Aaron's 30th birthday

On September 28, 2012, Aaron turned 30 years old.

1, 2, 3...I don't think I have enough fingers for 30.

God's grace to him throughout his life has continued to amaze me.

As we dated, I was struck by this 23 year old man who, despite enduring childhood cancer and continuing to take at least 8 pills a day for his chronic kidney disease, was not bitter or angry about the trials God had allowed to permeate his life. He sought to use them to point back to God.

Out for my 21st birthday

On our wedding day, Aaron stood at the front of the church in front of our friends and family, blinking away tears as I walked, beaming with a smile, toward him. All I could think was according to medicine, this day was never supposed to happen! 

This is seconds before the first time he saw me on our wedding day

At 6 am on May 20, 2010, we found out that I was pregnant and if the pregnancy went well, we would welcome into our lives the child Aaron was told he could never have.

I was 4 weeks pregnant and only Aaron and I knew!

On January 23, 2011, Benjamin was born and again I thought Aaron was told this day would never happen and now he is holding his son.

Proud Daddy

What amazing blessings God grants throughout our lives! I really wanted to make sure he had a wonderful 30th birthday, especially since he had gone through so much in the 3 years prior.

It was slightly stressful putting this together in the midst of chemotherapy treatments, a toddler, doctor appointments, and Aaron working from home (which meant no alone time to plan!). He asked me 2 weeks before the party if I was planning anything for his birthday. "Are you up to something? Are you being sneaky?" I stopped dusting our living room, Ben crying while clinging to my leg and laundry in the wash machine. I turned to look at him, wiping the unwashed hair from my face and said, "Does it look like I have had time to be sneaky?" After that, he suspected nothing!

The day after his birthday was party day! Praise God, his pain stayed under control for the entire weekend so he was really able to enjoy what was in store for him! I woke him up with note cards containing an address, time, and a clue.

He was pretty nervous about what I had been up to!

The morning and early afternoon were spent meeting friends and family who had snuck in to town. He truly cherished time to focus on the people he was with so I wanted to make sure he had one-on-one time. He had no idea who he was meeting next and everyone did a great job keeping it all a secret!

Matt (MI) - friend since kindergarten and best friend

Bob (MD), Erich and Krissie (OH)

* Dad and Mom (Jenny's), Cece, and Calvin (MI) (unfortunately, in the enjoyment of his time with them, he forgot to get a picture!)

Grandma and Grandpa (MI), Beau and Christina (TN), Mom and Dad (MI)

Erich and Michelle (MI) and Mom and Dad (Jenny's) (MI)

Surprised husband and sneaky wife

The day ended with a big celebration with 40-50 family members and friends at our friends' home to celebrate Aaron and the joy he had brought to each of our lives.

Oh yeah, I was definitely being sneaky and I am so grateful he got to enjoy a special weekend with friends and family and we got to enjoy time with him!