Kait’s Dad). Completely filling a big dumpster with construction trash, we striped out walls, trim, carpet, toilet, sink, hardwood floors, plumbing vent pipes, plus a very heavy pink cast iron tub- making Kait sad- she loved that tub!

Both days’additional volunteers provided great lunches to the army of workers (thank you Debbie, Joan and Sharon!). Moving the shed in Kait’s backyard (so we can do concrete work this week), was an engineering task; sliding on metal tubes taken from the chain linked fence- primitive yet effective!

If you read the daily newspaper, it’s easy to fall into the trap of feeling bitter and cynical about people and the times we live in. But as our family has experienced the unity and generosity of our community over the past six weeks, I can’t help but think of how closely our feeling have mirrored what the early church must have been like as written in the book of Acts 2:46 in the Bible.“They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people.” Carolyn has repeated many times how humbled we are to witness the uprising of our community as they walk beside our family in love and deeds. You truly are holding our hands to the sky as we regain our strength and balance. 

-Tom Wanberg