Reflections

I was cleaning up my office today and found a list that Mindy and I put together at the end of year 2000. As I read the concluding paragraph I couldn’t help but be reminded of that excitement of seeing God work in my life and the life of my family. My heart and my future vision was to simply hear God’s voice and follow His will. I pray that I never loose that passion for God to point the way into the future and keep my eyes open to opportunities to serve Him. I pray that we as a church never loose that passion either.

THE YEAR 2000 IN REVIEW

Actually something cool took place right before the year 2000 began during Christmas of ’99 Holly and Dave (Tim’s sister) got engaged.

January:

• · Mindy and Tim decide to have another child
• · Mindy and Tim made a monumental God Thing decision to go back to college and not to have another child
• · Shelly and Doug (Tim’s sister) have Harrison

• · Shelly has to go back to the hospital with a staff infection
• · Grandma Gorsline (Tim’s mom’s mom) in the hospital at the same time as Shelly with pneumonia

February:

• · Tim and Mindy found out that they were have a baby non the less the decision not to…by the way they found out while Tim was applying for LCC.

March:

• · Harry (Tim’s dad) was in the hospital with Blood Pressure and Head Aches
• · Put the finishing touches on the house so we could sell it.

April:

• · Shelly and Doug decide that Doug is going to go to Seminary at LCS.
• · Mindy and Tim house up for sale
• · Angie and Randy (Mindy’s sister) found out that they were going to have their first child.

May:

• · Mindy quit work to prepare for moving.

The next few months were fairly uneventful except for trying to getting ready to move, move, start college, and have a baby. In addition, our cute darling daughter Lindsey kept trying to destroy the house we were trying so desperately to sell. Hiding donuts under the chairs, getting into Mindy’s makeup, and drawing on the walls with permanent markers, and scrabbling eggs in the carpet.

July:

• · Grandpa Raby (Mindy’s grandpa) goes into the hospital with health problems.
• · Mindy reports to Dr. West that she was having some spotting and not feeling well with the pregnancy.

August:

5^th Saturday:

• · Mindy and Tim along with many friends and family move all their belongings to the humble little home in Atlanta, IL.

7^th Monday:

• · Mindy and Tim find out that they lost their baby.

9^th Wednesday:

• · Benjamin Bycroft is delivered in Galesburg, IL.

11^th Friday:

• · Had graveside service for Benjamin

14^th Monday

• · Mindy and Tim and kids final Move to Atlanta IL

Other things that took place in August:

• · Tim resigned from Stockland FS
• · Jan and Larry (Mindy’s dad) finally bought a computer.
• · Tim began classes at LCC
• · Kurt began Kindergarten at Atlanta Elementary School

September:

• · Doug began classes at LCS
• · Mindy and Tim finally close on their Monmouth home.
• · Holly and Dave took the plunge
• · Grandpa Raby past away.
• · Lindsey began pre-school

October:

• · Kurt starts having difficulties in school.
• · Holly and Dave have open house at RCC

November:

• · Konnie (Tim’s mom) begins having health problems.
• · Shelly and Doug find out that they are having another baby.
• · Kurt has tubes put in his ears.

Decmber:

• · Grandma Law (Mindy’s dad’s mom) is taken to the nursing home after a short visit to the hospital with some health issues.
• · Jan (Mindy’s dad’s wife) starts a new job.
• · Tim gets his first semester of college under his belt.

I am not sure what exactly this list actually means, maybe just the simple fact that I have too much time on my hands and needed to write something down. I am sure that every family, in the Bycroft/Law clans could put a list together that is just as long if not longer. It is just amazing to me how many things can happen to a family in a single year. As I look over the list there are things that show good times and bad. Through all these family life experiences, Mindy and I believe that we have grown as individuals, as husband and wife, as an entire family unit, and most importantly as faithful Christians. God has shown us many opportunities this last year. I pray everyday for Him to keep our eyes open to the opportunities He puts before us in the future. I truly believe He has blessed our household and extended family. Over the last twelve months, we have seen God work in our lives as well as the lives of our family. Looking over the list and thinking of the life changing experiences that have happened this year to our family, I cannot wait to see what God has in store for the next twelve months.