2009: A Year to Remember!

2009 has been an eventful year to say the least.  Yesterday Brenda was reflecting on some of the highlights.  In January we spent a week in Bonita Springs, Florida.  We walked the beach, swam in Mom and Dad's pool, hung out in the hot tub (one of David's favorites), and simply enjoyed being together as a family.  All of us took turns reading to David from Passages, a series Focus on the Family produced.  He would rub his hands and legs in anticipation and anxiety, begging to read just one more chapter.

On July 28th Brenda and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary.  We found a cozy bed and breakfast in Rockport Massachusetts right on the ocean.  As we sipped a glass of wine and enjoyed fresh crusty bread with dipping spices, olive oil, and fresh olives provided as a surprise from our son Christopher, we rehearsed our twenty five year journey together.  I pray we are blessed with 25 more!

In August we went to Door County, Wisconsin for summer vacation.   We picked cherries, hiked, enjoyed cousins, aunts, uncles, and grandparents, slept late, and ate too much.  It was obvious that this was going to be the last time David was going to be able to travel this far.  While he was very limited in what he could do he enjoyed being with his family.  Our favorite part of the day on vacation is in the morning sitting out on the deck drinking coffee.  While David had lost much of his ability to really interact with us one morning out of the blue he simply said, Isaiah 41:10.  He didn't quote it he simply said the verse reference.  It was one of his favorite verses.  We looked it up and read these words,

"So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you, I will uplift you with my righteous right hand." 

In September Brenda and I went on a cruise to Italy and Greece to celebrate our twenty five years together.  It was a time to recharge our batteries, to celebrate our life together, and explore.  Little did we know it was also a time to energize ourselves for the three weeks we would have with David before he died. 

October was a month filled with great trial and pain but also ultimate release and joy as David's earthly journey came to an end.  His memorial service was incredible.  Family and friends served us and loved us.  It is hard to put into words how we experienced God's love and care through this time.  We miss him and even find ourselves grieving more now than we did when he first died.

We made it through our first thanksgiving and Christmas without David.  I think the anticipation was far worse than the actual days themselves.  We pulled in close as a family and celebrated.  There was a new strange mixture of joy, sadness, anticipation, old and new traditions, memories, laughter, heart ache, grief, and hope that permeated every corner of our home and hearts.  God was with us, strengthened us, and allowed us not to dismay.  Thank you David for reminding us that we do not have to fear!

For the past thirteen years I can't think of a time I didn't start the new year wondering if this is the year Battens will take David's life.  This year I don't have to do that and I am grateful.  David is where he should be.  We miss him but know we will see him again.  We rest knowing God was never once surprised by the events of 2009 and we rest knowing he holds this New Year in his hands as well.  We look forward to what adventures he has in store for us.  The journey still goes on!