Welcome to 2024 :: Cultivating Aliveness

 Welcome to 2024 ::  Cultivating Aliveness

2023 brought A LOT of growth for our family and various challenges (again a normal year for us): 

• Mark began his podcast "Mental Health and Ministry" and has interviewed several people. It has been life-giving for him and frankly he's really, really good at it. He discusses depression in ministry and how to support someone who is struggling. 

• Kara completed one year with Cincinnati Children's in June with pioneering the Moving Beyond Depression program working with postpartum mothers and mothers of 0-3 year olds with maternal depression. It has been exciting and exhausting and she did put herself to the side along the way. Her self-care has had good rhythms and not so good rhythms. In the end, she is ready for a recalibration of serious magnitude and to pursue vitality.

• Ian began 9th grade and began playing soccer last spring FOR THE FIRST TIME, ran Cross Country again and in his free time enjoys playing computer games, at one point playing chess, rapping songs and working out. He did start a McDonald's job in the summer and did really well, but he learned that working in fast-food is not where he wants to be, but it really helped him grow as a person. "People are mean mom!" "Yes, yes they can be," I agreed.

• Elijah began 5th grade, remains fascinated by dinosaurs, played soccer again and specifically Goalie position this past Fall, and enjoys playing Roblox, Fortnite and Nitro Typing in his free time.

• Katie is 8 years old now, still loves to cuddle in your face, bait Ivy into take her raw-hides so she can grab them back and continues to love car rides.

• Ivy is 3 and a half years old and plays like a puppy with zoomy fits and then long naps. She still sits like a princess and growls like a bear. She is remains submissive but her growl scares things away.

• We are very grateful for God’s continued faithfulness, peace and His humor. We have seen so much growth in both of our boys and in ourselves. We look forward to see how His hand works this year. Much Love to you! 

• The Messmores

OSU Game & What we Found

Ohio State University vs. University of Michigan Game! 11-24-12

What we found when we came home!  Awesome!

A Surprise for Mark

It seems that when planning surprises, the biggest difficulty comes when arrangements do not work out as they did when planned in your head. It is the expectation/assumption meets reality. I knew what I wanted to do and the purpose. Take him away from everyday life: the stresses, the plans, the "normal" and have fun and connect.  So that included a meal, a movie, a night away & Ian hanging out with someone or people who knows & loves.  Some different options arose for timing, dates but as the weeks went by - everything was getting tighter...and people busier.

What happened: I got sick Sunday, Mark got sick Monday, plan was for Tuesday evening to Wednesday during the day.

Meal @ Millhouse...Movie "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" @ Jasper 8 Theatres...a night @ French Lick...hang out read, write, blog, tweet, internet surf, lounge, prep for future).  How Lovely and blessed to do such a thing.  Ian was so excited as reported by those caring for him that he went though his routine: " he rushed around and told me what cam next".  :)

our Saturday 4-16-11

Full of Events: French Lick "kiddy romp" & 10k
Doodlebug Photoshoot with Victory Photography
Rae Ann Burden's Baby Shower (sorry no pics)

The weather was icky 40s, windy & rainy for the morning but Mark persevered and Ian didn't care. He got to be outside!!

 Sorry this photo just won't turn the right way - but this was Ian in the morning with his Tigger.

To ALL the sick people...

It is not a regular deal that I get sick but when I get sick, I feel like I really get sick. Of course any one person could probably say the same thing but I get down and then realize that strength of those people who are continually fighting a disease or fighting the side effects of medications that help them with their primary disease. I have so much admiration for YOU. I am weak and am definitely one of those who likes to be pampered. Poor Mark - but he has Ian to work with right now. Thank you Mark...it means a lot.