Merry Christmas, friends. 📯

On behalf of the family, I wanted to pop in with a brief update—partly to wish you joy in the coming of Jesus, and partly to keep a steady rhythm of periodic updates here. Our posts have slowed lately because, by God’s grace, we’ve been in a relatively steady-state stretch for our family and for Emma’s care (steady-state is not the same as “easy,” but it is a gift and we’re thankful).

Update on Emma: More of the Same

In many ways, Emma is doing well overall. She continues to fall further behind age-based developmental milestones, but we’re still seeing small, real gains—especially in a few physical abilities and in her verbal communication. We try to celebrate the inches, because they are still mercy.

The biggest ongoing challenge remains epilepsy. Finding (and then continually re-finding) the right mix of medications as her disease progresses is the dance we expect to keep dancing. She continues to have multiple daily seizures, some of which can make her fall, risking injury. Over the last few months, we tried to address this risk with a new medication, but it made her extremely sluggish. We’ve since weaned her off of it, and she’s back to a brighter, more “herself” personality.

She has also not yet started her eye infusion treatments, but we expect that regimen to begin in early 2026. In preparation for this, Emma’s infusion days will go ahead and move to Fridays in January.

General family updates

Stephen’s (my) work has been in a busy season here the last few weeks —overall it’s going well, though I’ve felt some growth pains and have kept a steady pace of travel.

The kids are enjoying school. James has taken up golf as his extra-curricular activity over the past few months (no complaints from me!), and Annie has continued her pursuit of ballet with her usual determination.

And Deacon continues to be a gift to our family—bringing margin, warmth, and steady presence in the daily swirl of life.

Considering a move back to ATL

The biggest “thing” on our plate right now is prayerful discernment about whether we’ll remain in Columbus or move back toward the Atlanta area next summer—primarily to be closer to Emma’s long-term care. We are weighing how best to position our family for the next 5-10 years. We’re trying to listen well, hold plans with open hands, and make wise decisions without living in urgency. If you’re the praying kind, we’d be grateful for prayer for clarity, unity, and courage.

A reflection on waiting courageously

One of the quiet surprises of Advent is how normal waiting is in the story of God. Generations of Israelites lived and died with promises in their hands, but without the practical intervention they longed for. And after Jesus’ ascension, the early church also learned to live in the tension of already and not yet—not with instant rescue (tortured, imprisoned, and martyred) but with only spiritual riches in hope, patience, and love. Alan Kreider describes the early church’s growth not as a triumph of quick strategies, but as a long, steady “patient ferment,” where endurance itself became a witness [1].

Henri Nouwen captures the posture beautifully: “the spirituality of waiting is not simply our waiting for God. It is also participating in God’s own waiting for us. [2]” We are waiting—yes—for Emma’s ultimate healing, and for wisdom about where we should commit to build our life over the next ~10 years. But we’re also learning that God is not absent in the in-between; he is present, loving, and working at a pace that trains our hearts for eternity. Advent reminds us that to only have Hope is not denial, and waiting is not wasted. In Christ, the long road still leads home.

Christmas card 😁🎄📯

Prayer requests

• For Emma — greater sleep and epilepsy control

• For our whole family

  • Wisdom & discernment on potentially moving to ATL in 2026

  • Caring deeply and comprehensively for James and Annie’s development

Resources we’re loving

• The Patient Ferment of the Early Church, by Alan Kreider (book)

• O Love that Will Not Let Me Go, by George Matheson/Sovereign Grace Music (song)

• The Bible Caddie Podcast, for those who like Golf + Jesus (podcast)