So I got the opportunity to share about sweet Alice’s birthday. Remember?

Yep. That’s our Alice.

Her humor. Her investment. Her consistent love.

Her patience. Her investment.

We don’t deserve our Alice.

And then there’s our Troy.

His quiet. His thoughtfulness. His gentle ways.

His investment in others. His humble heart. His willingness to serve others without fanfare. Without anyone noticing. He just gently gives

…that others would be better.

Thank you, Alice and Troy, for sharing a wall with us in the quad and still coming out smiling every morning. Thank you for your grace during Eden’s night struggles amidst transitions. Thank you that you chose to pray for her in the nights when she woke us both.

Thank you for stopping to include the girls in vacuuming, recognizing the opportunity to be a grandma and a grandpa and embracing it with love. Thank you for taking six and sometimes seven rambunctious kids to the cafeteria so Rebecca, Chris, Matt and I could have a quiet five minute walk there. Thank you for your willingness to share in your lives and your invaluable wisdom shared during Bible Study. Thank you for laughing through stress and being so wonderfully you.

But most importantly, thank you for choosing to spend two years pouring yourselves out on the mission field, even funding your own way, when so many around you choose instead to embrace retirement. Thank you for seeing God’s heart for the nations and daring to rise to His Calling. Your sacrifice is absolutely beautiful.

 

We are better because of you and your example.

Troy and Alice, I am better because of Christ in you both.

Thank you, Jesus, for our Troy and Alice.

 

*And thanks Jenna, for letting me steal some of these pictures of Troy and Alice. 😉 *