the big reveal

The basement is finished! So I guess this post is just one big, HUGE thank you to everyone who made it happen for us. Thank you, Pinedale, for being so willing to fund this beautiful room for our family, and most especially for Jonah.

Thank you Shoe, Doug, Bill, Jeff, Stevie, Brad, Dad, and any others I didn't know about for all the hard work over the course of a month to convert it from an ugly, unfinished storage area into what it is now.

Thank you Gina, Melinda, and Caroline for decorating it so beautifully.

And thank you to our Sunday School class for collecting money to help out, for the surprise cookout tonight, and for being here for The Big Reveal. You guys just don't know how much it lifted me to have you all here. Come back soon!

Matt and I knew there was a reason we were brought back to Winston after leaving Greenville. We didn't really know what it was at the time, but it is so very, very clear to us now. Brenner Children's Hospital saved Jonah's life, and our Church family has just been a huge fortress of strength around us through it all - the loss of Gabe and the birth and life of beautiful Jonah. We cannot express how truly grateful we are, and what you all mean to us.

We're forever in your debt, and all we can really promise is that we'll try to someday pass on the love, support, and generosity to someone else - so that one day we can be that fortress to others who may have to walk a similar road.

Thank you so, so much.

And now the fun part!

Coming down the stairs for our first look.

Me (and Gina!) trying not to cry.

Our first look.

Our beautiful basement.

The unstoppable visionary, Gina. Interior Decorator Extraordinaire.

Jonah's wall. (My absolute FAVORITE part of the room.)

The stairs before and after.

The counter/dressing change area before and after.

The closet/seating area before and after.

The closet/bed area before and after.

And the sweet little boy who God is using in a mighty, mighty way. Even though it may seem it's all for him, we know that it's really all for HIM.

Thank you, Father, for your grace and mercy in blessing us with sweet Jonah. We wouldn't trade him for the world, and we are just so thankful for each and every day we are blessed to spend with him. Thank you for using him and using his story to bring glory to your name. We are beyond speechless at what you are doing through his life. And thank you, God, for our support network - our family, friends, church family, and our blogging friends - thank you for surrounding us in our time of need. Thank you for the body of Christ. Please help us be the hands and feet of Jesus to others, just as others have been your hands and feet to us. Thank you for carrying us. Please grant us the opportunity someday to shoulder someone else's load.

We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.