Family caregivers need safe places to take disappointments, raw emotions, and sorrow. Yet, true to the promise of God’s Word, it also strengthens us and our families to celebrate each other and God’s faithfulness. During this Thanksgiviung season, we are appreciating the benefits of frequent and intentional reflection on reasons we are thankful to God — particularly as it relates to disability and caregiving.

Today, we’re sharing a story from Charlotte Peterson. She and her husband Anthony have been active in the WRIM community since 2021. Anthony currently serves on the Walk Right In Ministries Board of Directors. This family learning to fully live — that in celebrating what they DO have, God is healing and even strengthening them through a very hard season.

Nehemiah 8:6-10
Ezra praised the Lord, the great God, and all the people chanted, “Amen! Amen!” as they lifted their hands. Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.

The Levites read from the Book of the Law of God and clearly explained the meaning of what was being read, helping the people understand each passage. Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were interpreting for the people said to them,
“Don’t mourn or weep on such a day as this! For today is a sacred day before the Lord your God.”
For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

And Nehemiah continued,
“Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad,

for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

In 2023 we took our son Lewis to family camp at Trout Lake Camps in Brainerd, Minnesota. My husband, Anthony, and I met at Trout. So, it was only fitting that we wanted to share that camp experience with our children.

It was a bittersweet trip because of all the bucket list items we were able to do with Lewis at camp, even while he was on hospice. I will always remember July 2023 at Trout Lake as a the time when somnolence began plaguing Lewis’ daily existence until he passed away at the end of January 2024.

But I also remember playing “Would You Rather” with Lewis in the dining hall at camp, despite what he was going through. I remember holding him in the chapel during worship practice and just weeping, trying to get him to wake up. We knew the reasons why he was so sleepy. And we knew he wasn’t in pain. And we were giving him the best life we could.

I have no regrets.

Pictured: Anthony, Charlotte, Lewis and Bridget at Trout Lake Bible Camp. July 2023

Fast forward to July 2024 where we celebrated 4th of July at Family Camp again! The picture below shows us with our two girls and a picture of Lewis.

We are making it a tradition to take Lewis’s picture with us whenever we go on trips so that we can take family photos of Lewis, with Lewis. Because no matter where we go we are a family of five. No matter where we go, Lewis will always be part of our family.

Our daughter Bridget is 5 years old in this picture and our daughter Margaret is 6 months old in this picture. Margaret was born just 3 days after Lewis passed away.

Job 1:21
The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.