sewin' love

Indiana turned 12 this week with a special birthday party, stitched together with love...

(Push play below to listen to Rory read this blog post)

“I’m 12 now Papa,” Indy said as she sat on her bed this morning; looking older and more like her mother everyday.

“Yes honey, I can hardly believe it…”, I said, “but you sure are”,

sewin’ love

Indiana’s been excited about this birthday for a long while now. Patiently, and not-so-patiently, waiting for February 17th to arrive. Especially excited to be here in Texas for this one, with so many friends nearby to share it with.

Rebecca, as usual, went above and beyond. Not with gifts, but with the extraordinary amount of thoughtfulness and care she put into make everything just right for our not-so-little one.

Long after Indy, and I, went to bed the night before, Rebecca was still sitting at the sewing machine turning each cut-out letter into the homemade ‘happy birthday’ banner that she wanted to be hanging over the table by morning, and a dozen other little, big touches she put into making Indy’s special day, even more special.

The birthday party and the day were everything Indy had hoped for and more. Last year, Indy had a library/reading themed party and this year, since she’s been learning how to stitch and weave, she wanted a ‘sewing’ party. So starting with embroidery, that theme was a thread that ran through most of what all the little girls did while they were together.

half a birthday

Yesterday, as I was sitting with a friend talking about video production and storytelling and showing him a few things we’ve made over the years and I came across one that I don’t think I’ve ever shared before.

Made in August 2014, when Indy turned 6 months old. I had stitched together a number of sweet moments to celebrate, and remember our first six months with Indy. Joey had just recently recovered from her first cancer surgery and we were settling back into our lives at the farm with our little Indiana Boon, so excited about the future that was in front of us.

Looking back at that moment in time, nearly a dozen years later, and thinking about where we are now, it’s almost overwhelming for me. When I see, and think of all that God has done, and how faithful He has been, and continues to be through it all - the good and the bad - it’s incredibly humbling.

for a time such as this

Rebecca now has Joey’s old sewing machine, and even more so, the role of sewing love into the family that once was Joey’s. And she’s taken that unbelievably difficult role on with pride, and also a grace that is almost hard to imagine.

This hasn’t been an easy journey for Rebecca. To go from being a teacher to being a mother of a ten year old, has been its own unique birthing process. Especially when it’s a child that millions of people have been watching grow up right in front of their eyes, through stories and videos like the one above that we’ve made and shared through the years.

Rebecca has also had to go from being anonymous, and a very private person… to being in the tabloids, and having strangers judge every decision and step that she, and we, take. And to make this even worse, to being constantly compared to Joey; someone who was not only talented and famous, but very beloved in the eyes of many. I know first hand, how challenging it can be to have to walk in Joey’s shadow.

Thankfully though, that’s not something Rebecca does. God has not only given her the strength and character to walk this untrod path, but He’s also given her, her own unique light, that casts its own beautiful shadow.

But as challenging as this road has been, and all the tears she’s shed for the unkind words people have said… Rebecca has never once complained. She, strangely like me, stays continually hopeful to see where God is leading us.

I cannot tell you how excited she is to be here. Not just here in Texas, but ‘here’ - this particular moment and time. She sees, and feels, the work He is doing inside her. Refining and changing her into who she was born to be.

I believe that Rebecca, and I, are just beginning to come into our own. Just now starting to step into the purpose, and the place, that God has been spent all these years preparing us for.

There’s a quote over my desk from the book of Esther, and when I look at it, and I can’t help but think of my wife.

the tapestry of life

Everyday, in a hundred different ways, Rebecca sews love into Indiana’s life, and mine. Threading the needle of the past, with the present, to help make a future for our family.

Striving to always honor Joey and the stories, and the music, and the life that came before, but willing to take the steps necessary to build an even stronger home upon that foundation.

God is creating a beautiful tapestry with our lives. Both she and I are beginning to see the big picture, and it’s amazing. But looking backwards, trying to make sense of the road that got us here, is a bit like looking at the back of a tapestry. From that side it appears to be nothing but a twisted, tangled mess… like there’s no rhyme or reason for any of it. But when we turn it over, we can begin to see the true masterpiece that He’s been creating all along.

sew blessed

Last night, we went to a wedding here at Homestead. It’s actually the second one we’ve been to in the last ten days. And as we sat in the sanctuary and Jonathan and Anna said their vows, I couldn’t help but think about when we made ours two years ago this coming July.

Just watching the earlier video above, a lot has happened in our lives since this one too. It’s amazing what God can do in a short amount of time, when you give your life to Him.

And also like Indiana and her birthday, I’m excited about this day and what the future holds for us.

Both Indy and I are so, so, ‘sew’ thankful for Rebecca and the blessing she is every single day.

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