Running to the Darkness

Happy Birthday Mom!

 
Alberta June Whitt Barker, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, garderner, racecar driver, pit crew, care giver, writer, woman of many talents, my mom! I love you! May your day be full of peace and joy!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

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Thirty-two years ago...two became one...we love because He first loved us!

Happy Second Birthday Jadon--a special little boy!

 
On June 25^th Jadon will be TWO YEARS old! I still remember the day Kristin and Tony brought Jadon to the offices after their doctor’s appointment when they received the diagnosis that he had Spinal Muscular Atrophy. 

At that time Jadon was only a few months old and from that day Tony and Kristin’s worlds were rocked. They have been juggling this new normal for two years. Tony decided sometime early within the first year that he would leave his job to stay at home with Jadon. Since then Tony has built many things that have helped accommodate Jadon’s special condition. Eventually, because of Jadon’s condition he required more than medical equipment but also medical care personnel to assist with his needs. So they have medical care personnel who attend him, gratefully in their own home. 

Tony and Kristin sadly realized during Jadon’s first winter that his trips to church would be severely limited and finally had to cease altogether. The risk for infection on his continually weakening body was far too great! Tony has been able to attend some without them. Their outings with Jadon are very limited. Recently, they were able to take Jadon to the zoo. 

 
As I can only imagine, between work and caring for Jadon, they have been fairly isolated. Focusing on his care, work and special events to raise awareness of this deadly disease (which kills more babies than any other genetic disease) have occupied all of their waking moments and limited their sleeping ones sometimes. 

Kristin and Tony’s mothers have taken turns spending nearly a year each to live with them to help out. And they have found great camaraderie with other SMA families in the area. However, Kristin and  Tony do need more help. They need community…their spiritual community…their church family. So they are inviting us in to  help. 

I asked what are some ways that we could help out. So here they are:

1. Sign up at www.takethemameal.com. Kristin said, “It’s really NOT about the food.”
2. Guys, drop by to visit with Tony and Jadon during the day. Their address is 1303 W Elm Terrace, Olathe 66061.
3. Email them anytime. Convenient for them to answer.
4. Become a friend on FACEBOOK and keep up with Tony’s updates.
5. Tony is painting his house alone. He hasn’t asked for help but you could ask him.
6. They are establishing Jadon’s Hope, a not for profit to raise awareness for SMA. If you know anything about not for profits and could help with paperwork.
7. Send a card or note of encouragement to their address: Tony & Kristin Burks & Jadon, 1303 W Elm Terrace, Olathe 66061.

Let's surround them with the love of Christ through His Body!

 

 

 

Joshua Luke Kendall-A Follower and a Leader are Born

 
Twenty-six years ago on a Sunday morning, we were  preparing to pack up two preschoolers: Kristen and Jeremy and head to First Church of God in Kansas City KS where we were pastoring a few more months prior to venturing with four other families to establish a new place for these Olathe families to bring their friends who were far from God. The dream was that they would find a safe, inviting atmosphere where they would experience the love of Jesus Christ and dare to believe it for themselves!

But there was a stirring and I knew it was about time to head to the hospital for the birth of our third child! Gary called a couple of friends to care for Jeremy and Kristen. Since this was our third child we had experienced the fact that I had a track record of a long laboring day prior to delivering the other two children! So Gary knew he had time to check me in at Shawnee Mission Medical Center and then go to preach the message God had placed on his heart for the First Church of God in Kansas City Kansas and then rejoin me at the hospital in plenty of time! And besides there wasn't a plan B. He was THE Pastor!

 
I settled in for what I knew was a long stay and kissed Gary, who promised to return as soon as he had shared the message. And sure enough when he came back I was in the same postiion. Finally, the doctor made an appearance and was surprised at my lack of progress for a full day's work. He said, This is your third baby! You should be better at this by now!" Now that was encouraging! Anyway, he talked me into an epiderial and I am grateful!

Joshua Luke Kendall was born before 6:30 p.m. that Sunday evening! What a beautiful baby boy! kristen and Jeremy were delighted and in awe of their new perspective playmate! They came to visit and to hold him before he was a day old and have been his adoring fans ever since! God is so good to give us family!

 
Gary and I had pondered over what to name this special child as names were important to us! Prophetically, though we didn't know, we selected Joshua because of the strong courageous leader in the Bible by the same name. We didn't yet know how appropriate that name would be! But Luke's heavenly Father certainly did! He knew Luke and all of his days before a one of them came to be! With a brother named Jeremy, we thought Joshua would be a great fit. However someone warned us that there were many children already with J names. So we compromised because we loved the name LUKE and the Biblicall recorder and witness of the life of Jesus, we decided we would name him Joshua but utilize his middle name, Luke to address him daily. Sounded great at the moment but we had no idea the frustration in the school system to have a first name but use your middle name instead!

Joshua Luke Kendall, we have loved you from the beginning! Yes, before you were born! We believe that you were knitted together in my womb and that you are fearfully and wonderfully made! We believe that you have a heavenly Father who knows every hair on your head and who had great plans for you, to give you a future and a hope! We believe that He  knew when were were selecting your name, Joshua that you would be a courageous and passionate leader after His own heart! He also know that like your namesake LUKE, the doctor who followed Jesus, you would have a sensitive and compassionate heart for hurting people to find their way to a God who cares and heals!

 
We are so excited for you as you follow your heart and God's call on your life to venture to the city, Chicago to join Mission Church in just a few months! What a courageous venture! But then would we really expect less? What a joy to witness God sharing your heart to His! We are excited and know that it must be Him calling you! We know how much you would rather go somewhere warm and sunny, like Phoenix! However, I will never forget a conversation we had once when you were several years younger. You were asking but not really asking me when you pondered aloud, "Mom, why do I love the city so much?"

I don't think it was my response because I am just not that clever but I think it was God's, "Luke, I think you love the city because that is where all the people are!"

Simple but how true for you! God has entrusted you with a great love and an ever greater gift with people! Luke, you have never met a stranger and we observed that from the time you could talk! You LOVE to engage people! You are not afraid to tell them what is on your mind--good or bad. God will use that but will also temper that! You are easy to be around and fun to hang with! You are an adventurer and an explorer. You are an encourager who thrives on encouragement!

 
We are so grateful for Rachel and the incredible vibrant lifegiver, life partner she is! We know that God has entrusted her to you to share life and His journey as one!

 

We know that 26 years seems old to you today but what a beautiful age to be starting a new venture together with one who loves you by your side and the Holy Spirit who encourages you inside of you and a God who created you to be SENT by Him on purpose and mission! You were born for this life! We love you and are cheering you on!