Category Archives: My Family
Made Meaningful
Erica and I have decided to launch a new ministry based on our experience with Kennady. We want to remind people that culture and society are messed up. Therefore, we shouldn’t rely on culture and society’s definition or acceptance of our value and meaning. When we ‘lean on’ secular definitions of significance, then we are left at the discretion of emotion and the majority vote.
We stand on the Word of God alone to define everything.
Psalm 139:14 “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.”
Check out our new website www.mademeaningful.com and please “like” us on Facebook.
13 years
Today, Erica and I celebrate 13 years of marriage. We started dating 2 and a half years earlier, so we are celebrating around 15 and half years of being ‘together’.
Although, the first 6 months was a bit rough. We weren’t necessarily only dating each other. I was slow to make that dating commitment. Looking back on that whole scenario, I don’t know how right that was. I think the whole dating paradigm in our culture is messed up. However, we are conditioning our kids from kindergarden to follow in our footsteps. (but I digress)
Erica and I have a fantastic marriage. We love each other deeply. God has created in us a relationship that is authentic, raw, intimate. We are best friends. When I want to spend time with one person, it is Erica.
Over 13 years, we have traveled up and down on the path of relationship. We have seen amazing personal success, friendships, God move in miracles. We have received difficult phone calls, bad diagnosis, and tough conversations with parents.
My Thoughts on Kennady Being Thankful
Here is a clip of me speaking on Kennady’s ability to be Thankful in the midst of a debilitating disease.
A Lousy Pastor’s Wife
From time to time people get upset with me because I am unable to personally connect with them. Most folks in this category simply quit coming without addressing it. Ever once in a while, I will get an email with their frustration. I am polite in response and let them know that I am sorry.
The truth will not console them, however. The truth is that I will not be able to connect with everyone personally. If that is what they need, then they will have to go to a smaller church where the senior pastor can personally be involved in everyone’s life. In our church, I don’t know everyone personally. In fact, I don’t know every one’s name or….even their face. I see people in the store that go to our church and I don’t recognize them. I don’t say anything to them (because I don’t recognize them). I am not trying to be rude, but I don’t know them.
I intimately know all the people that get involved in the church. I know every man that attends Wed morning prayer at 6am. I can tell you about their marriage, their kids, their hangups, their physical fitness, etc. I know all the volunteers that get to the church at 8am on Sunday morning. I know all the people that attend leadership meetings and serve at events like ‘trunk or treat’.
I am saying all this because this past week Erica got her first letter about not being a good pastor’s wife. I could tell you all about the letter, but I will let you read it for yourself. (I have taken out or changed anything that might reveal the author.)
Good News about Kennady
For the last nine and a half years, we have received either negative news or no news on our daughter, Kennady’s brain development. (click here for her story from birth). That changed today.
We go annually to the Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas for a special Neurologist to see her. Dr. Delgado specializes in kids with her condition (HPE or Holoprosencephaly). Today, when he saw her latest brain scans, he was surprised and very thrilled to see the positive development of her brain. Not only has it grown, but it has started dividing into 2 sections. When she was born, her brain was not divided at all (right and left side). It is now starting to have a clear division between the two and he said that they are going to have to CHANGE her official diagnosis.
We have not seen tremendous change in our physical or mental responses. However, her teachers (they are awesome!) have said that she is communicating some with the equipment they use.
Thanks for praying with us for our girl, Kennady!
+robin
Here is a picture of her brain at birth:
Here is the latest pic of her brain 5/2011:
Robin Steele 