Nicholas James (1:17): Carowinds 2011

Thursday, April 21, 2011

Carowinds 2011

As if Make A Wish and Give Kids the World hasn't given us enough, they also give families a year pass to certain amusement parks around the world. We decided we really couldn't afford to travel to Eftelling Amusement Park in the Netherlands so we voted for Carowinds in Charlotte.

For those of you that didn't know, Carowinds lies on the border of South and North Carolina. All day when the kids would see the border they would hop from side to side "North Carolina, South Carolina, North Carolina." You get the point.....

Our silly monkey...

Stephen going up on the Intimidator.

Screaming, a manly scream as he said, going down.

Isn't he precious?

Note to self....never put Megan and Brandon on the same ride when there is only ONE handle to fly the boat/plane! They were fighting like cats and dogs.

Nicholas getting the special treatment-getting fanned by Megan.

Okay, so we all got yelled at by the ride worker for trying to escape the waterfall. We were stilled buckeled! I put my hands up like that was really going to protect me (it didn't)

Yes, we know they should switch sides but it was funnier like this.

A great day...and great memories!

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The Broken Gift

In August of 2008, I felt led to begin writing a book about our journey with Nicholas. The purpose of the book was to be twofold: First, I felt a strong sense to intimately share with others our journey of faith. It was my desire that people who were facing tremendous “life storms” as I call them, to see that God is faithful in all circumstances. Secondly, and much more selfishly, I wanted to present Lisa with the ultimate gift, a book about her son.

I began praying that God would open the doors if that were to be His will. I shared this with only one person, Chris Lewis, and asked him to be in prayer with me. Before I gave God the chance to answer me, I had already begun writing. Five months later, I had written six full chapters. During the process, I would occasionally email Chris a copy for his input. Unfortunately, he was a bit too encouraging, and the process continued.

Chapters six and seven began to slow me down. I was beginning to feel that my writing had become more about me than anything else. Additionally, I was becoming concerned that the book was taking on the form of a journal. I knew from research that journal style books were not welcome in the tough world of book publishing.

Chris had a friend in publishing who agreed to read my manuscript and give me advice. His advice stopped me cold in my tracks. It was just as I had suspected, the manuscript was too much of a journal. Strangely though, I was relieved. I had become increasingly frustrated during my writing sessions and now I could just stop. No more writing.

A short time later, I decided that I would share with Lisa the fruits of my secret, double life as an author. I printed the manuscript off in its entirety and gave it to her to read. I had dreamed of presenting her with a paperback book with a picture of her son on it, but this would have to do.

Fast forward to today. The original intent of the book has not changed. I want people to see Jesus when they see our family. I want people to know there is hope. I want people to understand that God is bigger than our circumstances and brings us through them for a reason.

With that in mind, I decided that Nicholas’ blogsite is a great way to still get my “journal” out there, into the hands of people who may be touched by our story. Each week I will add a new chapter.

To read The Broken Gift, click on the chapters below.

Chapter 1 Code Blue
Chapter 2 Back to the Beginning
Chapter 3 New Relationships
Chapter 4 The Arrival
Chapter 5 Life Goes On
Chapter 6 Surgery